Stayin’ Safe: Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter
When approaching this blind left curve, the guardrail and outside edge of the road tend to attract the rider?s eye. The trained rider sets a slower entry speed and keeps eyes up and left, looking through the curve toward the desired exit. Photo by Kevin Wing.
I know. You can?t help it. No matter how old you get, the moment your eyes spot an attractive, tight set of curves, your mind goes straight to the gutter. But be careful! There?s a good chance that?s going to get you in trouble one of these days.
I?m talking about curving roads. Left ones in particular. What is it about an obscured left-hand bend that makes it so intimidating" What is it that draws a rider?s eyes to the edge of the road as predictably as an ninth grader?s eyes wander in co-ed gym class" Often, it?s the concern we?ll inadvertently get our tires too close to the edge of the pavement and ride off onto the shoulder (what?s known as ?edge fear?). It may also be due to the sense we are carrying too much speed for a given corner and worrying that we will run wide off the outside of the curve. No matter the cause, the solution is the same; we must get our minds out of the gutter at the edge of the road and, instead, up into the heart of the corner, gazing far through the curve to where the turn exit will ultimately reveal itself.
Having difficulty keeping your eyes trained on the exit" Try slowing more than usual for each corner. Entering a curve at a slower speed than you think the curve requir...
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