The startle effect

[Horse]

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[Horse]

I was thinking of tarmac surfing on large roundabouts, really big ones where circulating speeds of 60 mph and more were entirely possible. The problem was that visibility for traffic waiting to join was sometimes only 20 yards or so.

Yes, good point.

This one used to be popular for that. Bear in mind that the road view is from a camera mounted on a car roof, a bike leant well over becomes hidden by the crash barriers.

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[Cousin Jack]

There was a big one over the A5D in MK that was 'interesting'. And I nearly came to grief on the one under the M5 at the old M4/A34 junction before they slapped lights on it, and then rebuilt it completely

[Mr. Dazzle]

As someone who lives in MK and is hence a frequent user of high speed roundabouts (I also use/used both of CJs examples of a regular basis) I have to say I now consciously slow down on them.

Old me would happily go around them in a car on three wheels, but I've had several instances where I've nearly t boned someone who didn't expect me to come around the bushes.

[The Spin Doctor]

I wouldn't own a fast motorbike if being 100% safe was a priority. I accept I do things differently on bikes than I would out in a car. Just how it is ... I'd rather give up than ride like that.

@weeksy’s post matters because it reflects many people’s views, including some of my mates. Until safety messages can address what makes riders tick, they will fall on deaf ears. And these messages can’t go against why riding makes us feel alive – freedom matters, including freedom from being mollycoddled.

Three of my friends have been knocked off their bikes by car drivers. How many of them were interested in learning how to avoid being hit again? None of them. And these guys were my slower mates. Counter-intuitively, my quicker friends ride more defensively (and many of them have invested in advanced training).

If @weeksy isn’t convinced, neither are many riders. Safety advice needs pitching differently, and even the word "safety" is unhelpful. Would "riding proactively" sound better than "riding safely"?

Good post... but I didn't mention 'safety' once... and I don't bang on about it in my training either... partly because nothing we do on a bike is 'safe'. (Ducks and dons tin helmet... again!)

[The Spin Doctor]

I was thinking of tarmac surfing on large roundabouts, really big ones where circulating speeds of 60 mph and more were entirely possible. The problem was that visibility for traffic waiting to join was sometimes only 20 yards or so.

20 yard = 66 feet
60 mph = 88 fps

So you look, see it is clear, start to pull out and BANG.
Most of the roundabouts like that now have traffic lights on them

I remember watching someone getting his knee down on a quiet roundabout... lap after lap...

Predictably after four or five laps, a car appeared, saw the bike go past and started to pull forward... just as the bike reappeared.

The driver stopped, then started to go again... just as the bike reappeared.

Repeat three or four times. Eventually the driver got bored with the game and pulled out anyway... cue lots of shouty arm-waving from outraged biker.

[Hot_Air]

Sorry @The Spin Doctor, I'll try to stop my kneedown antics.

[Mr. Dazzle]

That photo always makes me wonder why the car is leaning into the bend. Cars roll outwards on corners.

Dare I say that fella isn't a real racing driver and it's just a staged shot?!

[Horse]

Sorry @The Spin Doctor, I'll try to stop my kneedown antics.

I'm impressed.

Your skillz iz much gooderer than before!

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