You’re tailing your riding buddy on a fav back road when suddenly OHMIGOSH; he’s pointing wildly at gravel in the turn! He somehow makes it through (this should be a clue: he ain’t exactly Nicky Hayden now is he?)… but, now warned, what do you do?
First, you’re not right on his tail, correct?
Slow a little and assess your options. If the stones are few enough to count, you can probably ignore them since they’re primarily a visual distraction, posing little loss-of-traction potential.
If not, assertively modify your line so you avoid the most dense part.
If you see you still must ride through the gravel, straighten the bike and brake firmly prior to the patch; then release the brakes and ease through on a neutral throttle, delaying the completion of your turn until you’re back on clean asphalt.
Then pull over and talk. What have you learned?
Note: If you are in a blind turn, do not consider the opposite lane part of your avoidance strategy. If oncoming traffic suddenly appears, your chances are zero to none.
Pete Tamblyn
All good advice but I think the best way to avoid having to use it is to remember you are not on a race course there are no corner men to flag you if there is a problem on a curve.
I try to ride with the thought that if I can’t see it it doesn’t exist. May mean I slow way down around a blind curve. Once you can see if the roads clear you can alway accelerate away.
I really like all of the topics.
I always listen to each podcast
twice! just in case I may have missed something!
Ron C. near pleasant plain Oh.