Overtaking (Part Two)
Pete the Free continues to teach his grannie to suck egg in tips on overtaking (part two)…
Overtaking on bends and in some other special situations requires careful planning but IS perfectly possible and safe when done correctly. The camera angle on most of these videos does NOT give my full view.
Overtaking on a left hand bend
This requires a good long look at the road you expect to be riding on AFTER the overtake. Observing for a while will let you know that there is no approaching traffic and there will be no vehicle in the road you cannot see (from behind the target vehicle).
Overtaking on a right hand bend
Right hand bend overtakes are easy if you are in the pre-overtake position in time. You will get a clear view of the road past the target vehicle and are in the correct position to commence the overtake.
Overtaking on a right hand bend, with second overtake on straight
Right hand bend overtake as above.
Second overtake on straight – brief pause to check safety but no need to pull in.
Double white lines
Where there are double white lines they often come to an end after a bend, so observation and anticipation are key to making progress.
Overtaking in the twisties
It is possible to overtake even in a very tight series of bends. The key is planning and anticipating opportunities – usually on right hand bends. Correct gear selection enables firm acceleration without which this is not usually possible. The selected entry point after the overtake will often be the turn in point for the next bend.
Overtaking on single track roads
Be confident, be decisive, be quick! Many drivers will pull to the left and leave more than enough room to slip past.
Overtake your fellow biker
Any overtake should be courteous, but overtaking other bikers particularly so. Preferably give them plenty of warning by positioning yourself in their right mirror then pull past giving a reasonably wide berth.
How not to overtake your fellow biker
Do not blast past without warning 6 inches from their right shoulder. It is unfriendly. I did not follow through the first overtake as I thought that was unfriendly enough, the second overtake is very poor. See how the person being overtaken pulls to the left in alarm.
Dangerous overtakes
Careless overtakes by junctions are very dangerous. More riders are killed at junctions than on corners according to the last set of figures I studied. Do you think this rider saw the truck approaching the junction on the right? There could have been other lower vehicles in front of the truck. If they turned left they would NOT have expected to have a bike on their side of the road.