Defensive Riding Part 3 - Positioning Yourself on the Lane

One of the nice beautiful riding days last season, Icager would avoid any major obstacles on his/her
was cruising 30 feet behind a cage at 40 MPH or so,course, and you would notice it.
can't remember exactly anymore. I was riding at theAnother aspect to consider is that if you were to
middle of the lane, so that my wheels would travel inride on the right side of your lane, near the bank of
between those of the cage in front of me.the road, cagers waiting on intersections would
Everything was nice and quiet and I was minding mymaybe assume that you are a slowly moving moped
own business. Then suddenly there was an object onor a scooter. Well I don't know if anyone really do
the road, perfectly placed at the exact middle of theride on the right side, haven't seen it happening. Just
lane, waiting for my front tire to crunch over it. Canta near-theoretical point to consider.
remember anymore what it was, a rock, piece ofSo what I like to do is to ride on the left side of my
wood or a piece of a cage. Somehow I managed tolane, near the painted markings. That way I can
steer aside and avoided running over it.better avoid obstacles on the road, try not to look
Immediately after, I started to think why thislike a moped, and I have lots of space on both
situation had happened. I had made two mistakes,directions if I need to evade something.
riding too near the cage in front of me, and not ridingWhen raining, these two tracks made by cage tires
at the same line that the cages left wheels weredo fill with water, which isn't very comfortable. Then,
travelling. When a cage is in front of you, even whenI simply ride at the middle of the lane and leave very
you have lots of braking space between you two,much distance to the cage in front, so that I can
you cant see ahead of the cage. If an object isbrake or counter-steer an obstacle on the road
placed at the road, it will simply pop up on your fieldsurface, if need arises.
of vision from under the cage. Too close, you haveAlso, very often the road surface is repaired with
no time to brake or counter-steer away from it. Butnew asphalt on the two lines that cage tires carve
if you ride at the same line that the cages lefton the road. When raining, new asphalt is extremely
wheels are using, then you probably will have aslippery, it can honestly be like ice.
smooth surface ahead of you. After all, surely the