I had a 'subtle'bad habit(which I work on every ride)of looking at oncoming cages in a curve.It's gotten me into trouble at least once with a very bad crash that I could have avoided had I focused on where I wanted to be in the lane instead of watching that RV.Subconciously I didn't want to nail it(and focused on it),and consequently ended up drifting off the right shoulder.Now I focus on MY lane and MY path.That was several years ago...but I remember it well.By the time I refocused on the path,I was already into the gravel.Too late to do anything but straighten her up best I could and ride it out into the dirt(and boulders).Applying mild rear braking,but just too little grip and too little time.
I knew all about push right go right and all that,but the quickness of everything totally blocked any idea of leaning in further.I saw(the shoulder and the thick gravel),I realized(can't straighten it up and lean now),I crashed.That fast.Had I hit my rear hard,I might have lowsided,which would have been much better.45 minutes later I woke up in a helicopter.
Had time to review what happened.Determined to never fixate on an oncoming cage in a curve.Stopped worrying about if we were gonna collide.Just pulled my eyes back to where I want to be.So much better after I started doing that.
I do all my lane options assessments with oncoming cars approaching curves well before entering,if I can see up that far.I'f I can't really tell because of road conditions,I definitely slow up and stay alert.Like cresting hills with curves in em.You never know what's coming up...especially here with all the DUI drivers out there.
* Last updated by: Grn14 on 5/7/2020 @ 3:10 PM *