About riding on auto-pilot

[rodr]

Yesterday I took a lunchtime spin where I ended up heading home down 121/Monticello. The road alternated wet and dry but traction was good and I wasn't worried about it. Just enjoying the curves and forest at a moderate-to-brisk pace, not thinking about much of anything.

Suddenly the rear started fishtailing a bit. It quickly hooked up again, but I was angry with myself because I didn't remember what I was doing or why, and thus had no idea what I did wrong. I could have crashed and didn't learn a damn thing.

The moral: Always pay attention to what you're doing and why you're doing it. If you don't you will not improve as a rider.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Scary Rod.

I have had the same thing while driving my car to work and back some days. Scary to realize you can't remember anything you've been doing but know you've been doing it.

 

[Gary856]

For a dirt rider that's just business as usual, and dirt experience helps street riding when it comes to sliding. If you ride relaxed, the bike recovers seemingly by itself, like you described.

 

[nine_inch_rear]

I hear you, I did the same thing on the freeway once. Took an exit too fast, leaned hard, and made it. Could have been a fcked up outcome if I was a noob. I was just way too relaxed at my surroundings

 

[louemc]

For a dirt rider that's just business as usual, and dirt experience helps street riding when it comes to sliding. If you ride relaxed, the bike recovers seemingly by itself, like you described.

Can't include every dirt rider...
But... for obsessive compulsive types like myself... It sure holds true.

 

[eworthington]

Riding on autopilot but "unaware" is a big reason for crashes, IMHO. Each of my street crashes (in 20+ years of riding) happened mostly because just before the crash I wasn't paying attention to riding, and then when something happened which sprang me out of my fog, I over-reacted or reacted poorly.

So, I find it a good idea to catch myself when I get into the autopilot mode, so that I can then force myself to actively think about and monitor my riding. It's not always easy to do, but when I find myself thinking about something other than riding, I force myself to get present and in the moment, to think about traction and tire temperatures and traffic conditions and so on. It doesn't matter what, but forcing my mind to think about anything related to riding is better than daydreaming about something else.

Anyone else have any good ideas on how to prevent the autopilot "oopsies" from happening?

 

[EastBayDave]

on/off ramps are the worst/dangerous place for moto's. You just don't know how long it's been since the clunker leaking oil/antifreeze/tranny fluid has been there. You lean into the corner & bam. On your butt before you can even think about what's happening. See it meself many times....

I used to enjoy "cloverleafing" until one of my buds totaled his brand new Guzzi Le Mans on the 84W offramp f/da 101. Nowadays hit ramps w/caution looking as far ahead as I can see...

FWIW, IMHO

 

[Pushrod]

And this is why motorcycle pilots are superior vehicle operators than the typical cage steerer.

 

[LectricBill]

Anyone else have any good ideas on how to prevent the autopilot "oopsies" from happening?

For me, it all starts when I start. I make sure I've got my head in the game before twisting the throttle every morning. I also try to mix up my commute routes so "routine" becomes "novel". If I catch my thoughts on anything other than the here and now, a simple word brings me back fast: FOCUS! But I find that the intention of focus when I start up, makes the wandering much less frequent.

Also, I occasionally make sure I watch some crash compilations on the YouTube. Seriously. Not the ones of squids slipping off the back of their wheelies-gone-wrong, but real traffic situations. That's the reality of risks of what I'm doing and my mental game needs to get reminded of that from time to time. A little bit of fear does wonders for my focus.

 

[canyonrat]

I have had one unexplained fish tail, flat damp road. I went back to the spot and examined the road surface; no explanation other then damp road surface.

Another time two of us hit diesel fuel in the road on a slight curve. I stayed up but the other rider went down. No injuries. Surface was damp but the fuel was EVERYWHERE and we could barely stand on it and had a very hard time walking the bike down the road to a driveway.

Neither situation and neither of us were an "auto pilot" situation, but still happened.

Conclusion:

Cold tires and damp roads are more risky to tide on.

 

[LikeWaah]

I also try to mix up my commute routes so "routine" becomes "novel".

+1 This helps me too. Sometimes it's just boring taking the same route home every day, so sometimes I'll change it up just for fun, or if I got off work earlier than usual, I'll take the twisties back home.

 

[WWWobble]

For me, it all starts when I start. I make sure I've got my head in the game before twisting the throttle every morning.

I think this is real good advice.

Before I begin a day ride, I look at the bike. Seriously. Tires, forks, chain, oil level, coolant, just LOOK at bike. Anything different or unusual? All good?

OK, suit up and go.

If I'm distracted, or in a hurry, this little exercise becomes VERY ANNOYING, and that tells me in no uncertain terms --- take the car.

 

[clutchslip]

I crashed the one time that I am certain that I was thinking about business, instead of riding.

...Anyone else have any good ideas on how to prevent the autopilot "oopsies" from happening?

I do. Go faster. Go so fast that you MUST think about what you are doing or you will die. Then, when you realize how CRAZY this technique is, you can ease back on the speed and still maintain proper concentration.

However, I can totally check-out with my cruise control on, touring down 101, etc. at a sane speed. When I start noticing the kind of weeds on the side of the road, I turn off the cruise control, risk a ticket, and get my head back in the game.

 

[bpw]

Yesterday I took a lunchtime spin where I ended up heading home down 121/Monticello. The road alternated wet and dry but traction was good and I wasn't worried about it. Just enjoying the curves and forest at a moderate-to-brisk pace, not thinking about much of anything.

Suddenly the rear started fishtailing a bit. It quickly hooked up again, but I was angry with myself because I didn't remember what I was doing or why, and thus had no idea what I did wrong. I could have crashed and didn't learn a damn thing.

The moral: Always pay attention to what you're doing and why you're doing it. If you don't you will not improve as a rider.

At least your auto-pilot is pretty good and you kept it upright.

 

[jpoppa]

I agree with Gary856 dirt riding does help with street and we do make better cage drivers for sure,last time I went down I too was daydreaming on auto pilot then the old shit i am going down realization hit me. The other day I was coming up centennial going up to grizzly Peak before the rains came and the super thick paint strips there right by Cal stadium are sketch the rear stepped out but luckily this time i was paying attention and backed off enough to straighten her out. Be careful on Grizzly now lots of run off from the hillside accumulates on the right lane going up Grizzly, and many other spots I am sure, rocks mud branches and the like.

 

[TTTom]

Yesterday I took a lunchtime spin where I ended up heading home down 121/Monticello. The road alternated wet and dry but traction was good and I wasn't worried about it. Just enjoying the curves and forest at a moderate-to-brisk pace, not thinking about much of anything.

Suddenly the rear started fishtailing a bit. It quickly hooked up again, but I was angry with myself because I didn't remember what I was doing or why, and thus had no idea what I did wrong...

It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong at all... just the opposite. You hit a slippery spot, you handled it fine, end of story.

IMO that relaxed state is exactly where you want to be whether you're throwing a baseball or shooting free throws or riding a motorcycle... too much thinking doesn't improve your performance, it only takes you out of the zone.

 

[louemc]

It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong at all... just the opposite. You hit a slippery spot, you handled it fine, end of story.

IMO that relaxed state is exactly where you want to be whether you're throwing a baseball or shooting free throws or riding a motorcycle... too much thinking doesn't improve your performance, it only takes you out of the zone.

...Thinking is too slow, and not precisely correct thinking either.

Just knowing, Rocks. Correct confidence= calm & relaxed

 

[rodr]

It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong at all... just the opposite. You hit a slippery spot, you handled it fine, end of story.

IMO that relaxed state is exactly where you want to be whether you're throwing a baseball or shooting free throws or riding a motorcycle... too much thinking doesn't improve your performance, it only takes you out of the zone.

...Thinking is too slow, and not precisely correct thinking either.

Just knowing, Rocks. Correct confidence= calm & relaxed

Perhaps it depends on the person. For my riding I find that being mentally engaged, trying to make logical and conscious choices, works better.

Yes thinking can be slow, but here the choice is between thinking fast vs. not thinking at all. When you get really good at thinking at speed, that may look a lot like "just knowing". IMO it's not right to discourage new riders from thinking.

 

[louemc]

Perhaps it depends on the person. For my riding I find that being mentally engaged, trying to make logical and conscious choices, works better.

Yes thinking can be slow, but here the choice is between thinking fast vs. not thinking at all. When you get really good at thinking at speed, that may look a lot like "just knowing". IMO it's not right to discourage new riders from thinking.

I think like TTTom, I don't think like You, or NBOtt does .... And I think it is safe to say, You don't know what I'm talkin about, when I'm talkin.

 

[NB0tt]

I think like TTTom, I don't think like You do And I think it is safe to say, You don't know what I'm talkin about, when I'm talkin.

pfffffffffffffffff