Those damned leaves...

[Trumpettom001]

Has anyone noticed almost a base instinct whilst riding?

In the dry, I have no problem whatsoever taking a corner at high speed and leaning waaaayyy into the corner, however with the amount of rain/leaves on the road, I just can't seem to take corners at all... I know I have plenty of grip, (for my reduced speed) but i still find that I CANNOT lean into the corner.... It's really annoying as I then have to expend energy accelerating again..

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I take them in the wet looking like a kid with stablizers on, but its easier than pciking up the bike and yourself off the road !

 

[Matty]

Wet leaves are probably worse than more serious winter weather, looking forward to those really cold dry winter days when you can really motor!

 

[GrasB]

Like anything your grip confidence level isn't taken average or maximum grip it's minimum, you know leaves can cause you to slide suddenly without warning so you back off.

 

[2Loose]

Anything shiny on the road surface screams 'be extra careful' at the moment.
If it ain't leaves, it's diesel or wet fag packets etc.
I found myself squaring off a roundabout this morning and wondering why...then taking note of the hungry WVM behind me and thinking better safe than sorry in these slippery times.
Rubber on tarmac is pretty grippy, but add an extra in between layer and being careful is nothing to be embarrassed about - rather be slow on the corners than laying in them.

 

[BentMikey]

There are old riders, and there are bold riders, but there aren't any old bold riders.

 

[hackbike 666]

Leaves are slippery,that applies to trains and probably vehicles.

 

[Black Sheep]

there's a corner that I end up drifting in the dry and a roundabout on the way home from work that I end up drifting in the wet, all good fun

i know how bad leaves are as I spun my wife's car on a roundabout because of them, and no I was not driving too fast,

my biking reactions kicked in and I controlled it tho

 

[BentMikey]

Leaves are slippery,that applies to trains and probably vehicles.

*snigger*

 

[ianrauk]

+1 nasty nasty

Wet leaves are probably worse than more serious winter weather, looking forward to those really cold dry winter days when you can really motor!

 

[XmisterIS]

As a motorbike rider and a cyclist, I am paranoid about wet leaves!

I've lost the front end on my motorbike due to wet leaves before ...

 

[hackbike 666]

*snigger*

Grow up.

Isn't it funny when you come up against a thing that you know absolutely nothing about you act like a complete tit.

As a motorbike rider and a cyclist, I am paranoid about wet leaves!

I've lost the front end on my motorbike due to wet leaves before ...

Doesn't surprise me.I see them all over the road quite thick or mulched in,in places.

I bet they catch a few motons out as well.

 

[jonny jeez]

Has anyone noticed almost a base instinct whilst riding?

In the dry, I have no problem whatsoever taking a corner at high speed and leaning waaaayyy into the corner, however with the amount of rain/leaves on the road, I just can't seem to take corners at all... I know I have plenty of grip, (for my reduced speed) but i still find that I CANNOT lean into the corner.... It's really annoying as I then have to expend energy accelerating again..

+1...although that "Base Instinct" is probably the thing that keeps you safe....so dont try to fight it too much!!

....I always ride within my comfort zone and...right now, that means going around corners reallllly slow and realllly upright.

That said the last couple of days have been bright, dry and leafless

 

[BentMikey]

Grow up.

Here, have a virtual coffee anna man hug, mate.


p.s. GOTCHA!!! And I don't wanna grow up, I want to have fun teasing my mates, and live life to the full.

 

[Browser]

Bicycle tyre on tarmac = predictable grip levels.
Bicycle tyre on wet leaves on tarmac = Russian roulette!!
As soon as the sideways force of a cornering tyre gets onto leaves they will surrender what little friction they have and slide over each other, especially if they're wet. It just ain't worth trying to be any sort of hard-man (or -woman) hero and maintain your speed, as sooner or later you will come a cropper.