> stopped taking > a racing line through the turns on roads that I'm unfamiliar with
That's healthy. > or already > know that gravel hazards exist(and I've been riding alot of uncharted > territory lately) i.e. I won't cross the center of the lane in a turn. That's also healthy. Anyone who takes the racing line when not on a track, is, IMHO, a f*cking idiot. The racing line is derived from the fact that 1) everybody is going in the same direction, 2) there is no oncoming traffic (kind of related to #1) 3) everybody who is out there (when racing, at any rate) is licensed and probably reasonably good at what they are doing, which is certainly NOT the case on public roads, at least in my area (DC). When riding on the street, where #1 and #2 usually don't apply, using the racing line will probably have one result: You're gonna die eventually, probably when you hit somebody head-on. Even if it doesn't happen, you are screwing the rest of us by your irresponsible behavior/ riding habits. Ever heard of the 5%ers? That's the 5% of any group that makes the rest of the group look bad. Please be aware that I use the term 'you' in its editorial sense at least to some degree. Regards, Henry S. Winokur 94 GTS1000, AMA, MRF, Nationally Certified Riding Instructor Columbia, MD Ride for Kids Task Force West Bethesda, MD USA
