Where do you ride?!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 10,788
Likes: 2,222
From: Texas
On two lane roads, riding to the left side of the lane has saved my azz more than once from deer coming across from the right side of the roadway. Gave me that split second I needed to avoid hitting the little sumbitches.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 270
From: Wellsboro, PA
Left side of the lane. In PA, not many "3-lanes" like CT. Right lane on interstates unless passing, and still on the left side in the passing lane. Back to the left side of the right lane after passing.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 19
From: Dayton
Not that I'm the expert, but I ride where it feels safest and that changes based on traffic. If there's on-coming traffic, I drift to the center of the lane (cars tend to drift over the center line a lot). If there's no on-coming traffic (and if there's folks in front and/or behind me) I ride in the left part of the lane.
The center of a lane is always in the worst condition, so I avoid it at all other times.
Highways, I like the right lane with the wide shoulder 'escape' route.
Around here, though, the highway is a crazy madhouse of speeding, lane jockeying and slamming on brakes to make a 3 lane change at the last second, so I avoid it when I can.
The center of a lane is always in the worst condition, so I avoid it at all other times.
Highways, I like the right lane with the wide shoulder 'escape' route.
Around here, though, the highway is a crazy madhouse of speeding, lane jockeying and slamming on brakes to make a 3 lane change at the last second, so I avoid it when I can.
Thats me to Benway, I ride wherever it is safest at the moment. For instance, if you are approaching slow moving traffic coming toward you on a two lane and the leader has traffic backed up I will move to the right so the joker that is just chomping at the bit to pass him will see me sooner. See someone making a left turn across traffic in front of you, I move to the far left almost on the shoulder and maybe give my headlight a shake so he will see that I am behind the car in front of me. There is no "best place to ride" as it changes with every second. I do the same if I am riding staggered in a group and wind up on the right side by chance, if I see someone crossing I will move to the left and get out from behind the bike ahead of me. If you are lined up in a diagonal just right the crossing car does not know that you are there because you are hidden behind the other bike and he might just gas it as soon as the lead bike clears and t-bone you.
I tend to ride in the stips where the cars' tires tend to be...either right or left side of the lane doesn't really matter.
I know a lot of people suggest the center, but I avoid that just because there tends to be a lot more oil, sand/rocks, and other road gunk there.
I know a lot of people suggest the center, but I avoid that just because there tends to be a lot more oil, sand/rocks, and other road gunk there.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, TX
I almost always ride in the 'sweet spot' between the left tire rut and the grease line. This keeps me visible in both mirrors of the guy in front of me, but maintains me enough in the lane to discourage lane-sharing.