Trail Braking

[popkat]

I prefer left handers, and I've always wondered if it has something to do with being right handed and footed. i also skateboard and turning right is much less natural than turning left - same when I ski. Weird.

Never thought about being Left or Right handed. It's true, most people have a preference. You could also chuck into the equation we get more practice at left handers in the UK due to all the roundabouts or the camber of the road so the bike has a better contact patch and the bike feels more secure.
Tony's got a good point too. I never like entering a right hander if it's a bit tight and visibility is poor. It can put your head in a very vulnerable position for oncoming traffic Psychology plays a part too

Surely you mean right handers in the UK ?, Roundabouts go round to the right..
I think the preference has to do more with body position in corners, you may lean differently in rights and lefts, one may feel more natural and the other not so. Then there's what your mind is doing, if you think your not so good at left handers then you won't be.. I know when on track my position feels more awkward and less natural when I go left but In reality I go round lefts and rights just the same, my mind has no preference but I sometimes feel less good on lefts even though I'm not. maybe due to no where near as many lefts.



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[Pete.L]

No wonder I find roundabouts so scary.

[freeridenick]

If the link works here an alternative view.

[zakisbak]

I too always have two fingers on the brake lever as I read an article that explained the distance you can cover while moving your fingers into position;it can be considerable!
I always look at a side junction car's front wheels for movement and make eye contact with the driver.
Always use front and rear brakes.

[acrmnsm]

That video is good. I read the other thread on not using the rear brake and it blew my mind, always used it much like in the vid, in a straight line only, helps to scrub off speed, and round town, hill starts, at traffic lights etc etc.

For my test I was taught when you stop at lights:
Right foot down
Find neutral
Swap feet and hold bike on back brake.
As it changes, swap back hit first and hold clutch
Swap back to right foot on brake and pull away.

Nowadays I am a bit lazy and just hold the clutch..

But then only yesterday I was helping a youngster who had just passed their test do their chain adjustment and they could not do a hill start to leave my place "I can't hold the front brake and accelerate at the same time!"

So they got a long an boring training session on the use of the back brake...