What’s the worst that can happen? Traffic chaos
Pocket Guides#13: Coming unstuck
After every Globebusters expedition we hold a debrief, going over what went well, what didn’t and anything we weren’t expecting. If any riders had problems, we look at when, where and how any accidents or injuries occurred. The idea is to stop the same things happening on future trips. A lot of what causes motorcycle accidents is the same wherever you are in the world, but there are plenty of other dangers we don’t often encounter in the UK or Europe. Here are a few to think about:
Strong winds
A head-on wind knocks concentration, increases fatigue and hammers fuel economy. A tail wind gives an eerie, quiet sensation and can trick you into riding too fast. A crosswind is the worst: determine which direction it’s coming from and adjust your position so you’ve space to be blown across the lane. Use a lower gear and countersteer to counteract the force of the wind.
Snow and ice
For fresh, thin snow get up on the pegs and ride as you would on gravel. Deeper, wetter snow is passable, but it’s slow going as you paddle the bike through. Always keep it slow and smooth, be light with the controls and turn off the ABS. Ice is a bigger problem. If you’re on your own, consider turning back, or get off the bike and walk with it.
River crossings
The golden rule: look before you leap. Watch other vehicles go through. If in doubt, walk it to find out There’s a good chance you’ll find yourself riding at altitude, which is anything above 2400m. You risk getting altitude sickness if you climb too high, too fast, so go slowly. To acclimatise try to ride high and sleep low. Stay hydrated and avoid alcohol. If going over 4000m, consider taking anti-altitude sickness drugs, but be aware of side effects.
Wildlife
what you’re up against. If it’s soft, your bike may sink in and go deeper. If the water’s deep enough to go into the air intake or exhaust, it’ll flood the engine, so tape up all the holes and push it across. Always be up-stream of the bike, so if it goes down, you don’t go down under it. If you’re riding it, set your line, keep the bike moving at a fast walking pace, and focus on the exit.
High altitude
Though wonderful to see, animals can be a serious hazard. If there are road signs warning you, take note. No signs? Droppings or manure on the road, a fresh roadkill, or buzzards circling all mean that something could dart out of the bushes. Keep your speed down and your eyes moving, especially if
you spot a herd split on both sides of the road, or youngsters separated from the main pack. If one animal runs across, another is sure to follow. Congestion is rife is all big cities, but if you try to ride as you would at home in developing countries, you’ll definitely come unstuck. Are locals stopping at a red light? If not, think about going with the flow. In many places pavements and grass verges are all open to you. But you will need to develop razor-sharp reactions.
The view
We’ve had people ride into barriers and ditches while looking at the breathtaking views. If the scenery is that good, stop and get off your bike.