Better Riding Techniques - Fall Riding

[Zwartie]

OK, arguably this one is a month or two behind as we've already had our first snowfall of the season and if you live anywhere near Buffalo, NY they've already had a season's worth of snow in the span of just a few days. That being said, I was talking to a local farmer just the other day and he was telling me that they still need to get the rest of their crops off the fields so I'm thinking it's still fall, or at least harvest season.

IS FALL THE BEST RIDING SEASON?
About  six weeks ago (mid-October) on a Saturday morning I decided to go for a ride to the rural town of Clinton, ON – about an hour and a bit north of my place in London. It was a crisp, fall morning – one of those days that feels just right to make up any excuse to go for a ride. Is there a better time of year to ride? In Ontario the trees put on an amazing display of brilliance, there are no bugs to contend with and then there's that fall scent in the air – a potpourri of fallen leaves with a hint of manure. You also realize that the riding season is pretty much behind you and any riding from now until the snow hits the ground is a bonus - you're riding on borrowed time. As I recall, it was just a few degrees above freezing when I left my driveway but that didn't matter to me. The electric vest was plugged in and the forecast called for blue skies and sunshine. One of the nice things about fall riding is that the air might be cold, but compared to a similar day in the spring, the ground is typically still warm so there's less chance of ice on the road (less, not zero). I opted to take the secondary roads instead of the main highway but then I prefer the secondary roads pretty much any time. The purpose of this particular ride (like I needed one) was to take a look at a motorcycle course that we've been running in Clinton for the past two seasons. I hadn't had a chance to check it out and wanted to see what the parking lot layout looks like as compared to our main location in London.

TRACTOR: 1, MOTORCYCLE: 0
It may have been because I was heading out to a motorcycle safety course that I had safety on the brain that morning, specifically as it related fall riding. It took me back to an incident that happened three years earlier to a former colleague of mine. I say "former colleague" because he is now off on long-term disability due to a motorcycle accident that broke his leg up badly on a nice crisp fall day, just like this one. Around the same time that my colleague met misfortune I was in The Netherlands with my parents and brother for a pilgrimage to the "old country". One of the highlights of the trip was the day that my brother John and I rented a couple BMWs and followed our cousin Albert on his Triumph Tiger 1050 through the Dutch countryside.  During that ride I mounted a small video recorder on the handlebars of my bike to capture some footage of the ride. Later that evening while reviewing it at Albert's place, we watched a clip where the three of us were caught behind a large farm tractor for a few kilometers. In Holland, as I'm sure with the rest of Europe, the roads are much narrower than in North America yet the farm equipment is the same size so there's not much room on the road for anything else. As the video showed, there was a canal running parallel to the road on the right and side-streets on the left. We then turned right (still stuck behind the tractor) to go over the canal and then immediately left continuing in the same direction the canal now on our left. It was at that point that my cousin passed the tractor and we followed suit. I made a comment about being stuck behind the tractor and Albert said that he waited until the canal was on our left side as he makes it a policy to never pass a tractor if it has an opportunity to turn left. For some reason that statement sunk into my thick (Dutch-Canadian) skull. As soon as I got back home and returned to work I found out about my colleague's accident, including some of the basic details – he was riding in the country, went to pass piece of farm machinery (I think it was a combine) when it made a left turn the moment he was beside it. At that point there was nothing he could do but brace for impact. The bike was a write-off and he was lucky to have survived. It's amazing how a ride in the country on a beautiful fall day can turn into something very ugly.

"DEERE" SEASON
Most anyone I talk to about the hazards of riding motorcycles will bring up the issue of deer, or if you live in more northern climes, maybe even moose. There is no arguing that wildlife is something to be on the lookout for and we know that they tend to me most prevalent at dawn and dusk. That doesn't mean that we can let our guard down in the middle of the day when the sun is sitting high in the sky. Those tractors, combines, manure spreaders and hay wagons can be just as unpredictable as any wildlife out there. Whether you are catching up to one, it's coming toward you in the opposite direction or from the left or right side-road you need to slow down and keep your eyes up. Look for the signs – Farm equipment often enters and exits the same part of a field or driveway and the typical dirt-laden tire tracks can indicate where. You may also want to remind yourself that if it is or has been raining those dirt tracks can become slippery hazards of their own. If you've ever had the pleasure of following a John Deere (or Case, or Massey Ferguson, etc...) you will also note that they are not always the most stable of vehicles on the road. They tend to sway from one side to the other at speed. Sometimes they drive on the shoulder and for seemingly no reason swerve back onto the road. And don't count on the equipment operator seeing you either, especially if you are behind or beside them. That large farm implement they're driving or towing makes for one massive blind spot.  Many of the larger tractors have articulated steering which is great for maneuvering in a field but on the road that tight turning radius can put them directly in your path in the blink of an eye. As with any potential hazard, it's best to play the "what-if" game. Is there anyone trailing behind that tractor that is heading toward you and if so, are they going to pull out to pass just as you and the tractor are about to cross paths? If you can't see around that tractor, chances are neither can anyone else.

COUNTRY ROAD, TAKE ME HOME...
Some (myself included) like to ride at a "spirited pace" once we've left the confines of the city while others slow things down a bit. Whatever the case, we still need to be vigilant and alert at all times. Farm equipment is just one of the many hazards in the country. What other hazards lurk around the next corner or junction? Letting your guard down for even a moment on a motorcycle can be catastrophic. The right attitude is just like riding gear – it needs to be on every time you ride. Go out and enjoy those country roads this fall, just make sure you make it home safely.

Zwartie

[FJmonkey]

Well said Ben, consider this a PSA to our fellow riders.

[ribbert]

I like the "Deere" season, very good. Lots of interesting observations there and good advice. The one I relate to most is the mud and clay dragged onto the road from tractors and harvesters exiting paddocks, even worse when there is no tractor in sight.

The observations on farm machinery movement is all too true. They forget they are on a public roads and are capable of turning sharply in a heartbeat, I always exercise great caution around them. Good thing their slow speed does allow for a nano second overtake when the opportunity arises and provides an opportunity to ring the FJ out through the gears, again!

I absolutely agree that Autumn (Fall) is the best riding time of the year by a county mile. Cool crisp mornings, temps that comfortably accommodate the amount of clothing I like to wear and nature putting on a real show, love it.

I had my first experience with a heated vest this year, love that too.

I feel bad for you guys getting snowed in for a few months but the Summer here is not as good as it sounds,  I do the least riding all year over this period and no trips.

Noel