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KGT Passing

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:45 am
by trevor
Hi folks.
After chatting with Peter and John T this am I thought it a good idea to start a thread with regards to passing on the descent of KGT. Over the course of the last few weeks I have seen this occur 2 or 3 times. I ride this descent a bit to the left to apex in to the corner and stay as far away from oncoming traffic as I can while maintaining my speed to hammer on. My worry is that someone passing on my right would take my line and a crash at 60+kmh could occur.
Some of you may recall a crash last winter on KGT where a passing rider on the inside got squeezed in to a hedge (or said hedge jumped out at the rider). I think that passing at speed in to a corner on the inside is risky and should be avoided - especially as the speed is ramped up such as it is on the KGT descent.
Thoughts?
And by no means am I calling anyone out here.

Re: KGT Passing

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:12 am
by stevierooks
Where is KGT? I'm thinking Island View?

Rooks

Re: KGT Passing

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:40 am
by Rolf
KGT = King George Terrace. And I'm pretty sure the crash last year occurred at the top of the first rise, just before the blind right bend -- so on the ascent, not the descent.

You make a good point, Trevor. If ever I pass on the right coming off the Terrace, I make sure to give a good bellow before I'm overlapping wheels. But it's likely better practice to just tuck in behind, or wait until passing on the left is safe. I think the same maxims apply from sprinting: hold your line and only be unpredictable if it's safe to do so.

Re: KGT Passing

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:10 am
by trevor
The hedge point was more of a "see what happens when you pass inside going in to a corner" kinda thing.

Re: KGT Passing

Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:40 pm
by Lister Farrar
Trevor makes a good point about there being 'passing on the inside', and 'passing on the INSIDE!'.

If a leading rider swings wide to start a corner, then is following the appropriate line to the apex, passing on the inside is a very risky and impolite thing. On the other hand if the lead rider blows his approach and misses the apex, the following rider should not just follow, but try to take the appropriate line, which may very well be on the leaders inside.