Swiss Cheese, and it's role in Motorcycle Safety

Who doesn’t like cheese?  Whether the milk product comes from cows, sheep, goats or camels, people the world over treasure thousands of mouth-watering varieties. Heck, even non-dairy vegetableists happily consume products labeled as cheese.  

For the sake of this discussion, we’ll zero in on Swiss cheese. What? What does Swiss cheese have to do with motorcycle safety? Almost nothing actually; it’s the holes we should be worried about.

 

But first, let’s look at an actual on-road motorcycle incident which occurred in September 2019. It happened on a sunny day at a minor junction on a straight stretch of clean, dry road. Beyond the riders involved - a tour group - there was no other traffic on the scene at the time. Interestingly, every one of the people involved were competent high-mileage riders who had benefitted from on-road advanced rider training. Thankfully, although one motorbike was too damaged to continue, no one was seriously injured.

Image courtesy of Olivier Rheme

No. 1 was the group leader. Before turning right into the sideroad and parking area he did not signal to the rider immediately behind to mark the junction. He assumed that those who were following saw him exiting the main road and would simply follow. The error? The leader did not properly assign the task, and a specific spot, for marking the turn-off.  

 

The rider of bike no. 2, aware that some remaining riders were well back, stopped in this location to mark the junction. The error? This person was partially out of the sight of following riders. 

 

Rider no. 3, upon catching up with the first few riders, did not immediately see #2 marking the junction, nor other riders already stopped in the parking area. A split second later #3 did see either the junction marker, or the riders in the parking lot, commenced very hard braking and came to a complete stop in their lane. The error? Not first taking rear observation, such as a mirror check, before (hard) braking. 

No. 4, whose focus was on #3, was able to react and brake in time to avoid colliding with #3. Rider 4’s error? None, although rather unfortunately this rider received the biggest battering. 

 

Rider no. 5, whose initial focus was on riders #3 and #4 ahead, became momentarily distracted by the riders in the parking area, at exactly the same moment as #3 began braking very hard.  As a result, #5 was not left with sufficient time to change direction, reduce speed, and avoid careening into #4 and #3.  No. 5’s error? Removing their focus on the most immediate hazards; the riders ahead. 

 

So, what do holes in cheese have to do with this accident?  It illustrates the Swiss cheese model of accident causation, originally formally advanced by Dante Orlandella and James T. Reason of the University of Manchester. The model is used in risk analysis and risk management, including aviation safety, engineering, healthcare, and as the principle behind

layered security. 

 

In the Swiss Cheese model, defenses against failure are modeled as a series of barriers, represented as slices of cheese. The holes in the slices represent weaknesses in individual parts of the system and are continually varying in size and position across the slices. The system produces failures when a hole in each slice momentarily aligns, permitting (in Reason's words) "a trajectory of accident opportunity", so that a hazard passes through holes in all the slices, leading to a failure. (source: Wikipedia)

 

In the accident scenario illustrated above, none of the small errors, on their own, were enough to cause the accident. It was only because they all lined up at the same time, that the mishap occurred. There was a very linear “trajectory of accident opportunity". Remove any of the seemingly small errors and this incident would never have happened. 

 

What can we learn from this? That very small changes at initial stages can create significantly different outcomes further along. A misjudged lane position, inappropriate speed for road and traffic conditions, a missing observation, a momentary lapse of attention or a distraction may or may not make much difference on its own. However, depending on timing, and the opportunity holes lining up, we can all too easily find ourselves at the point of failure - an accident.  

 

So, whether you’re planning to visit England’s Cheddar Gorge, Roquefort in France, or Gouda in the Netherlands, be alert to Swiss cheese holes. Although not shown on any Michelin roadmap, they’re everywhere. 

 

Michael Moloney ©2019

peakrideradventure.com

U-Turns as the Way Forward

When first learning to ride a motorcycle most of us* begin with plenty of slow-speed practice, including U-turns.  It’s a matter of basic bike control.  All too often these key foundation skills are underdeveloped or become rusty.  It’s not sexy to ride slowly…or is it?  (*There are plenty of people whose first-time-on-a-bike antics allow them to forever live in shame on YouTube.)

Slow speed riding comprises a specific set of skills requiring plenty of practice. We should

always be able to ride at slow speeds with confidence, especially in urban areas, in order to:

• travel slowly with prevailing traffic
• make tight turns in narrow streets 
• make U-turns
• manoeuvre in confined spaces, such as garages and parking areas
• filter – move safely between lanes of stationary traffic

Keys to confident slow-speed riding include: Observation – in particular, road surface and camber; Balance – keeping in mind your bike’s load; and, as ever, Looking where you want to go.

Specific machine control skills include:

• using the brakes with a bias to the rear.  The rear brake is your best friend in slow-speed manoeuvres
• slipping or ‘feathering’ the clutch at times to keep revs up and prevent the engine from stalling
• staying relaxed.  Tension reduces your ability to steer or lean, at any speed.  Breathe 

One of the best ways to look like a numpty on our bike is to display incompetency at low speeds.  Dropping both legs like ‘outriggers’ is a dead giveaway that a rider is not in complete control. (This shameful act has, at times, provoked verbal remonstrance from the writer.)  As with any other riding skill honest self-assessment is the key to moving forward, and regular practice is essential.

Which aspects of low-speed manoeuvring do you find more difficult?  Find a safe environment and take opportunities to practise any manoeuvres at which you feel less confident.  Consider visiting a local learn-to-ride school to observe how these skills are taught or, speak a properly qualified trainer.

Confidence and competence at low-speeds manifests itself at all speeds.  Be your inner tortoise, before unleashing your outer hare. 

(This missive includes content from Motorcycle Roadcraft)

Mike Moloney ©2017

The Road to Dorkdom

On a recent Peak Rider tour one of the participants briefly lamented looking like a dork.  Dorkdom; it’s a funny old thing that.  One rider’s hi-viz jacket is another’s eyesore.  A chap’s chaps are someone else’s laugh.

What defines cool or dorky is seldom much more than a fashion judgement.  Ambrose Bierce described fashion as, “A despot whom the wise ridicule and obey”.  The tension between fashion and function is exhibited in the bikes we ride, the accessories we install and the clothing we wear.  Cool or dorky?  It depends on which rickety soapbox a person chooses to stand on and the tint of the lens they peer through.

However, there is one thing which stands out as truly dorky.  It respects no brand or type of bike.  It has nothing to do with engine size or the perceived value of the equipment.  It might sometimes feature handlebar tassels or a paste-on pink Mohawk but could just as easily sport an expensive Rukka suit.  Whilst there can be plenty of farkle, there’s never sparkle.  It’s most often displayed by those who ride for recreational purposes.

Dorky riding is what we’re talking about.  Our ability to operate our machines, for better or worse, is on display every time we ride.  Even those who will never ever get on a motorcycle can recognize cack-handed riding when they see it. 

Dorky riding is easy to spot; it’s hazard in motion, manifested by a lack of planning & anticipation, poor lane positioning, inappropriate speed for circumstances, dangling legs as ‘outriggers’ during slow-speed maneuvers, and in dozens of other highly visible ways.  It can sometimes be accompanied by a cacophony of anti-social noise as riders attempt to ‘save lives’ or emulate racing bikes.

As a group, we are suckers for the aftermarket. It’s amazing how much money we’ll spent to make our bikes, and by extension ourselves, look cool.  As far back as 2004 the US motorcycle accessory market was estimated at $3.8 billion. In more recent times Berkshire Hathaway (Warren Buffet), agreed in 2015 to buy Detlev Louis Motorradvertriebs GmbH, a German motorcycle apparel and accessories retailer, for 400 million euros ($452 million). They know where the money is.

Go to any bike meet and what you’ll mostly find are people going from bike to bike admiring the ‘farkle’.  Wow, look at this, look at that!  Does any of it make a rider more proficient, safer and someone whose riding we might wish to imitate?  Nope.  All it does is burnish the ego, the sense of self-importance or self-image.  If sufficient riding skills are not evident then the façade disappears as soon as the bike begins to roll.  Dorkdom.

Ultimately, we are judged more for our actions than our appearance.  When a car or bike is poorly operated we soon stop valuing the machine. We rapidly switch to making judgements about the driver’s or rider’s behaviour.  Road rage anyone?  “That guy is an a**hole!”  A dork.

Wouldn’t it be better to work on enhancing riding skills and set a positive example which others might wish to follow?   There are some substantial payoffs.  Riding becomes mutually much safer and a lot more fun.  It’s much more meaningful, and sincere, to earn compliments for demonstrably well-developed skills rather than the power of your pocketbook.  One of the sweetest things heard is when a rider says, after witnessing advanced riding, “I want to ride like that!”

Advanced motorcycling is described as the ability to control the position and speed of the machine safely, systematically and smoothly, using road and traffic conditions to progress unobtrusively with skill and responsibility.  There’s nothing dorky about that.

Help is never far away.  All you have to do is ask. 

Mike Moloney ©2015

Fast and Furious?

Every so often we will hear someone suggesting that our ride-outs are "too fast". Let's see if we can shed some light on this.

With every participant's safety firmly in mind it is our policy that ride-outs should be run at legal road speeds where road and traffic conditions permit. Our ride-out leaders* do exactly this. In the pre-ride briefings participants are advised that everyone should 'ride their own ride", i.e. at a pace which is comfortable and safe for them. 

Because we want everyone to have a good time and not become lost each we employ the drop-off system where a rider 'marks' a junction by their presence, indicator lights and hand signals.  There also are regular stops to gather everyone up and there is a Tail-end Charlie or sweep rider.  There is absolutely no need to keep up with others who, for various reasons, may be riding at different speeds.  

It's a fact that some riders will negotiate bends more swiftly than others.  This may be due to higher levels of competence and confidence, an easier to ride machine or a combination of these.  While they may appear to be riding much faster they are simply carrying a more constant speed through bends.  They are not slowing down as much on bend entry and then having to recover their previous pace when the road opens up. 

If someone feels some sort of a need to 'keep up' it is a choice they are making, either consciously or unconsciously.  A motorcycle's speed is completely dependent on the input of its operator.  Only the individual rider can adjust their speed to what is appropriate for them in the circumstances.  It is completely and utterly their responsibility and most importantly, their choice.

Should ride-outs be run at speeds below the speed limit when it is perfectly safe to be at the speed limit?  In short, never.  Just as it is incumbent on road users to avoid hazards* there is an equal responsibility to avoid becoming one or creating one.  

In terms of group riding traveling in an artificially slow manner quickly creates a multi-vehicle rolling road hazard, never mind the mounting frustration of those stuck in the queue behind.  There is also the fact that most Highway Codes clearly state that you should not hold up other traffic. 

If someone is of the view that a Peak Rider Adventure ride-out is ‘too fast’ it is simply because they are riding faster than they are comfortable with.  The solution is simple; slow down and ride at a pace better suited to current abilities.  Better, safer riders are self-aware and honest with themselves.  

Ask yourself the question, "Would I like to be a more proficient and safer motorcycle rider?"  If the answer is no then you may need to question whether motorcycling is really for you.  If the answer is yes there are numerous ways to further develop riding skills.  The worst that can happen is that you will become a better, safer rider and have even more fun.

Our ride-outs are voluntary participation social rides.  They are wonderful opportunities for experiencing the many joys of motorcycling and sharing laughter with friends old and new.  Our safety record and the steady growth in numbers of enthusiastic attendees are proof of our success.  We hope to see you soon. 

*Peak Rider Adventure's UK ride-out leaders hold RoSPA Gold accreditation.  Those who have earned this distinction are acknowledged as among the most proficient and safest of British road riders.  To maintain this status a rider must undergo a rigorous and comprehensive re-test every three years. 

*A hazard is defined as any real or potential danger and anything which would cause a road user to change speed or position. 

© Mike Moloney 2015

The Roadcraft Files - "I Made Eye Contact...Right Before We Collided."

"Are you lookin' at me?" Okay, so we've taken some liberty with one of the most famous lines in moviedom - Robert De Niro's Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver - but it's a question we need to be asking. Let's look at this in more detail.

Often heard in the motorcycling community is this; "Car drivers are all out to kill us." 
I don't know about you but of all the car drivers I've come across over the years I have yet to encounter one who deliberately set out to cause me serious harm. There are plenty of ornery jerks out there, and tens of thousands who are distracted or not paying attention, but the ones who set out to commit vehicular homicide appear, thankfully,
 to be few and far between.  

A common phrase in police accident reports is this; "The driver looked but didn't see." 

We often hear this referred to as a SMIDSY - Sorry Mate, I Didn't See You. Why didn't that driver see you?  They were looking right at you, right?  How could they look, but not see? It's a rather complicated issue.

Let's start with Global Precedence. "Global Precedence occurs when an individual more readily identifies the global feature when presented with a stimulus containing both global and local features." In other words the individual sees the big picture but perhaps not all of the smaller features within it; for example you, the motorcyclist.  Prime attention is directed to larger objects. A truck is bigger than a car which is bigger and wider than a motorcycle which is bigger than a bicycle, etc. 

In the previous newsletter we noted that Reaction time is Decision-making and Output combined. Both drivers and riders have similar response times (output) but vary greatly in the amount of time it takes to make a decision. In demanding or complex situations key information may be forgotten or discarded before it can be stored in short-term memory. It's entirely possible that in developing or busy traffic situations some road users may unconsciously 'choose' not to see you. SMIDSY

What are you wearing? Are you familiar with camouflage? Are you aware that your bike and clothing colours may be blending in very nicely with your background. Excellent. Zombie snipers will have a devil of a time picking you out. On the other hand so will other road users. 

What else might cause us to go unseen? The human eye is a true wonder but still short of nature's best, such as found on eagles and houseflies. Not only do we have a dominant eye - meaning there is a weaker one - but each eye has its own blind spot. Then there is depth perception, itself a very complicated processing of sensory information, binocular and monocular visual cues. If one or more aspects of that system are not working well then distance perception will be compromised. Only your optometrist knows for sure and I don't know your optometrist. 

Is the person in the car next to you wearing their prescription eyewear? Or did they leave their glasses/contacts home because they're unstylish or 'too uncomfortable'?  Any person over 40 can develop cataracts - a clouding of the lens - not ideal for crisp vision and subsequent decision-making and action. Do they have a form of dyslexia, a headache, an itch to scratch? What about glare from low sun, dirty windscreens, kids making a fuss in the back seat, that oh-so-important text message (What! There are people who text and drive?!), that heavy thought weighing on their mind, and finally, that new horror, so-called infotainment screens. The list goes on and on. SMIDSY

Are you lookin' at me? Honestly I can't say for sure but I do know this. You are the only one in control of your motorcycle. By claiming it's always the other guy's fault you abdicate your responsibility to put yourself in the right position at the right speed at the right time to avoid a hazard. It's your move.


Mike Moloney ©2015

The Roadcraft Files - Every Day is a School Day

The Moto Guzzi California mini-test left me nearly exhausted so I went for a lie-down.  And this got me to thinking. How many ways are there to learn?

According to Wikipedia, "A 2004 literature review identified 71 different learning styles theories." Whoa, we need to keep things simple here.

Let's take a brief look at these: Mistakes, Instruction and Example.

Mistakes: Soichiro Honda, a man who in the space of a brief few decades went from a piston ring manufacturer to global leader in motorcycle production was once asked why he was so successful. His reply was simple, "Because I made so many mistakes."

In terms of motorcycling learning from mistakes can be a bad proposition. Making an errors puts us at much greater risk of injury.  The best riders are extremely sensitive to the smallest errors in their riding and will figuratively kick themselves when they feel they didn't 'get it right'. They will immediately look for the cause of the error and take steps to correct it. 

How do you know whether you're making errors?  The best way is to take...

Instruction: It's about learning new skills, absorbing practical advise and applying knowledge you didn't have before.  Instead of being oblivious you can now act using information provided to you for your benefit.  As the old saying goes, "The more you know the better it gets."  

Reaching the third of the four stages of competence - Conscious Competence - is a very good place to be. That being said a truly Conscious Competent person does not fool themselves.  Self-awareness much match the reality. And finally...

Example: Good example or bad example? Bad example riders are easy to spot. Throttle and brake applications are abrupt or inconsistent.  They veer suddenly away from or even into things they did not anticipate or see in advance.  They are hesitant or stiff in bends.  They ride in car drivers' blind spots.  They constantly blame others for their actions. And so on.

Better riders are also easy to spot. They never have 'suddenly' or 'where did he come from' moments.  They take complete responsibility for their actions. They appear to flow effortlessly along their intended path and through traffic. They use the Roadcraft system of motorcycle control to put themselves in the right place at the right speed at the right time.  They ride unflustered and take joy in being masters of their time and space. Follow, observe and learn.

Looking for some free good examples and helpful advice? Follow the leaders on our Peak Rider ride-outs.

Mike Moloney © 2015

Product Impression - Italian Beauty with Big Jugs

Sometimes the opportunity arises to ride new motorbikes which I don't actually own.  Recently the folks at Aprilia/BMW/Moto Guzzi Motorcycles of Escondido asked me to take a Moto Guzzi California 1400 Custom to Bike Night at the local Hooters Restaurant.  If we must. Hooters is located about a mile north of the shop so I immediately set off...to the south. 

So-called cruiser-style bikes are not normally of interest to me.  For the most part form - something the manufacturers take great pains to refer to as 'style' - takes priority over function.  Offerings from American manufacturers and the Japanese-made 'metric' clones tend to place emphasis on largeness; in the size and weight of the machines and also in engine displacement.  Motors are typically big inline narrow-angle V-twins and relatively slow-revving due to significant crankshaft and flywheel mass.  Emphasis is placed on torque characteristics rather than chasing horsepower numbers.  

With their long wheelbases, significant weight and limited ground clearance many of these bikes can be challenging to ride in terms of bends.  The grinding of floorboards (Floor boards? On motorcycles! Good gracious.) at moderate lean angle are an all too early warning sign of potential disaster.  Certain bikes from one 100+ year old brand can sometimes be seen 'wiggling their hips' in bends.  It's often scary just watching.  

Then there's the curious seating position where the weight of your body rests on the base of your spine whilst arms reach out in wide supplication to handlebars which appear borrowed from large wheelbarrows.  It's evident that I struggle to 'get it'.  The cool-aid drinking faithful are fond of saying that if they had to explain it I wouldn't understand. That I get.

Meanwhile over in Italy the cappuccino crowd have their own way of thinking.  Perhaps it's in part because designers who live in the foothills of the Alps are bound to arrive at different solutions than those whose roots are in flat farmland.  Italians produce cruisers alright, but very much on their own terms.  Ducati's Diavel power-cruiser is a case in point. 

So, back to the Moto Guzzi California 1400.  Yes, it appears long and sits low to the ground.  It is stylish; Italians couldn't design a bad-looking toaster.  (Well okay, over at Lancia cars there are some elements of awkwardness.)  The California doesn't look like a copy of anything else.  Massive cylinders intruding into tank space are meant to inform. An artful rear fender/mudguard is graced with LED tail and brake lights.  The instrument pod is simple, round and contains all the info you need.  Like an Armani suit the sum of the parts exude a dignified presence without any need to shout.

The handlebars are great wide tillers.  Yes, there are floorboards - hinged - where you are meant to rest your feet.  There's a substantial looking heel-and-toe shifter on the left and a brake pedal on the right which appears as if it could have been borrowed from a small Italian car.  The saddle is big enough for naturally large persons or someone whose caloric intake occasionally exceeds the recommended daily amount. I felt a bit small on this bike. 

Start me up.  A bit like a radial-enginned airplane there's a big shake and a snort from the 90 degree V-twin and then it just settles.  Before setting off we notice it says Tourismo on the instrument display. The throttle is ride-by-wire and Tourismo is one of three settings; the others being an Italian word for Lame (or possibly Rain) and the enticing-sounding Veloce.  Settings are changed via the starter button once the bike is running and in neutral.  Throttle settings don't appear to be changeable on the fly. 

Off we go then.  Wha' hey?  This thing steers!  No, not like a sports bike or even a sports tourer but with easy deftness that belies its size and looks.  The suspension is another revelation.  It's no indulgingly plush adventure tourer but it's more than compliant and doesn't hint at bottoming out.  With the wide bars and no windscreen there's a good deal of wind blast on the freeway but it's no worse than most naked bikes.  Set on Tourismo the throttle control is smooth and naturally progressive.  

Guzzi's so-called big-block engine is very eager to rev and is anything but slow.  Rumbly vibes at lower revs - quite noticeable but at a frequency that is entertaining rather than intrusive - disappear completely as you reach 4500 rpm and beyond.  Did I really just close up on that quickly on the car ahead?  Off to Hooters then before the shop owner begins to wonder where the Peak fella went with his bike. 

After an evening of hootin' it was time to take the big girl home.  Whilst stopped at a traffic light a large-diplacement Milwaukee twin pulled up in the lane next to me; all rumbles and shakes and blipping of throttle.  Well then, surely this must be the appointed time to see what the Veloce throttle setting is all about?  

Holy Mother of Mary!  Throttle response is instant and accompanied by a mighty surge of forward thrust.  It revs much quicker than expected leading to a series of hurried upshifts.  The other bike is a distant speck in the mirrors.   A couple of turns later I try it again on a street where it's less likely a need will arise to explain these actions to someone 'in authority'.  The shift from second into third sees the front tyre cease contact with the asphalt. 

So, here we have a stylish Italian cruiser which you can ride in a relaxed manner if you so choose.  Or, you can ride it 'con brio' and thoroughly enjoy a bike which neither sacrifices function nor subscribes to tired cliches.  If this is your kind of bike you're sure to have a lot of fun either way.  California dreamin?  Good vibrations are happenin'.

Mike Moloney © 2015