Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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The Art and Science of Taking a Curve by JAMES JONES I often hear about people who have gone to the mountains and have wrecked. The story usually involves one central theme: a curve. A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a friend, who on his way up, asked me if I had any advice about riding "up there." To be honest, I gave a decent answer but, to you (the reader), you deserve a great answer. The mountains can have hundreds of curves in a few miles, and here you can go hundreds of miles with a few curves, and most of those curves are off ramps. So just because you are an experienced rider here does not make you an experienced rider there. To understand this better, let me try to break this down. A rider's ability comes in all shapes and sizes. No two individuals have the same skills or experiences. In Malcolm Gladwell's book, Outliers: It pays to take your time on curvy The Story of Success, he showed that successful roads. people required 10,000 hours to be a phenom. Motorcyclists get experience by hours and miles. If you have 10,000 hours riding and 100,000 miles riding, you are probably a phenom or an experienced rider. To a new rider, the art and science of taking a curve is a foreign concept and has to be understood to be successful. Most people will ride their entire life without understanding the science of riding. There are many scientific laws that go in to riding. In the military, we have a saying that "slow is smooth and smooth is fast." This applies to riding also. If you are not smooth at slow speeds, you will never be smooth or safe at higher speeds. Let's talk science. As the engine generates energy, the wheels turn and create centrifugal force (like a gyro), which makes the bike stand upright. The force pushing forward creates kinetic energy. That energy can be shifted throughout the bike in a split second. Your ability to command that energy and to negotiate those corners will demonstrate the bikes laws of physics; gravity and motion will determine your success or your dynamic failure. Let's break down some of the laws that affect a motorcycle. Gravity: The rider shifts weight into the turn to help the bike change direction and lower its center of gravity. Kinetic Energy: At speed and on a flat straightaway, a motorcycle is going to go straight until something causes it to change. First Law of Motion: Newton stated that a body in motion persists in a straight line unless compelled to change. Thermodynamics: Braking at high speeds in turns causes heat to buildup in the brakes and diminishes the effectiveness of the brakes and the stability. Centrifugal Force: In fast turns, lean angle and forward motion counteract the powerful pull toward the outer edge of the bike against the pavement. Friction: The tires traction build friction with the surface of the road as the wheel turns and makes contact with the road. Acceleration: Determines your speed and velocity as you round the corner. So, that is the science part. Now lets add in the real world. In the real world, you have to factor in for blind spots, dips in the road, cambers, potholes (I hate them), trash, retread tires, gravel, animals, weather condition, apexes, lines, exits, traffic and lets not forget about the idiots. All of these factors come into play while taking a curve. Now add in multiple turn curves and little speed and you are developing the "art." One last thing I want to discuss is the different forces that come into play in going uphill and downhill that you feel on the bike and as the rider. As you accelerate going uphill, you are storing the kinetic energy from the motor and transferring it back on the bike to the back tire (like the gyro). This makes the front end lighter because there is less energy there. As you crest the top of the hill, you may not feel it but there is a point that there is no kinetic energy but only potential energy and the energy from the back of the bike is moving from the back of the bike to the front causing the bike to naturally move downhill. However, on a motorcycle, when you are going downhill the kinetic energy is more towards the front of the bike and the force is loading on the front wheel and shocks. That is why we brake or clutch going down hill to keep that energy balanced between the front and the back so that we do not wipe out. Remember when you brake, the heat builds and creates that thermodynamic buildup and can cause your brakes to work improperly. This is why it is important to control your braking, speed, lean and braking before you get into the curve. The mountains are a motorcyclist's playgrounds. No matter your experience level; 10,000 miles on the flat land is not the same as 10,000 miles in the mountains. Go up there JAMES JONES, Contributing Writer. and have fun and may the force be COMMENTS? Editor@upandcominwith you. gweekly.com. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 6 • 34TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY PARTY at the Wingman MC Clubhouse. Gates open at 2 p.m. Food, drinks, games, drawings, music and more. Call 689-6901. JULY 19 • KICK START PARTY FOR CHRISTMAS IN JULY at Legends Pub. Call 867-2364 for more information. JULY 20 • REVERSE RAFFLE NIGHT RIDE at Legends Pub. Call 867-2364 for more information. JULY 20 • CHRISTMAS IN JULY TOY RUN at Victory of Fayetteville. Reg 8 a.m. depart at 10 a.m. $15/rider $10 pass. Lunch provided by Texas Roadhouse. Contest, prizes and raffles, food, and Live Entertainment. Call 910426-5082 or 910-261-4601 for more information. JULY 20 • REVERSE RAFFLE NIGHT RIDE at Legends Pub. Call 867-2364 for more information. SEPTEMBER 15 • CAPE FEAR VALLEY HEALTH FOUNDATION FRIENDS OF THE CANCER CENTER RIBBON WALK & RIDE at the Medical Arts Center in downtown Fayetteville. 8 a.m. registration. 9:45 a.m. Ride Begins. 10 a.m. Walk Begins. For more information, visit www. ribbonwalkforcancer.org. PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse group of patriots from every state that come together to honor fallen soldiers at funeral services across the country. Visit www.patriotguard.org for more information about the group. REVERSE RAFFLE July 20 Last Number Drawn Worth $500 Night time run - Registration 7 p.m. July 29 • Cabana Day Thirsty Thursdays $1 off all drinks! 4624 BRAGG BLVD. UP & COMING WEEKLY & invite you to win concert tickets! Entry forms at: VILLAGE COFFEE HOUSE DRAWING JULY 10 (Next to the Bordeaux Wynnsong 7 Theatres) 3037 A Boone Trail Centre • 484-4515 JULY 3-9, 2013 UCW 19