Discussion
I've been filtering for as long as I can remember so not sure how I felt. Top tip though is to try and read what the car drivers are going to do.
Watch their head position, mirrors, front wheel and road position. All give clues to whether or not they will close the gap.
Other than that, just progress slowly and carefully. Filtering is an art that is mastered after lots and lots of practice. Also, people behave differently on weekdays to weekends, so be carefull.
Filtering is one of the biggest benefits of owning a bike, so enjoy going past those long jams
Watch their head position, mirrors, front wheel and road position. All give clues to whether or not they will close the gap.
Other than that, just progress slowly and carefully. Filtering is an art that is mastered after lots and lots of practice. Also, people behave differently on weekdays to weekends, so be carefull.
Filtering is one of the biggest benefits of owning a bike, so enjoy going past those long jams
It is least dangerous when all of the traffic is stationary and most dangerous whilst it is moving. When the traffic starts to bunch into a jam, that is when people change lanes blindly, diving for the moving lanes.
Go at your own pace. But do look in your mirrors for other bikers - their pace may be quite a bit quicker than yours. Let them past, if need be.
Go at your own pace. But do look in your mirrors for other bikers - their pace may be quite a bit quicker than yours. Let them past, if need be.
Edited by rsv gone! on Sunday 11th May 20:39
had to do loads of filtering yesterday, I'm lucky my boyfriend normally leads the way and I follow him (obviously not blindly and keeping my eyes open as I go).
PS my boyfriend had an interesting 'race' with a BMW 645i yesterday........., car topped out at aroun 150, the yam was off the clock but doing her best, but we all had the last laugh when 3 miles down the road we 'filtered' past at 40mph.
ahhhhh how sweet did that feel?
PS my boyfriend had an interesting 'race' with a BMW 645i yesterday........., car topped out at aroun 150, the yam was off the clock but doing her best, but we all had the last laugh when 3 miles down the road we 'filtered' past at 40mph.
ahhhhh how sweet did that feel?
rsv gone! said:
It is least dangerous when all of the traffic is stationary and most dangerous whilst it is moving. When the traffic starts to bunch into a jam, that is when people change lanes blindly, diving for the moving lanes.
Go at your own pace. But do look in your mirrors for other bikers - their pace may be quite a bit quicker than yours. Let them past, if need be.
That depends. When the weather is nice and warm (as it has been for the last week) it can be very dangerous. On more than one occasion I have had drivers/passengers open doors when standing still in traffic a) to cool off or b) to change drivers/seating places. When the traffic is moving this can't happen.Go at your own pace. But do look in your mirrors for other bikers - their pace may be quite a bit quicker than yours. Let them past, if need be.
Edited by rsv gone! on Sunday 11th May 20:39
Silver993tt said:
On more than one occasion I have had drivers/passengers open doors when standing still in traffic a) to cool off or b) to change drivers/seating places.
Knew a bloke had that happen and he ran the front wheel of his FJ12 right up to the blokes door, and gave him a bit of a talking to (he was a big chap, I wouldn't argue with him). He backed out, noticing a nice black tyre mark on the inside of the door pannel, and carried on for a few yards before getting a right ear bashing from his wife...he'd forgotten he had the intercom switched on 
My tip would be watch out for gaps, particulary as the traffic slows or accelerates, which cars in the other lane might try to dive in to.
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 12th May 10:00
For me it depends what kind of filtering I'm doing - motorway or town.
On the motorway, the things I look out for are the swapping lanes when the traffic is speeding up or slowing down (as mentioned).
In town, I look out for stationary queuing traffic when I'm filtering on the outside, as they might do a U-turn without looking (nearly had a guy hit me doing that before, but stopped in time!). I mitigate this risk by moving over right over to the other side of the road if there are no cars coming the other way (as my instructor said to me a few years back - no kerb has ever jumped out and hit you). If there are cars coming the other way you I still filter, since if there are cars coming the other way, any potential U-turn drivers can see them and won't pull out into them (though you need to look out in case they try to start the manoeuvre and stick the front out a little).
Also I am very wary around junctions on either side due to the obvious...
On the motorway, the things I look out for are the swapping lanes when the traffic is speeding up or slowing down (as mentioned).
In town, I look out for stationary queuing traffic when I'm filtering on the outside, as they might do a U-turn without looking (nearly had a guy hit me doing that before, but stopped in time!). I mitigate this risk by moving over right over to the other side of the road if there are no cars coming the other way (as my instructor said to me a few years back - no kerb has ever jumped out and hit you). If there are cars coming the other way you I still filter, since if there are cars coming the other way, any potential U-turn drivers can see them and won't pull out into them (though you need to look out in case they try to start the manoeuvre and stick the front out a little).
Also I am very wary around junctions on either side due to the obvious...
As said by others, always cover your front brake!
Filter at a speed you are comfortable with - especially in groups, as there is going to be riders more skilful/faster than you, or just plain stupid with a death wish.
If you are tired, slow down, or don't filter - you need all your concentration looking at the driver’s body language as such to keep you out of trouble.
Some motorways have wider lanes which makes it easer - I don't like the southern part of the M1 as the lanes and noticeably thinner. France is a joy, the cage drivers make an effort to get out of your way
Filter at a speed you are comfortable with - especially in groups, as there is going to be riders more skilful/faster than you, or just plain stupid with a death wish.
If you are tired, slow down, or don't filter - you need all your concentration looking at the driver’s body language as such to keep you out of trouble.
Some motorways have wider lanes which makes it easer - I don't like the southern part of the M1 as the lanes and noticeably thinner. France is a joy, the cage drivers make an effort to get out of your way
i had my first dose of filtering today. usually i get snarled up on a dual carriageway on the way back from work, but i took the bike out for the first time on this commute and i felt very very smug filtering between everyone! it was kinda scary but i just took it slow and steady and kept my eyes open. i need a new route to work. the motorway is just far too boring 
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