Split it into thirds
When travelling along a road there are sections that are hazardous and sections which are not. What concerns us, fairly obviously, are the hazardous areas and we need to be correctly positioned, at the right speed and in the right gear to deal with them safely and effectively.
Using the example of a brow leading towards a corner a distance of about 300 yards away, I would probably only use the first third of the total distance, in this case the first 100 yards, to accelerate to the maximum speed I desire for this section. The remaining two sections are focussed on attaining a good position/speed/gear combination for the corner. You may find that for the middle third you might not necessarily do much in terms of speed reduction, particularly where longer distances between hazards are involved, but the focus is still on what you need to do for the corner, or whatever else it is you’re approaching, rather than adding more speed. The last third will, in most cases, be used for slight speed adjustments.
This straightforward technique will often considerably improve hazard and cornering assessment, simply because it allows the rider time to see all the detail, make a good assessment, plan the approach and achieve a very accurate entry position and speed. The ride also takes on a certain flow using this method, which also helps with safer riding. I would not describe the ‘thirds technique’ as a rule, merely a flexible guideline.
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