Contact Patches and Lines

Contact Patches:
Motorcycles touch the earth on only two small ovals of rubber. These contact patches vary in size depending on several factors. They are the weight on the tire, lean angle, smoothness of the pavement, traction variables (dry vs wet, loose gravel vs grippy asphalt). So my only job from one mile to the next is to maximize the size of my contact patches. Actually, it is a little more complicated. As I apply my front brake my rear tire looses contact area, and vica-versa with the rear brake. For instance you cannot apply any front brake while leaning into a corner. You'll crash like Nigel did this morning. We all had breakfast at a Golf Club and when we left it was raining. Nigel isa retired Major from the British Army. He likes to ride fast. He is a very acomplished rider but he used brake in a wet turn. His contact patch area went to zero. Being a tough ex-officer he was unhurt. We'll all be more cautious tomorrow.
Lines:
Skiers try to gracefully carve smooth lines as they go downhill. They follow the 'fall line'.
Motorcyclists approach curves in a deliberate fashion. You try to enter a curve with the proper speed on the curves outside, when you get to the apex you lean deep into the curve and accelerate smoothly creating a smooth flowing line. Done correctly on twisty roads it feels like heli-skiing deep powder, only better.