Matrix style reaction speed...

[jollyollie]

Have you ever wondered how fast you might need to react when you’re pinning it down your favourite high speed single-track?

If you’re going around a wide corner on a single-track at 50km/h and you see a branch lying on the track when it is 3 metres away then you will hit it in 0.216 seconds.

Some of us mountain bikers must be matrix style. :cool:

[Plow King]

If you’re going around a wide corner on a single-track at 50km/h and you see a branch lying on the track when it is 3 metres away then you will hit it in 0.216 seconds.

Some of us mountain bikers must be matrix style. :cool:

Guess what I'd do.. I didnt get my username by thinking.

[fleshbone]

Hahahahahaha.i ride a SUNDAY that's matrix enough. Nah i get ya.our minds just react.But seriosuly, the SUNDAY

[Rik]

Guess what I'd do..Post about it?

[Plow King]

Post about it?

Well thats what he wanted us to do, wasn't it?

[jollyollie]

Downhill bikes are obviously a lot more forgiving cos bashing into a 10" high branch at 50 km/h, on a dirt jump style bike, while still on a considerabel angle from turning, is not my idea if fun. At least it wan't very fun last time I came off at that speed. Bunny hops all the way! :D

[Plow King]

I'm guessing you ride a downhill bike cos bashing into a 10" high branch at 50 km/h, on a dirt jump style bike, while still on a considerabel angle from turning, is not my idea if fun. At least it wan't very fun last time I came off at that speed. Bunny hops all the way! :D

haha, Nah I couldn't plow anything that was 10" (anyone who wants a new sig, theres one)

I'd probably just bail or attempt to bunny hop or something, last time in a situation similar to the one you explained I attempted to bunny hop a branch and cased it and went otb... On the otherhand I didnt get hurt which is a bonus...

[Regan of Gong]

Downhill bikes are obviously a lot more forgiving cos bashing into a 10" high branch at 50 km/h, on a dirt jump style bike, while still on a considerabel angle from turning, is not my idea if fun. At least it wan't very fun last time I came off at that speed. Bunny hops all the way! :D

Haha...I'm stuffed then- if I ever hit 50kph :p

[BLAKE-2234]

hello hospital ward:rolleyes:

nah i try to bunnyhop things like that but if i cant i lift the front wheel and hope for the best

[Doggy]

I had never thought about the reaction times really but come to think of it I must have damn fast reaction times. Im a goal keeper in Futsal and a bat pad/silly mid off fielder in cricket, I must go alright:D

[chu]

hahaha that is so awsome...we have got good reaction times

[moodybluebob]

yeah ive got my quick reactions from cricket/ soccer and what not.

it comes in handy most of the time, even at skateparks, dodging little shredders who are just mucking around (like kids do)

but yeah, its funny how you dont think about it til someone brings it up.

[red_d0g]

wow wish i had that quick reaction time today...
was pinnin' it round a loose pack corner and by the time i felt my wheel slip i was on my back a couple metres away from my bike...
2 big grazes, a dead leg and sprained thumb later i'm fine not even a mark on ym bike or gear.
if only we all had matrix reaction times :rolleyes:

[floody]

3m away? If you're only looking and reacting 3m ahead you're WAY behind the game.

[tupper]

haha, Nah I couldn't plow anything that was 10"
I don't think anyone else picked up on that.. otherwise they would have commented..

[johnny]

3m away? If you're only looking and reacting 3m ahead you're WAY behind the game.Yep, pretty pointless stat really. The radar trap at the bottom of the Roller Coaster on the old state mine track was clocking people at an average of around 60kph. This part of the track is a straight line and a fairly decent gradient. So, to think that you could be hitting a wide corner at 50kph means it's a farking WIDE and fast corner and you would be surely looking about 10-20m in front of you... at least.

So, matrix reflexes, maybe. But I don't think your example is at all realistic.

[3viltoast3r]

My worst nightmare..........
What if that branch was a snake..........

I have also had a few close calls with blind corners and hikers... trust me they have GOOD reaction times

[tupper]

I have also had a few close calls with blind corners and hikers... trust me they have GOOD reaction times

Thats because they are so used to us barreling down there hiking trails!

[jollyollie]

These are obviously top speed examples on a really tight track. 40-45 km/h and probs 5 metres ahead would be the sort of thing we usually get on my favourite tracks. So thats about a third of a second to manouver? I'ld say we're getting pretty quick.

[mykryk]

how about when you following a mate down a run and he has a crash right in front of you...thats always a good test of your reaction skills.

[johnny]

Yeah no doubt we have good reactions, especially when in the zone and focused. But I'd argue that hitting 50 on a tight track is pretty much not going to happen. It's just too fast be taking corners anywhere near considered tight..., especially if they are not seriously bermed as well. I wish my balance reaction/weight dispersal speed was better than it is, maybe I wouldn't come acropper as much as I do. :(

As said above, following a mate close in front of you is probably more what you are looking at with speeds and reaction time. Your foresight is shortened dramatically and it's harder to focus.

[jollyollie]

3m away? If you're only looking and reacting 3m ahead you're WAY behind the game.

If you can look around trees then go ahead. If you can't then you'll need to start getting used to reacting within a third of a second in order to avoid that greenie's trap/brownsnake/walker one fateful day.

[Richo 18]

It may be completely random but....

Johnny rules Farkin General!!
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/6513/picture1kc0.png
......I'm bored.../

[jollyollie]

Let me describe one of my epic trail rides to you all...

I went for a lonley ride at shepherds hill (The Adelaide boys should know it) reacreatin park one day. The track I was riding has a few ruts and other little things to pop off and use as make-shift berms ect. It a fantastic track and if I don't reach 45 every time I ride it then all the cars on the South Eastern Freeway must be going 60 km/h. The problem is that there are about a thousand olive trees growing right next the trak and even around one of the very wide corners I couldn't see more than 12 feet or so in front of me (unless I can see through trees :rolleyes:). I came around this corner at almost top speed and about 12 feet in front of me I see two hikers. I somehow manage to swerve/hop off the track to avoid them and narrowly miss an olive tree.

I'm either blind and can't even measure 12 feet using a proper tape measure, have a sixth sense, or just had some dam good reactions that day.

Take your pick.;)

[tupper]

Let me describe one of my epic trail rides to you all...

I went for a lonley ride at shepherds hill (The Adelaide boys should know it) reacreatin park one day. The track I was riding has a few ruts and other little things to pop off and use as make-shift berms ect. It a fantastic track and if I don't reach 45 every time I ride it then all the cars on the South Eastern Freeway must be going 60 km/h. The problem is that there are about a thousand olive trees growing right next the trak and even around one of the very wide corners I couldn't see more than 12 feet or so in front of me (unless I can see through trees :rolleyes:). I came around this corner at almost top speed and about 12 feet in front of me I see two hikers. I somehow manage to swerve/hop off the track to avoid them and narrowly miss an olive tree.

I'm either blind and can't even measure 12 feet using a proper tape measure, have a sixth sense, or just had some dam good reactions that day.

Take your pick.;)
I reckon blind. :) olive trees aren't that dense.

But i'll believe you if you say you couldnt see through them :p

[fleshbone]

in most cases your mind sees' and reacts.it's the brain function.It's like you're in a deep sleep were your brain takes control of your body.Not the best analergy(sp?)

[lost it]

What fleshbone is referring to is the 'fight or flight' syndrome. Our bodies natural reaction to dangerous situations. Very interesting reading!

[fleshbone]

What fleshbone is referring to is the 'fight or flight' syndrome. Our bodies natural reaction to dangerous situations. Very interesting reading!

Thanking you muchly for the title of what i was trying to explain.The body is a wacked out funky thing.No wonder why it is said that we only use %10 of our brain/mind or what ever through out life.Imagine if we all harnessed such power to control the full %100 or more of it,if that's ever possible.Actaully,no,wait don't imagine that,if such thing was, the world would be a cruel place,so i beleive.

[jollyollie]

You guys couldn't be more right.

I just find it amazing that we can find ways to get out of trouble in the time that it takes quite a few people to even click a mouse.

[Angry Atheist]

No wonder why it is said that we only use %10 of our brain/mind or what ever through out life.

Mate, if you believe that then you are using 10% of your brain capacity.



So, all this talk of reaction times. How do you increase it?

Game-playing!!!

You can use this excuse to play games for the specific benefit of increasing your reaction times.

Get to it!

EDIT: this may help (and the site in general) HERE (http://www.snopes.com/science/stats/10percent.asp)

[floody]

If you can look around trees then go ahead. If you can't then you'll need to start getting used to reacting within a third of a second in order to avoid that greenie's trap/brownsnake/walker one fateful day.

Going round blind corners so tight you can't look ahead more than 3m at 60kmh?
FAIL.

[jollyollie]

I'ld be saying 45km/h and 4-5 metres ahead, that leaves 0.16 seconds on my apparent reaction time. Anyway you might be able to see a little bit around the corners through the olive trees but it's not going to save you very often when they are thriving on a few decent rains.

If your not reacting within a third of a second on these tracks, and your on a 4" travel hardtail , and your going about 45, then you'll slam into a thousand ruts within five seconds loose all your speed and you'll end up 15 seconds behind me and my mate on a 1 minute trail. FAIL

[floody]

If your not reacting within a third of a second on these tracks, and your on a 4" travel hardtail , and your going about 45, then you'll slam into a thousand ruts within five seconds loose all your speed and you'll end up 15 seconds behind me and my mate on a 1 minute trail. FAIL

Nah, I can pick lines.

[jollyollie]

So your saying that you can pick lines react accordingly in less than a third of a second, but your still saying I fail cos I don't slow down to 25 km/h when theres a corner I can't see more than 4-5 metres around?

[floody]

If you were in a race, you'd have walked it, you'd know what was coming.

If you're trailriding and screaming around blind corners at speed, you're a muppet.

Frankly your example was silly, and lets not get into this "I'll go faster than you" business, you have no idea who I might be or just what I may be capable of.

Yes mountainbiking requires quick reaction time; thats it.

[jollyollie]

How am I to know when a brownsnake desides to sun-bake in the middle of the track? Besides I wouldn't say these trails have blind corners but rather they are just a little over grown with olive trees in a couple of inconvenient places. And if your trying to look through the olive trees or anything like that then you fail cos you probably just went about 10 metres in doing so.:eek:

I'm just saying that I find it amazing how fast some of us riders have to react, and have reacted, when we're in a tight spot. If I can't get out of that tight spot one day then I'll send you a PM and then you can pay me out.

EDIT:
-Am I getting into this buisness of "I'm faster than you"? Or were you just saying I was an idiot for going so fast round corners?
-Yea moutain biking requires good reaction times and a lot more people realise that now and find it pretty cool. Seriously, you could have just given a more realistic example.