Biking Techniques (Part 41)

Passing

On Corner Exit

Every successful pass on a straight comes out of the corner before. To pass someone on a straight, you have to exit a Type I faster than they do. That means you need to have enough space between you mid-corner to roll on properly on the exit. You want to reach your own track-out point as if you had the corner to yourself, and then use your extra speed to pass. So don't go into the corner right on their tail, give yourself enough room to allow for catching them up at the track-out point. When you reach your track-out point, you should be going faster than they are, and in their slipstream. With them punching the hole in the air for you, you can just power on by.

On the Straight -- Drafting Pass

Here you back off from the bike in front, and use their slipstream to build up momentum which you then use to slingshot by. Not only will you have momentum to pass, but as you move out of their slipstream they lose the benefits of you drafting behind them, so they'll slow down right as you are going by them.
Today, make sure you leave plenty of space between you. Like drafting in general, this puts bikes close together and therefore at increased risk.

Into the Corner -- Late Braking

This is a very effective pass, but because of the intersecting paths of the bikes we won't be using it on the track today. During a race, this is probably the most common and effective pass -- and it's also the one that's most often done badly. The possible consequences of doing this badly is why we don't allow passes on the inside in corners today.

In the Corner?

To pass someone in a corner, as opposed to into the corner, you must be much faster than the bike you're passing. Here it's mainly a matter of remembering that the rider you're passing will be following their own line -- which might be one you don't expect -- and it's your responsibility to get by safely.
If you can, it's generally better to hang back in the corner, and execute a pass on corner exit as described above. That will give you good exit speed, and good speed on the next straight, whereas passing in the corner wrecks your line and slows you down all the way along the straight.

The Outside Pass

The "outside pass" is an oval racing technique. You can't really use it on a road course except on really long corners, or unless you have a serious speed advantage over the bike you're passing.
The technique is to take the Lazy Line, mostly following the outside of the turn, to get in front of the other rider before you approach the track-out point. That means you won't take as good a line as normal, and won't get as much drive out of the corner, and that's why you have to have a big speed difference to make it work. If you don't, it's trivial for you to get passed back by a simple corner exit pass.

You have to remember that until you have passed the other bike, they have right of way. They can take their line to the outside at the track-out, and might not even be aware that you are there. So to do this pass, you must be sure you complete it while still in the corner. Part of the usefulness of this pass with car racing is that you can put your car in a position where they can't track out all the way, and so lose exit speed -- all that achieves on a bike is being run off the track.

Passing the Coordinator

I am expecting you to take the opportunity to pass me when you can. I will be disappointed if you don't. Through the day I will from time to time set up situations where you can practice your passing technique. Sometimes I'll signal for you to pass, sometimes I won't, but nevertheless if you see the opportunity to get by, don't be afraid to take it.

Unless I've signaled "follow me," of course... in that case I'll probably be slower than necessary just to make sure you get the right line or whatever. Passing then would be counter-productive. But that's the exception, not the rule.

From TrackDoD Novice Group Orientation