Re: Steering input
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2016 6:57 am
Please don't let this forum end up like the now defunct IAM forum. I like a bit of banter but that site got nasty and personal hence why I jumped ship and came here
A central point for Advanced Driving
https://www.advanceddrivinghub.com/forum/
https://www.advanceddrivinghub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=353
Astraist wrote:On many discussions here and on the old fora, we tend to get back into the subject of steering input. So, just like I did there, I will sum up my thoughts about what steering inputs correlate with what steering outputs, and hopefully put an end to this otherwise endless debate.
What I do
Personally, I use fixed-input for any input less than 90 degress of steering in a car wheel, and slightly less in a more planar wheel (as in lorries). When a greater input is needed, I simply extend the range of motion available for fixed-input by predictivelly prepositioning the hands against the direction of the bend.
Because prepositioning both hands is also very limited in range, I tend to preposition just the hand in the direction of the bend and keep the opposite hand where it was. I pull the wheel as if I "draw" it out from the opposite hand so that mid-corner I fall back into quarter-to-three. I than preposition the opposite hand to remove the steering lock and fall back to the basic hand position again.
In order to achieve the greatest range of motion, I am happy to preposition the hand around and under the wheel. It's not palming, but gripping the face of the wheel with the palm pointing down. The hand than slips under the opposite hand and across the wheel so one can apply 270 or 360 degrees of steering in one "go." Here's a good example of it all:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgDK4wiZJ_M
So I get smoothness for using the longest possible hand motions and using either the pulling hand or bot hands together in a fixed-input. I get accuracy and effort reduction for much the same reason, and I am also consistent because both hands are on the wheel at all times and at least one is gripping it at any moment.
However, if you look at what we established is needed for effective steering, it's not unobtainable with any of the other steering styles, be it rotational, pull-push or whatever.
ChristianAB wrote:I am currently trying to develop a steering technique that does not make my shoulders suffer too much
Gareth wrote:ChristianAB wrote:I am currently trying to develop a steering technique that does not make my shoulders suffer too much
Are you sure seating and steering wheel position aren't to blame? Generally, try for sitting as upright as you can manage, with the steering wheel as low as you can manage, while all other necessary constraints are satisfied.
Speary wrote:Please don't let this forum end up like the now defunct IAM forum. I like a bit of banter but that site got nasty and personal hence why I jumped ship and came here
ChristianAB wrote:I agree with you Speary. I suppose it's for the moderators to take action.
ChristianAB wrote:So back on topic, I use pull push, fixed input and predictive. I rarely if ever palm. I don't hook my thumbs, I lay them around the face.
ChristianAB wrote:What happens in respect to changing gears? Are you able to change gears or switch/cancel indicators mid-corner?
Also, I find that I often need to push the wheel slightly (away from me) with one hand as the other changes gear (in a straight line or whilst cornering) or the car has a slight wobble from the single hand on the wheel. How do you position your hands (when on a straight road) when you change gears?
Astraist wrote:That's a good point. Good steering should at least allow for the possibility of steering one-handed, should it be required. But than, it doesn't have the be the same form of steering for both applications.
I tend to sort out the gears before the bend and finish it without changing gears, but because my steering is predictive it's usually quite easy to change gears or indicate mid-corner. In the transitions I sometimes have to use fixed-input with the opposite hand (so, push) depending on the direction of the corner.
ChristianAB wrote:
Just to avoid any doubt, what do you mean by 'predictive' in this context? Do you estimate the amount of lock that you will need before the corner and (pre)position your hands accordingly? If so, how do you approach blind corners?