Ride out complete: Being forced off the road by a car

It's funny, when things like that happy I find my car just seems to
get slower and slower.

Seems to happen a lot through the variable speed limit cameras on the
M42. If some **** in a truck reckons he can bully me into getting a
speeding ticket, then he's mistaken.

And as far as BGNs initial experience goes, I'd suggest the mistake he
made was trying to stay in front of the yellow car. I'd have just
slowed down and tucked in behind him. Or waited till we stopped and
had a word.

 

<SNIP>

Either I've misunderstood it or there was a speed camera in the vicinity,
but the phrase "go faster" seems to apply. I doubt the car could have out
acclerated the bike, even an ER5 or whatever it is you ride, so why didn't
you just open the throttle and **** off [1].

[1] As opposed to accelerating /a bit/ which you say you did.

 

Bring it on.

was that some sort of limited edition version?



--
Dnc

B1200 - +30bhp ~|~ ZZR1100 - faster when upright
V2300 - flat cap and rug ~|~ A6 2.5TDi V6 Quattro Sport

MIB#26 two#54(soiled) UKRMMA#26 BOTAFOT#153 X-FOT#003

 

Wessie has made one obvious point - don't ride to the very front of
traffic queues. One reason is that you may get a loon reacting badly as
you did. Another is that the traffic may move off just as you hove into
view and something unpredictable may happen. Thirdly I have learnt not
to go right to the front of queues at roundabouts as they seem to be
particularly dangerous with last minute changes from those waiting to
enter the roundabout as well as those on the roundabout as well.

Given that you were dealing with newish (?) roadworks and a queue of
cars it is reasonably likely that some of the people waiting will be
pissed off. They'll be pissed off that they didn't know about the
roadworks, that their expert route planning has gone awry and that they
are now late for whatever appointment they are off to. Therefore their
driving reactions might be somewhat less than optimal! It's about
trying to anticipate how some people might react and thus trying to ride
in a way that appears considerate to those pissed off people.
Ultimately you are not responsible for their actions but it pays to be
able to "read" all of the road conditions - actual and possible - and
have a riding plan that deals with it. You reduce your risk of being
surprised and thus the need for emergency action.

I have learnt that when you get a bad accident in London traffic you
just have to "chill" and not appear to be taking the piss out of the
traffic that you may be able to get past. It is not unknown for London
jams to be so bad that bikes cannot get through either. You can
therefore appear to share the drivers' "pain" in being stuck. You're
less likely to get a bad reaction with people blocking you or just being
fucking awkward.

 

Oh, you too? Strange, that, innit. Must be some sort of drag from the
vehicle followign slowing you down.

Well, ya. If I was in the middle lane, fair enough, but if I'm doing the
speed to avoid the camera flash and resulting points whilst in the inside
lane, then tough.

Ali

 

And smile. Seriously, it works. If someone indicates nicely, makes eye
contact and says thanks, I'll be sweet as anything. But, oh, do I get mad
when I let some bugger out and they don't even bother to acknowledge it.
Mind you, I make a point of saying thanks to drivers who stop for me as a
pedestrian. Yes, I know they ought to if I am already on a zebra, but hey, a
bit of manners does no harm. And builds karma and reciprocity, yes?

Ali

 

I find being 'agressive' or at least giving a clear expectation (through
road positioning) that people will get the **** out of your way helps.

Naturally riding an old, large, BMW K series barge, filtering at 90 plus
also helps. Being assertive about road position and having the right
attitude makes a lot of difference really. I think Auvache talked about
considering himself as a shepherd and the cars as sheep- this makes some
sense.

 

ROFLLMAO!
an extra few HP is *really* gonna be noticed .......until the head goes
*POP*

 

ah yes don't you just love the m42 m6 toll road junction

 

You look at what you did to provoke the anger and try to avoid doing it
again; or based on what you've done you expect once in a while that
someone's going to behave like a twat.

 

Heh.. true.. If I keep things to about 4hp it'll give a much needed
extra boost from time to time, and not get things too hot either. It's
no biggie if the things do go pop, it's a cheap engine to fix. From
memory, a new cylinder head is about £45, valves are cheap too.

Just reading into modifying normal air components into Nos components at
the mo, and about the where and how of things. I've got some ideas about
an ignition retarder that I have to have a word with my science lecturer
about to work out the delays and such.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Ali Hopkins belched forth and ejected the
following:

I find it hard to smile at strangers in London; everyone's so miserable.
On the occasions when I do smile I get really funny looks and I wish I
hadn't bothered because the way I feel afterwards is a feeling of
dread/doom.

Horrid, horrid place, generally.

 

Nick, shit happens. It's all part of dealing with other peoples envy at
your freedom.

In any case, you seem like a miserable **** at the best of times. Would
it really have been so bad if he'd offed you properly?

 

On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 21:48:47 +0000, Whinging Courier wrote:

Be fair. They probably feel much the same.

 

Actually Nick, seriously, at the very least get yourself booked on a
Bikesafe course. Although *you* can't see what you are doing is
causing anger and retribution from other road users, from your postings
it looks as though you are.

Don't forget, we are getting one side of the story of something that
happens to you on your own, not when out with any of the other UKRMers,
and you always seem to be the 'innocent victim'. I'm doubting that now.

It costs IRO ?50 for a w/e course with the local plod, you've got
bugger all to lose, and something (if not an awful lot) to gain.

Don't take it the above as an insult, if you need further training
(which appears apparent), I would prefer it if you took that path
rather than carried on going out, misjudging bends and crashing, or
pissing off other road users (of whatever type of vehicle) to the point
that they feel they have to vent their anger at you.

--
Lesley
CBR600FW
SBS#11 (with oak-leaf cluster)
BOTAFOT#101A UKRMHRC#12
BONY#54P BOB#18
Real burds don't take hormones, they rage naturally

 

Did a bikesafe last year £90 two day course with west midlands police
well worth doing , you get class room work and ride outs .

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Verdigris belched forth and ejected the
following:

Who can blame them. You do get used to it but it's more noticeable when
you "go out" and then come back. It's the same with the poor standard of
driving in London.

One day I'll stop whinging and actually get out of here.

Having a nice, well paid job to walk into and a decent place to live in
a decent area with decent neighbours etc, etc at a nice price would be a
good starting point.

 

Try to remove the excessive content before following up with two lines.

I think the best way to avoid incidents is experience. I rarely have
close scrapes[1], when I started riding I had them most days.


[1] fx: tempts fate since he's not had an accident for >3 years.

 

You're not alone... unfortunately, the best that most of us can do is
to develope "what-if" strategies in case something similar happens
again... However, you can't predict every scenario, it sucks, there it
is...

If its any consolation, the driver probably has some really bad
karma... Will prolly die of a heartattack aged 43... Society will
benefit...

 

[1] You're understandably angry at yourself for 'driving at someone
else's speed'

[2] You survived the experience

[3] You'll benefit from that

[4] Follow the advice of others and Get Slaughtered

[5] Learn to let things go sooner so the situation doesn't develop.

[6] Carry on biking.....