Thinking of giving it up

Biking that is...

I've been to two fatal RTA's in two days, both of which were bikers killed
by cars - one pulling out, the other doing a U-turn. In the first one, the
rider's 11 year old son turned up with Mum, looking for Dad who hadn't
returned after popping out for a few minutes. He was told by Mum in the car
at the scene (long way off from the bike/car) and I heard his
crying/wailing, and it has really affected me - more than seeing the body
etc.

What with having been taken off my bike last year by some gormless clown who
failed to indicate/look, and now these two prangs, I'm beginning to feel
very vulnerable out on the bike. There are clueless c**ts out there and I
don't want to end up as a statistic, or my daughter to go through what the
11 year old is now going through. Neither bike rider stood a chance in the
accidents, and it really has brought it home to me how much I am at the
mercy of these morons.

I don't ride much for pleasure these days, mainly just going to and from
work, so I wouldn't be missing much. I'll keep riding at work, as I do that
seldomly, and generallly things tend to be safer on a large white marked up
Pan - people seem to notice it!

--

Stu
XJ900
YTC#11 OSOS#23
pull my plonker when replying

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Stu said:

AOL. For now.

I saw my first body today as well. It was near Kingston. There was no
bike involved but the bloke was just laying in he road. I'm not a doctor
but he looked pretty dead to me. He didn't move at all and his leg was
all bent. Gave me the shock of my life, that did.

Don't give it up, mate, just forget about it for a while. I've been a
biker for nearly twenty years but I've had gaps in the light of
insightful thoughts.

Have you thought about giving up your job? It would be a pleasure to you
and doubtless a few others too ;-)

 

I can handle dead bodies, no problem. The image sticks in your mind, but
it's better than the screaming ones, especially when they've tried to kill
themselves by jumping under a train and only ended up having a leg or arm
chopped off.

 

Stu wrote:[snip tale of depressing images]

and generallly things tend to be safer on a large white marked up

So trade your personal machine in for a large Pan Euro and put a bloody
great orange stripe down the side. :->

Or give up motorcycles :-/

 

I take your point. It must depend how important motorcyling is to the
individual. I know I'm no kind of riding god and know that I am vunerable on
a bike. The one that scares me is the right hand bend on an A road with a
big lorry coming towards me - some witless bugger may be so desparate to get
by the lorry that they are out on my side of the road with no view of little
me riding towards them.

I tend to ride slower than I did as a youth - odd considering I now have
less to lose. My new XT600 is probably a lot safer than my Divvy 900 because
I can have riding fun at lower speeds; the shorter braking distance is a
bonus as well. I'm not going to give up so I shall rely on statistics and
cynical experience to keep me safe.

John

 

When a mirtth-ish run happened upon an accident my gf of the time had to
go and have a look. Seeing her face on return made me wonder if it's
worth putting someone else through it.

In a similar way, her reaction made me feel much worse than the accident
itself. I had detachement from the bloke who'd had his fingers severed
by his own brake lever, but once I'd seen what would happen if I was
involved it brought it much closer to home.

As to whether or not you should give up, you know how much you enjoy it
and if it's worth the risk. If you decide you don't want to take it
anymore then have a break. You can always reconsider, whereas it's much
harder to do it the other way round. Also, if you find you miss it too
much you'll be back.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Martian said:

There are couriers that do that, they even have those white flip up lids
and yellow vests on. They scare the bloody life out of my until I let
them past.

 

Stu, its shit I admit, but every time you attend a ped splatted over the
road by a car do you consider giving up walking ?

No



--
Bruce Porter
XJR1300SP, XJ900F, GSX750W, GS550, GSX250
POTM#1(KoTL), WUSS#1 , YTC#1(bar), OSOS#2(KoTL) , DS#3 , IbW#18 ,Apostle#8
"The internet is a huge and diverse community and not every one is friendly"
http://www.ytc1.co.uk There *is* an alternative! http://www.openoffice.org/

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Bear said:

AOL my friend, AOL :-(

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Platypus said:

Try a rolled up newspaper and lots of shampoo, almost like the real
thing once it's warm.

 

With no fingers to hold it? I suppose I could get the carer to tape it
down at the edge of the kitchen table.

--
Platypus
VN800 Drifter, R80RT
DIAABTCOD#2 GPOTHUF#19
BOTAFOS#6 BOTAFOT#89
BOB#1 SBS#35 ANORAK#18 TWA#15

 

<snip>

Give up biking, get killed in the next Watford Junction or whatever.

$0.02 (probably not even that much)

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l. Really, Sprint 1.7
Ducati Monster 600 Metallic
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Platypus said:

How high is your bed? Put it between the mattress and the divan. Failing
that an armchair always comes in handy.

'scuse the pun

 

If the carer's there, who needs the newspaper?

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6? DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#16? FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19

 

It seemed at one point during my formative years on the road ( 16-20 ), pub
conversation would all too often turn to "Remember so and so?, was in here
couple of days ago with wossissface. Got skittled by a twat in a cage.
Burying him Friday". Seemed like one every couple of months. Nags at you.

It is easy for me to sit here and pontificate, and I can guess the reaction
of my older children should they be told Daddy isn't coming home. My little
uns probably wouldn't understand.

I don't want to be a statistic either. I don't -ever- consider myself to be
at the mercy of other road users. I try to ride assertively whilst
retaining an air of courtesy[1]. I don't doubt some blind **** will one day
fetch me off. I always remember what one cove told me just before I got my
first legal road bike. "Always have an escape route planned". To this end,
I try use my speed and road position to try to ensure I have somewhere to
go in case of blind twats.

Doesn't always work out that way. I have had a few close calls. You cannot
predict everything.

Can you sign up for a roadcraft refresher?

Still, 20+ years of riding bikes in all weathers, all year round and I'm
still like an over enthusiatic puppy after most rides. Without the
micturation. Mostly.

Get back out there if you can.


[1]Such as acknowledging them giving room or allowing them into the flow of
traffic. They know damn well that as soon as a gap appears that the bike
will fit through, you'll be off. Until that occurs, they look for you in
their mirrors and when you make your break, they move over a bit.[2]

I've seen it happen where I've moved over to allow faster rider through,
they've then made a gap, acknowledged the driver, and lo!, the cager is
using the mirrors!.

[2]Except the following. Exclusion does not mean exemption, it means I
forgot.

BMWs driven by 'young execs'
Newish or big BMWs driven by women
Audis in general
Smallish new Mercs. See BMW.
GBFO 4x4 vehicles. Not the Fred Dibnah-A-Likes in the older series II and
III landies. In fact, not Landie Defenders much either.

Yutes. Must be said with a mock Jamacian Yardie accent. Souped up little
cuntmobiles. Worst of the bloody lot in my estimation. Useless driver,
lopsided due to size of chip on shoulder ( it even dwarfs mine ),
'powerful' car optional. Its the 'Yute ting'. Still, they are very good
sport at traffic light grand prix

 

<snip>

Not nice, but it's the job.

And would you give up driving a car because of a couple of fatal car
RTAs?

 

Stu was seen penning the following ode to ... whatever:

While I can see your point, I'd like to point out that your chosen
occupation isn't exactly known for its safe work environment either,
isn't it?

My cousin lost his mum when he was 13, not to an RTA but to the big
C. They had two weeks of warning that something wasn't quite right but
they never even thought she would die. Sometime, your time is just up
no matter how hard you try. No consolation, I know.

Without me trying to advocate selfishness here, riding a bike isn't
the only dangerous thing we do. If the risk isn't worth it to you
because the benefits aren't what they should be then it probably is
time to stop, or pause for the winter and see if you actually miss it.

I think we all know we are (give or take those who are short of a
braincell or two and those who know they are invincible), and we all
have to assess the risk and then decide if we think it's worth it.

 

Well, I've just been over and stood against the kitchen table, and it
seems to be a good height[1]. Plus, it's wipe-clean.

[1]ask a girlie about washing machines...

--
Platypus
VN800 Drifter, R80RT
DIAABTCOD#2 GPOTHUF#19
BOTAFOS#6 BOTAFOT#89
BOB#1 SBS#35 ANORAK#18 TWA#15

 

I remember hearing, many years ago, that it was impossible to tell, by
feel alone, whether your dick was in a man's or a woman's mouth.

--
Platypus
VN800 Drifter, R80RT
DIAABTCOD#2 GPOTHUF#19
BOTAFOS#6 BOTAFOT#89
BOB#1 SBS#35 ANORAK#18 TWA#15

 

Reality check!

Life's cheap, shit happens[1].

Face reality.

[1] Therefore enjoy it as much as you can whilst you have it.

--
Alex
BMW R1150GS
DIAABTCOD#3 MSWF#4 UKRMFBC#6 Ibw#35 BOB#8
http://www.team-ukrm.co.uk
Windy's "little soldier"