Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Commuting

[Biker's Nemesis]

I never react to any close shaves caused by other road users. I just say to myself I just want to get home/work/the cafe without grief or blood loss.

[black-k1]

I just ignore the idiots. I know that I make mistakes and I know that I occasionally do things that are probably interpreted by other road users as stupid/dangerous so I just let it go and hope that Karma will make the same happen for me. As has been said, I don’t know who they are (and don’t want to know) and don’t want them to become a part of the rest of my life.

[cpl_payne]

I think the key to keeping calm is being aware of your mood before you get on the bike, as well as leaving yourself plenty of time to get there.

[Biggie9]

After so many years of commuting on the M25 and M1, my game plan is to ride defensively at all times, keep calm, pull over to let the fast 'rep mobiles' through as I know I would catch them up later anyway and keep saying to myself that my goal is to get home in one piece.

[Renn Sport]

I'm not big on commuting as I feel the enjoyment of biking is erroded and I somewhat like to limit my risk. However I try whenever possible not to engage with idiots on the road. Its just not worth it.

Some people require a very wide berth.

[SteelerSE]

Agreed. Like the bh in the SLK that bumped into my leg on Parliament Square today. No damage and I'm not hurt but it's just ridiculous what people will try and do to get an inch further forward.

[black-k1]

black-k1 said:

I just ignore the idiots. I know that I make mistakes and I know that I occasionally do things that are probably interpreted by other road users as stupid/dangerous so I just let it go and hope that Karma will make the same happen for me. As has been said, I don’t know who they are (and don’t want to know) and don’t want them to become a part of the rest of my life.

I must confess that my usual Zen like state cracked on the way home on Wednesday. Filtering up the A12 passed Stratford and went passed another bike which had his headlight on full beam. He managed to keep close enough to me that I kept getting blinded when I tried to look in my mirrors (which I do quite a lot). I cracked, let him pass then followed him for a little while with full beam on (HID on one side and 100w Halogen on the other is a pretty effective combination). He got the message and, to be fair to him, did look apologetic!

[Reardy Mister]

SteelerSE said:

Agreed. Like the bh in the SLK that bumped into my leg on Parliament Square today. No damage and I'm not hurt but it's just ridiculous what people will try and do to get an inch further forward.

The chap who did that to me last week wont do it again. Guaranteed. I'm all about zen until my leg is trapped against my fairing by a car.

[black-k1]

SteelerSE said:

Agreed. Like the bh in the SLK that bumped into my leg on Parliament Square today. No damage and I'm not hurt but it's just ridiculous what people will try and do to get an inch further forward.

These are the people that really worry me and the ones I really try not to react to. If they're willing to make contact when everything is relatively calm, what extremes would they go to if you really pissed them off? Car Vs. bike is not a full contact sport that the bike wins at.

[CAPP0]

Reardy Mister said:

SteelerSE said:

Agreed. Like the bh in the SLK that bumped into my leg on Parliament Square today. No damage and I'm not hurt but it's just ridiculous what people will try and do to get an inch further forward.

The chap who did that to me last week wont do it again. Guaranteed. I'm all about zen until my leg is trapped against my fairing by a car.

I had to un-Zen myself on Weds as I sat behind and between two vehicles at traffic lights, slight uphill gradient. The van started rolling backwards, and I had nowhere to go. Toot on the horn. No reaction. Another toot on the horn. Nothing. BANG BANG BANG on the side of the van. He put his brake on.

I guess that reset my score to zero!

[SteelerSE]

I had a good old shout at her but that was just to vent really. She had no clue.