Biking, a great hobby ruined by talentless ******s

Biking, a great hobby ruined by talentless ******s

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Jazoli

Original Poster:

9,086 posts

249 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Bear with me as this is a bit of a rant, but a bit of background to begin with, I have been riding for 24 years or so, with the odd year off but have always had a bike or two in the garage, I have never had an off as such and I would say I'm a fairly quick road rider, smooth and safe.

The year before last I decided to sell my bike and gear after having a couple of close calls, one of my own (which was quite funny) but the others caused by other riders coming round blind corners and forcing me wide and once onto the verge at 60mph, you can only anticipate so much but at least my experience helped me find an escape route and not panic and crash, I became disillusioned with riding because of this so sold up and moved on.

Fast forward to this year, having had a 18 months without a (roadworthy) bike I was itching to get back out again, the problems of the previous years had moved out of focus and I was looking forward to riding again, I found my old bike on eBay, which I then bought, I also bought new riding gear and have spent the evenings over the last month fettling the new old bike ready for the season.

I had to go and do some family duties 30 miles away so instead of going in the car I went on the bike as the weather looked OK (well it wasn't raining) and I could finally get out and get some miles in taking the long scenic route home, all was going well for the first 20 miles, I was a little rusty but apexes were being hit and the front wheel was occasionally airborne which meant I hadn't forgotten how to ride.

Shortly after passing a local meeting spot I was taking a right hand corner, staying well over to the left (which I know well and am aware that there is always gravel on the crown of the road) to be met by an out of control wide eyed dhead heading straight for me, I managed to swerve and just miss him, he didn't make the corner and ended up hitting the wall, I stopped and he wasn't hurt as he had managed to scrub most of his speed off but he wasn't riding anywhere else on his bike as it was trashed, I just got back on the bike and rode off as I felt like hospitalising him myself.

Another 10 minutes into the now slower journey home (I'd had enough by then) I noticed a couple of bikes in my mirrors gaining on the straights but dropping back through the corners, their riding was st and their lines were all over the place, I just carried on, aware of them but riding my own ride, whilst setting myself up for a tricky set of bends billy big bks no1 comes steaming up alongside and tries to make the next corner, he doesn't and bounces off the wall pretty hard which sends him and his bike flying across the road in front of me, I manage to find a gap, acutely aware that his mate (lets call him billy big bks no2) is somewhere behind me, bbbno2 promptly arrives on scene, out of control, hits his mate on the floor then runs into me, we both somehow stay on our bikes and manage to stop.

It would seem that bbbno1 has a broken leg due to the funny angle of it and the noises he was making, his bike is on its side pissing oil and coolant everywhere, bbbno2 apologises for running into the back of me, I just call him and his mate stupid s, other people have stopped and the emergency services are called so I leave after leaving my details

I ride the 10 miles back home and park the bike up, knowing that this will be the last time I ride it, I'm not prepared to ride on the roads any more with the clueless fking idiots that think they can fking ride bikes but clearly fking can't, I have had enough, I have no problems with any other traffic, just moronic clueless idiotic fking bikers, in the last 10 days there have been 4 people killed on bikes within 20 miles of me and 3 others seriously injured, not including the from today, all but one were their own fault, I do not want to become number 5, the chances of me crashing on my own are slim and I can accept that risk, I cannot accept the risk of being taken out by some brainless who thinks he can buy the latest toy and ride like a fking wker everywhere putting others at risk because of a serious lack of fking ability, my wife and family deserve more than that

I'll still see a few of you at meets as I'll come up in the car for a craic, but my riding days are definitely over, its been fun smile

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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FFS that's another mate giving it up for good. I'll be on my own soon

On a serious note I have to say I don't blame you. I went out in the car today and drove some of the biker roads around Rivington. I think I upset quite a few riders, as they seemed incapable of shaking me off, even though I was happily driving around one handed smoking my ecig.

s3fella

10,524 posts

186 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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I think you've given up too easily.

LoonR1

26,988 posts

176 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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s3fella said:
I think you've given up too easily.
I was there when the guys came round the corner on the wrong side of the road a couple of years back and it was a close shave to say the least, this just sounds like the next stage in that unfortunately.

Jazoli

Original Poster:

9,086 posts

249 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
quotequote all
s3fella said:
I think you've given up too easily.
I won't bite but I really I don't think so smile

Rubin215

3,985 posts

155 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Move to Scotland.

Our roads are pretty empty, most bikers can ride pretty well and, crucially, in five months we will be free of those english wkers...

hehe

Fleegle

16,688 posts

175 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Jonah

CBR JGWRR

6,518 posts

148 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Take up track days? If nothing else everyone is at least going in vaguely the same direction, and you are generally mixed in with people of similar ability, so the risk of completely useless sods like those two are reduced.

bimsb6

8,034 posts

220 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Sounds like the hit out on him is still live .

Jazoli

Original Poster:

9,086 posts

249 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
quotequote all
CBR JGWRR said:
Take up track days? If nothing else everyone is at least going in vaguely the same direction, and you are generally mixed in with people of similar ability, so the risk of completely useless sods like those two are reduced.
I know quite a few useless sods who do TD's wink they hold no interest for me tbh.

bimsb6 said:
Sounds like the hit out on him is still live .
Well they couldn't catch me so took the head on approach hehe

I am gutted about it and feel quite emotional about it as it has been a huge part of my life for years but today was the straw that broke the camels back.

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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moanthebairns

17,918 posts

197 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Rubin215 said:
Move to Scotland.

Our roads are pretty empty, most bikers can ride pretty well and, crucially, in five months we will be free of those english wkers...

hehe
this, actually don't the weathers fking st and im fed up of getting soaked and blown about the place.

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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fk me Jaz, where do you live, the Mountain? Four deaths in 10 days, there aren't even that many gangstas killing each other in that London biggrin

Come up here to t'north(-east), we'll give you a big bikey cuddle AND show you some proper roads whistle

black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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There are some real dick heads out there who just don't know how to ride, but worse, think they do!

I always think it's a shame when anyone gives up a hobby they enjoy and I would suggest taking a little longer to think about it. In life, we tend to regret the things we didn't do and you wouldn't want to regret not riding your bike. Have a couple of weeks off before reassessing the situation.

mitzy

13,857 posts

196 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Have a sleep on it
A brew tomorrow morning
Then decide


Disastrous

10,072 posts

216 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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I had my first proper 'bonding' ride with the RSV on Thursday evening as like mtb says, it's been pissing down north of the border since July last year.

Only did 40 miles or so but I had the roads to myself and it was absolutely brilliant. I can imagine how annoying it must be to be stuck on roads that are overcrowded with lunatics.

I'm not a very quick/good rider at all but I think I compensate by just going quite slowly and not hitting people.

Sorry to hear riding has been spoiled for you but don't really blame you!

black-k1

11,889 posts

228 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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CBR JGWRR said:
Take up track days? If nothing else everyone is at least going in vaguely the same direction, and you are generally mixed in with people of similar ability, so the risk of completely useless sods like those two are reduced.
I bet you see more dheads and crap riding per mile travelled on track days than you do on roads. I would suggest that falling of is more common per mile but less painful.

Biker's Nemesis

38,536 posts

207 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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Now you know why I steady on ride outs, if you push on even a little bit the people behind take it as a challenge to keep up, the trouble starts when they can't read the situation or increased speed and run into the back of you.

In the unlikely event of anyone being able to keep up with me I would let them by, its much easier to manage the risk if you can keep an eye on the idiots.

Jazoli

Original Poster:

9,086 posts

249 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
quotequote all
Wedg1e said:
fk me Jaz, where do you live, the Mountain? Four deaths in 10 days, there aren't even that many gangstas killing each other in that London biggrin

Come up here to t'north(-east), we'll give you a big bikey cuddle AND show you some proper roads whistle
I live in Kendal, the local roads are all the main 'bikey' routes up here and are very much 'proper roads', Devils Bridge and Hartside are both 30 minutes away, plus you have the idiot loop around Hawes, I normally go further afield up into Richmondshire or up towards the North East, but today was just meant to be a gentle season opener smile


Biker's Nemesis said:
Now you know why I steady on ride outs, if you push on even a little bit the people behind take it as a challenge to keep up, the trouble starts when they can't read the situation or increased speed and run into the back of you.

In the unlikely event of anyone being able to keep up with me I would let them by, its much easier to manage the risk if you can keep an eye on the idiots.
Thing is John I wasn't even going remotely quick, probably about 50% of what I would normally ride (Yazza Speed), any slower and I'd be getting off and pushing it around corners, If I'd been pushing along I would have let them go as like you say, its easier to watch them when they are in front.


Edited by Jazoli on Sunday 13th April 19:31

Jujuuk68

363 posts

156 months

Sunday 13th April 2014
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I think the trouble is that we've all suffered recently suffered what I identify as cun& saturday.

Basically, cun& saturday, is the first warmish weekend in april, where all those who have 6 months road tax and six months sorn, get the bikes out for their 6 months of the year on the road.

Generally my flat is now shaken awake from 8:ish on a sat am,killing the chance of a lie in by late middle aged and retired Harley riders who still get the horn not for their missus, but for a loud pipe whilst doing 40 up the dual carrigeways, through towns and anywhere else, ensuring that thousands have a moment of misery as they pass.

Then a touch later, the people with clean shiny low mileage sportsbikes and matching leathers pass by.

Best example I've seen so far was last saturday, I saw the magnificent site of some tt who was, in fairness, on his clean and shiny red Hornet, cut up badly on a roundabout by a people carrier. But should have seen for at least 100 yards back that it was inevitable as the driver was clearly lost by his driving style, and blatting past at over the speed limit was never a good idea. Sometimes guy, you just have to hang back and let idiotss gather themselves together - But the biker, slowed as he was cut up, let the bewildered people carrier get slightly ahead, and then accellerated hard, swerved in and punched the wing mirror of the car, smashing it.

Hopefully the red mist that biker had "given himself" ensured he couldnt then concentrate for the next 10 mins or so, and stuffed his bike soemwhere harmless to take him off the roads for a few weeks. If you get that upset, and have that much of a lack of anticipation in your 6 months on the road each year, you should hand the keys back.

The puchline to all this Of course is that Mr tt biker caused the bewildered people carrier to slam on its brakes and pull to the side of the road as a result of the sudden and unexpected demise of his drivers mirror. Sadly that meant me on my pushbike in my cycle lane, went into the back of him and came off. To which an electronic window on the passenger side wound down, saw me on the ground, and the cun& drove off.....

Well, in five and a half months, the morons will be putting their toys back on the trickle chargers, and will leave the rest of us to commute in safety.