RE: PH Blog: Harris learns biking, part one

[405dogvan]

I think "see the car driver as the enemy" is fully justified...

On her first proper lesson after her CBT, my partner was the last bike in a line of 6 passing a T Junction when the driver waiting to pull-out decided he'd waited long enough and knocked her into someone's garden.

I mean there's only 6 bikes in close formation - all wearing BRIGHT GREEN gear on BRIGHT ORANGE bikes!!

Car drivers are the enemy of bikers (motor and pedal) because far too many are a liability to others (not themselves of course, EuroNCAP keeps them safe).

So long as we don't descend to the level of the cyclist, using the pavement and road as they see fit, ignoring the rules of the road as they fly through red lights etc. - the hostility is probably justified.

[405dogvan]

jamieatkinson said:

Being 40 when i took up riding meant i too had 20 plus years of experience but giving that level of temptation to an 18yr old would definitely lead to losing your licence or far worse.

Slightly patronising generalisation.

You were no more ready for a superbike after 20 years of watching and 3 days of doing than any 18 year-old.

The thing with bikes is that bikers normally just kill themselves - car drivers kill other people.

Putting 17-year-olds on a bike for a year before they got a car would be a wiser move - and 3 days of training isn't enough to teach anyone, anything.

[MrKipling43]

405dogvan said:

On her first proper lesson after her CBT, my partner was the last bike in a line of 6 passing a T Junction when the driver waiting to pull-out decided he'd waited long enough and knocked her into someone's garden.

So how, exactly, did you kill the bloke?

Did you go with a weapon? Projectile or stabby? Or did you prefer the tactile delight of BEATING HIM TO DEATH WITH YOUR OWN BARE HANDS?

Welcome to biking, Chris. Jethro will be proud.

[AyBee]

Pushbikes next Chris?

[Greg 172]

"Equally, there's the thorny subject of the quality of the bike riding on display - but after a lowly CBT, I'm still not qualified to say anything about that."

A rather telling comment. I hope a large percentage of new bikers come out thinking the same, but I fear not...

[AdamLoewy]

Really interested to see how your perspective develops with continued exposure to bikes, personally I have never viewed cars as the enemy, more that you must always assume that other road users haven't seen you and you must not rely on them to react as you want them to.

If I were you, I'd persuade BMW to let you do a weekend at their Off Road skills centre in Wales (http://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/world-of-bmw/off-road-skills/)
The weekend was one of my favourites experiences of biking, had Simon Pavey (Dakar) as an instructor for 2 days and so much seeing how much punishment the little F650GS's could take.

Enjoy and I look forward to the vids!

[Steve Evil]

I'll be interested to see if you're tempted to follow through with it Chris and get yourself a bike once you've passed.

Personally I think it's great to experience both 2 and 4 wheels, I love a fast car as much as the next bloke, but love the fact I can experience the best 2 wheels has to offer too.

[Panthro]

Over a grand for the BMW direct access. Is that a good price? I remember checking a year or so ago and most places were charging between £700-800. I suppose you'd pay a premium to learn via BMW anyway, and it includes use of their bikes.

[M666 EVO]

405dogvan said:

I think "see the car driver as the enemy" is fully justified...

Car drivers are the enemy of bikers (motor and pedal).

You utter prat

I have been driving for 20 years and have never had a problem with bikes both motor and pedal EVEN though I have motor bikes cut me up, cyclists literally pulling out in front of me and at least one motor bike a day driving down my road thinking he is on the TT! It's scary how many idiots are on two wheels.

But the more these clowns abuse their right on the road, the less likely i am to show compassion and will adopt the "I am bigger than you, if you come off, it will hurt you more" as opposed to the swerving and trying to avoid accidents waiting to happen...

We all share the road, many bike riders need to appreciate this fact

[T.K]

Nice one.

I thoroughly enjoyed doing my direct access a few years ago, and I would recommend it to anyone as a fun challenge and a good way of becoming a better road user (whether or not they plan to buy a bike). I am strangely proud of my bike licence!

[srob]

Hour and a half for the arguing to start. Things are slipping around here

[Biker's Nemesis]

Well done.

[_Neal_]

M666 EVO said:

We all share the road, many bike riders need to appreciate this fact

Can we not go down the "them and us" route on this thread please? It's highly tedious.

Drivers and bikers both need to see things from the other side, which is one of the points the article we're discussing is making. Many posting on this thread have both cars and bikes.

Good work for starting the biking process - I'd also be interested in which 125 BMW use for their CBT.

[Dave Hedgehog]

so Chris has taken his first steps to coming out, cant wait to see him in the power ranger suite

[mikeg15]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Exactly right, though if you rehearse with a test disc beforehand you can knock five minutes off that time !

[ZesPak]

M666 EVO said:

We all share the road, many bike riders need to appreciate this fact

Thing is, we are trying to use the road you are clogging up with your 2mx5m 1.5 tonnes of steel.

[jjones]

what happened to Garlicks attempt at the bike licence?!?

Bike licence 1, PH Staff 0

Can the monkey balance the score, or will two wheel riding prove too skilfull for the PH boys?

[Biker's Nemesis]

_Neal_ said:

M666 EVO said:

We all share the road, many bike riders need to appreciate this fact

Can we not go down the "them and us" route on this thread please? Drivers and bikers both need to see things from the other side, which is one of the points the article we're discussing is making. Many posting on this thread have both cars and bikes.

I see things from both sides every day yet you don't see me complaining. Looks like its the car drivers that complain about bikes, push bikes, horses, buses, lorrys etc etc.

[Jamesp24]

Awesome well done Chris,Looking forward to seeing you do the next s1000rr video review ; )

[Pothole]

Greg 172 said:

"Equally, there's the thorny subject of the quality of the bike riding on display - but after a lowly CBT, I'm still not qualified to say anything about that."

A rather telling comment. I hope a large percentage of new bikers come out thinking the same, but I fear not...

I was going to pick up on that point, but from a slightly different angle. I reckon (or maybe it's hope) that Monkey will soon realise that what he now (as a barely rehabilitated cager) sees as crazy overtakes and life-risking manoeuvres are well thought out, smooth moves to make progress.