RE: PH Blog: Harris learns biking, part one

[sanctum]

In my experience, there is a similar percentage of utterly useless bike riders as car drivers.
The difference is, most bad drivers have an accident or two and carry on driving, do the same on a bike and you're probably going to be brown bread.
Thanks to this wonderful self control feature of biking, we see alot less bad bike riders than we otherwise would.
As others have said, we all use the road, car and bike need to get along, there should be no enmity.

[BigHeartedTone]

Well done Monkey - hope you get to enjoy biking as much I do!

[MarJay]

I think once Mr Harris realises that you can actually have fun on the roads in the UK without being (too) encumbered by traffic, he'll be looking at bikes faster than you can say "My Porsche is stuck in a jam".

[Motorrad]

Dave Hedgehog said:

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

Is
that something sofa related?

[Pothole]

sanctum said:

In my experience, there is a similar percentage of utterly useless bike riders as car drivers.
The difference is, most bad drivers have an accident or two and carry on driving, do the same on a bike and you're probably going to be brown bread.
Thanks to this wonderful self control feature of biking, we see alot less bad bike riders than we otherwise would.
As others have said, we all use the road, car and bike need to get along, there should be no enmity.

There are old bikers and bold bikers, there are no old, bold bikers...is that what you're saying?

[T.K]

I would also echo the point Chris has made about the contextual and practical nature of the instruction i.e. ride well, don't just ride. I think it's because by their very nature most bikers are enthusiasts.

I actually found this same practical approach extended to the test itself, which is eminently sensible but does make it a rather more challenging to pass. You are likely to be forced to make a judgement call to 'bend' the highway code at least once in the name of real world safety, and I found that I was expected to ride positively and with my brain engaged.

I wish they took the same approach to driving instruction/ testing in the UK.

[Rawwr]

Chris Harris said:

These first few miles are really potent, and I think many people will have their perception of riding permanently shaped by them.

I cannot agree enough with this. I remember that feeling, too.

[405dogvan]

M666 EVO said:

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.

So you're a perfect driver who's 100% observant - which means every driver is like that - but EVERY motorcyclist and cyclist isn't and I'm the prat??

You are the living definition of an imbecile AICMFP

[BigHeartedTone]

MarJay said:

I think once Mr Harris realises that you can actually have fun on the roads in the UK without being (too) encumbered by traffic, he'll be looking at bikes faster than you can say "My Porsche is stuck in a jam".

+1

[Pothole]

M666 EVO said:

You utter prat

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.

It's scary that you believe a motorcycle can think 'he' is on the TT. More scary still that you also seem to believe you can read 'his' thoughts!

You utter prat.

[VinceFox]

nice article.

to address the enemy concept, i think this is something that most long term riders grow out of, it's a phase we go through almost like being a stroppy teenager.

when you come out of it, you no longer take drivers personally as it's wasted time, energy and concentration. you focus on getting it right, reading correctly, maximising your reaction time/safety bubble and just enjoying "being" on a bike.

enjoy the DA Chris, look forward to reading it.

ETA the Freudian model of id, ego and superego seems to fit all road users to a degree, depending on their desire and ability to evolve, but nowhere more so than with riders.

Edited by VinceFox on Tuesday 10th July 12:35

Edited by VinceFox on Tuesday 10th July 12:37

[NW2]

M666 EVO said:

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...

Chilling words. Please keep well out of central London. I don't wish to come across you when I'm cycling to work in the rush hour.

[carsnapper]

Good read Chris, it's almost inspiring me to give it a go. I've secretly hated knowing that I couldn't just ride off on a bike should the feeling ever come over me...which it hasn't yet since 4 wheels keeps me happy. I've always been a holiday bike rider, it's the first thing I do when travelling or on holiday - hire a bike, so I guess there is some hidden agenda, I just find it hard admitting it!

Could you list all the costs, limitations and procedures as you go along as well, since qualifying requirements from scratch is a cloudy area. Got my licence in '92 as well, does that mean we get to arbitrarily avoid various procedures?

Cheers. Look forward to the follow ups.

[MrGeoff]

I always carried a great deal of respect for other road users, particularly bikers before I did my direct access. After completing my direct access I had a much better understanding of what it felt to be a biker being one myself. I think car drivers are pretty much uneducated when it comes to bikers and hold a narrow minded view of them, they also use their vehicles as a buffer and do not respect bikers at all. If only all road users had the view point of both, I think the roads would be a better place.

[langy]

I've got my theory test in 2 weeks, then plan on doing the CBT and DAS, was going to go through BMW, but will probably end up going local and save circa £400 in the process.

Enjoy.

[Hooli]

sanctum said:

In my experience, there is a similar percentage of utterly useless bike riders as car drivers.
The difference is, most bad drivers have an accident or two and carry on driving, do the same on a bike and you're probably going to be brown bread.
Thanks to this wonderful self control feature of biking, we see alot less bad bike riders than we otherwise would.
As others have said, we all use the road, car and bike need to get along, there should be no enmity.

This is true.

[Rawwr]

M666 EVO said:

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...

I like how you've taken the concept of being a spastic and then improved upon it.

[VinceFox]

Rawwr said:

M666 EVO said:

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...

I like how you've taken the concept of being a spastic and then improved upon it.

as with all things in life, consider the balance.

if YOU do something in the car and aggravate the wrong person on a bike, you won't be able to get away from it or them.

just worth considering, if we're looking at all aspects of the situation.

[MrKipling43]

M666 EVO said:

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...

ETA: just realised that you're quite clearly thick, so I'll spell this out for you...

I'm implying that you're a bellend, which is why there is an arrow pointing to the end of a bell. Geddit? Lovely.

[K2MDL]

Hopefully Mr Harris's attitude will change towards bikers then. I clearly remember him slagging them off when he used to write for Autocar and thought they shouldn't be on the road. Thought he had been reading Clarkson too much. Ironic that he's decided to learn the craft...