And today's commuting highlight is...
Discussion
Really was not in the mood for any heroics this morning. Nor encounters nor stress of any sort. Then I roll up behind an Old boy on an old BMW K-something or other. Helmet stickered up with some sort of association of boring tts sticker on the back. I went around him at the lights only because my regular launch was a little quicker than his and there was space to. Settled back a respectful speed between lights only for him to suddenly do a fly-by of me at about 55. I thought that was odd but whatever, he can have as much space as he wants, I'm in no hurry. He pulls up next to some bloke he chatted to a bit further back, pointed to me and started talking about me as if I wasn't even there. "Chap here trying to show me how its done and I done him on a 20yr old bike!" Bloke didn't hear so leans for him to repeat it, which he does. "This lad (points again, dismissively with his thumb over his shoulder), tried to show me hows its done on his new bike, mines 20 yrs older!" Didn't hear what came back. Then he sat back with his flip top up and flicked down his built in dark eye shield, like he was in a movie.
Cool story, I know.
Cool story, I know.
308mate said:
Really was not in the mood for any heroics this morning. Nor encounters nor stress of any sort. Then I roll up behind an Old boy on an old BMW K-something or other. Helmet stickered up with some sort of association of boring tts sticker on the back. I went around him at the lights only because my regular launch was a little quicker than his and there was space to. Settled back a respectful speed between lights only for him to suddenly do a fly-by of me at about 55. I thought that was odd but whatever, he can have as much space as he wants, I'm in no hurry. He pulls up next to some bloke he chatted to a bit further back, pointed to me and started talking about me as if I wasn't even there. "Chap here trying to show me how its done and I done him on a 20yr old bike!" Bloke didn't hear so leans for him to repeat it, which he does. "This lad (points again, dismissively with his thumb over his shoulder), tried to show me hows its done on his new bike, mines 20 yrs older!" Didn't hear what came back. Then he sat back with his flip top up and flicked down his built in dark eye shield, like he was in a movie.
Cool story, I know.
Hahaha. Sounds like an absolute clownCool story, I know.
Back to commuting today (after a break of at least 3.5 weeks) and almost cold enough to break out the heated gloves again.. but carried on with summer goretex anyway.
Recent cold nights/mornings seems to have killed off the summer bikers which I'd started to see before at just after 8am this morning - Easter seems to have made zero impact to the solid traffic heading west into town on the highway up to Tower Bridge - strangely after Tower Hill onto lower thames street the traffic is still very light which says to me they've c**ked up the traffic light timings at the Tower Bridge crossroads/junction.
Recent cold nights/mornings seems to have killed off the summer bikers which I'd started to see before at just after 8am this morning - Easter seems to have made zero impact to the solid traffic heading west into town on the highway up to Tower Bridge - strangely after Tower Hill onto lower thames street the traffic is still very light which says to me they've c**ked up the traffic light timings at the Tower Bridge crossroads/junction.
Lowlight was the aftermath of a nasty looking accident on the Euston road outside the British library. Eastbound at about 5PM.
Highlight was the police 4WD parked with lights flashing on the hard shoulder of the westbound ramp onto the westway. Everyone slowed down in case there was a blockage, instead there was a bored copper standing beside it with a speed gun and not even bothering to point it at anyone.
Highlight was the police 4WD parked with lights flashing on the hard shoulder of the westbound ramp onto the westway. Everyone slowed down in case there was a blockage, instead there was a bored copper standing beside it with a speed gun and not even bothering to point it at anyone.
So some bds tried to nick my scooter a couple of weeks back. Smashed the steering lock and broke the ignition barrel. Must have not seen the disk lock and chain though... so they nicked the cover instead. I'm just happy it was there in the morning, the damage wasn't terminal and I'm back on the road. I know it's sad but I'm quite attached to my scooter.
Typical as my bike is the only one on the estate with any security. It's only a 100cc Peugeot too.
The week on the train reminded me why I gave it up.
Been enjoying blasting up to Cambridge and around the lanes of Hertfordshire on my Hornet over the weekends. It's nice that there's more bikers about now the sun has made an appearance keeps things interesting tagging on to a pack or having a bit of a run with another bike as I'm always solo due to having no like minded mates
I was in Norfolk over Easter and coming back got snarled up in traffic following an accident on the M11 northbound. Saw an air ambulance take off and once traffic was moving again I noticed there was a bike in a bad way on the other side of the road - obviously involved in the crash that closed the motorway and the police were busy taping off sections of the grass bank. Hope the rider is ok.
Certainly slowed me down, even though I was in the car.
Typical as my bike is the only one on the estate with any security. It's only a 100cc Peugeot too.
The week on the train reminded me why I gave it up.
Been enjoying blasting up to Cambridge and around the lanes of Hertfordshire on my Hornet over the weekends. It's nice that there's more bikers about now the sun has made an appearance keeps things interesting tagging on to a pack or having a bit of a run with another bike as I'm always solo due to having no like minded mates
I was in Norfolk over Easter and coming back got snarled up in traffic following an accident on the M11 northbound. Saw an air ambulance take off and once traffic was moving again I noticed there was a bike in a bad way on the other side of the road - obviously involved in the crash that closed the motorway and the police were busy taping off sections of the grass bank. Hope the rider is ok.
Certainly slowed me down, even though I was in the car.
Today's highlight was....being back on the RT after 2 months. Replaced the exhaust headers yesterday (£149) and my £8500 value, £5600-worth of repairs write off is good to go. Great to be back on it.
The run down to the Blackwall was tedious due to the guy up front having his GoNob mounted on suck a stupidly ridiculously long arm off the side of this helmet that he clearly couldn't fit through any gaps. I swear, this thing was so long that the leverage was causing him to ride with his head permanently canted to one side.
He also took the opportunity to berate each and every vehicle which impeded his progress
Did I mention that I'm back on my RT?
The run down to the Blackwall was tedious due to the guy up front having his GoNob mounted on suck a stupidly ridiculously long arm off the side of this helmet that he clearly couldn't fit through any gaps. I swear, this thing was so long that the leverage was causing him to ride with his head permanently canted to one side.
He also took the opportunity to berate each and every vehicle which impeded his progress
Did I mention that I'm back on my RT?
Had a word with myself this morning after getting stroppy with a guy sat stationary in a wide filtering path on his shiny 66 plate street triple in heavy traffic.
It is fair enough that people want to ride in now the sun is out but I wish people would be a bit more courteous to other motorcyclists with their handmuffed filthy commuters!
It is fair enough that people want to ride in now the sun is out but I wish people would be a bit more courteous to other motorcyclists with their handmuffed filthy commuters!
Same time as yesterday but a ton of other bikers this morning.. virtually our own filtering traffic queue along the highway to tower bridge this morning at multiple junctions/traffic islands - bike queues generally justified due to zero space to make progress 'legally' but some in part due to biker/scooter rider incompetence at using the space round them rather then stopping/blocking when they can actually move forward by simply looking to their left and seeing the obvious gap! lol
Anyway was a very enjoyable commute in on the Speed irrespective
Anyway was a very enjoyable commute in on the Speed irrespective
Filling up at my local Shell station on the way to work today, as I was going in to pay I saw a sign that said 'Remove helmet or lift visor before entering shop'
Finally a biker friendly policy - although they've never asked me to remove it before there, it's nice to see it's actually supported in writing
Finally a biker friendly policy - although they've never asked me to remove it before there, it's nice to see it's actually supported in writing
Tall_Paul said:
Back to the regular '40mph everywhere' bunch now that the schools are back from half term
Totally does my head in! I drove our work van to pick some stuff up mid-morning - needless to say, filtering is a no-no on 4 wheels..... Does anybody actually drive more than 50 anymore????Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff