Bikers - can you explain?
Discussion
Bizarre.
Came off a dual carriageway on to a dualled slip road and was waiting at the lights at the roundabout. Three motorbikes come down the middle and we all wait for the lights to change. The lights change, I wait politely for the bikes to go first, then follow behind.
Turning off the roundabout onto another dual carriageway, the logical time arrives to accelerate past the slow stuff in the left hand lane. However, the bike in front of me doesn't go haring off, as one would expect, but stays plumb on 70. Eventually we get past the traffic and he (grudgingly) pulls over - just enough to let me through. So I go through, fine, but 200 yards up the road is his mate, who sees me coming and immediately starts to move over from the left hand lane to the centre and gesticulates. A speed trap I think? Nope, nothing. So I go past and get ahead a little and settle down at maybe 85 in the left lane mindingmy own business. Then biker 2 suddenly accelerates and comes zooming up alongside me. I ignore him; besides, I'm watching the road. After a bit he drops back and waves his fists around. I keep going and don't see them again.
What did I do to provoke this behaviour? Or do they think they can lord it over everyone else?
Came off a dual carriageway on to a dualled slip road and was waiting at the lights at the roundabout. Three motorbikes come down the middle and we all wait for the lights to change. The lights change, I wait politely for the bikes to go first, then follow behind.
Turning off the roundabout onto another dual carriageway, the logical time arrives to accelerate past the slow stuff in the left hand lane. However, the bike in front of me doesn't go haring off, as one would expect, but stays plumb on 70. Eventually we get past the traffic and he (grudgingly) pulls over - just enough to let me through. So I go through, fine, but 200 yards up the road is his mate, who sees me coming and immediately starts to move over from the left hand lane to the centre and gesticulates. A speed trap I think? Nope, nothing. So I go past and get ahead a little and settle down at maybe 85 in the left lane mindingmy own business. Then biker 2 suddenly accelerates and comes zooming up alongside me. I ignore him; besides, I'm watching the road. After a bit he drops back and waves his fists around. I keep going and don't see them again.
What did I do to provoke this behaviour? Or do they think they can lord it over everyone else?
They are bikers, and have a predetermined genetic need to shake their head n a geriatric tutting style, and having the godgiven right to be the quickest things on the roads. Bikers are odd. They can be great people, and you can stop atop the horseshoe pass and have a good natter, no matter what you happen to turn up in, but then you drive along and they will be doing obscene speeds on the roads, (i don't really have a problem with this). Then the next thing is opening a magazine for bikers and reading how dangerous car owners are, while at the same time testing bikes doing knee down stuff, and wheelies. A weird breed, who seem to think that bikers are a lifestyle of their own, and cars are all boring drivvle. regular phrase of my biker mates is "Its a biker thing"... i think it might just be so...
Hmm. Another pair (the roads were crawling with bikes today) enjoyed alternating between 29 and 70... I keep my distance; they're like hi-speed tacking yachts, drifting all over the place, you never which side they're coming from. I reckon that at least if you keep a predictable speed and course, they will hopefully miss.
Maybe a gunner in a boot turret would do the trick???
Pride of place though goes to the nutter in a souped up yellow car that went hurtling past me towards a blind brow whilst overtaking several cars... he may deserve to die, it's just unfortunate about the people coming the other way.
Maybe a gunner in a boot turret would do the trick???
Pride of place though goes to the nutter in a souped up yellow car that went hurtling past me towards a blind brow whilst overtaking several cars... he may deserve to die, it's just unfortunate about the people coming the other way.
Guys!
I think you're being a little OTT here.... lumping all bikers into one style of behaviour!
I know hundreds of bikers, some ride like utter cocks & probably drive their cars like tossers too... some are unobservant have poor discipline & likewise on 4 wheels, and some are courteous with excellent skills & manners, on both 4 wheels & 2.
You should consider that often bikers filter to the front of stationary traffic to avoid the possibility of being rear ended! I certainly do it for that reason, you are very vunerable sitting at the end of a line of cars! you should also consider that sometimes bikers may have spotted a hazard that a car driver has missed, simply because they are often more aware of their surroundings. This does not excuse poor behaviour though, just bear in mind that when you are on 2 wheels your life may be taken from you very easily by someones momentary lapse of concentration, that would cause a car driver little more than whiplash.
Myself, I try to remain courteous & safe, and I never ride like a complete tit, however if someone does something stupid putting my life at risk, giving me a heart stopping moment, I may 'gesticulate' - if they move over to let me pass I acknowledge with a nod of thanks.
Anna
I think you're being a little OTT here.... lumping all bikers into one style of behaviour!
I know hundreds of bikers, some ride like utter cocks & probably drive their cars like tossers too... some are unobservant have poor discipline & likewise on 4 wheels, and some are courteous with excellent skills & manners, on both 4 wheels & 2.
You should consider that often bikers filter to the front of stationary traffic to avoid the possibility of being rear ended! I certainly do it for that reason, you are very vunerable sitting at the end of a line of cars! you should also consider that sometimes bikers may have spotted a hazard that a car driver has missed, simply because they are often more aware of their surroundings. This does not excuse poor behaviour though, just bear in mind that when you are on 2 wheels your life may be taken from you very easily by someones momentary lapse of concentration, that would cause a car driver little more than whiplash.
Myself, I try to remain courteous & safe, and I never ride like a complete tit, however if someone does something stupid putting my life at risk, giving me a heart stopping moment, I may 'gesticulate' - if they move over to let me pass I acknowledge with a nod of thanks.
Anna
simpo two said:
Hmm. Another pair (the roads were crawling with bikes today) enjoyed alternating between 29 and 70... I keep my distance; they're like hi-speed tacking yachts, drifting all over the place, you never which side they're coming from.
P.S. the reason that bikers do this is to:
- Get the best visiblity (ie seeing round vehicles & making sure the driver can see you in his wing mirror)
- Be at the safest point in the road (ie to avoid junctions, moving to the right for approaching left handers & vice versa).
- To make sure car drivers coming in opposite direction can see you at their earliest opportunity!
- To avoid bad road surfaces!!
If you stop to think about WHY bikers use the road like this it will make sense, and may even improve your car driving (it has mine!).
Andy Mac said:Read a copy of Roadcraft, using all the road where appropriate is part of the system, for the reasons Anna gave.
You really thinks its ensible to waver over the road in the car?
It's just that on a bike it is much easier to use all your lane and even the other side of the road due to a bikes size and manoeuvrability.
Good grief
I *meant* you could use/adopt SOME of the skills that bikers use to improve your overall awareness & ability - (if you were inclined to do so and receptive to the suggestion that your driving could be improved) - clearly you only came over here with a large axe to grind - rather than listen to the replies to the question. Which I have tried my best to answer but clearly you have no real interest in.
....we don't weave all over the road for no reason, we utilise the space to increase our vision & position to maximise our safety & chances of coming home to our kids & families at night!!
I *meant* you could use/adopt SOME of the skills that bikers use to improve your overall awareness & ability - (if you were inclined to do so and receptive to the suggestion that your driving could be improved) - clearly you only came over here with a large axe to grind - rather than listen to the replies to the question. Which I have tried my best to answer but clearly you have no real interest in.
....we don't weave all over the road for no reason, we utilise the space to increase our vision & position to maximise our safety & chances of coming home to our kids & families at night!!
Hi Anna! I agree with most of what you say, you sound very sensible. But I'd like to make the following comments...
No problem with that - they are thinner! I'd do the same if I could!
Why is that? I don't have to look through a little slot in a crash-helmet: my peripheral vision is better. Or is it because unaware bikers are dead bikers?
I agree. But it took me a lot more concentration to deal safely/negotiate these guys than if they'd been riding in a roughly straight line at a roughly predictable speed! Surely, to avoid one's life being taken from you, it's best to proceed in a sensible fashion and if you want to do 70mph, keep over and let the TVR on your six that wants to get past, do so, without titting about and creating grief for everyone?
No problem with that; I'd do the same. But it would have been nice to have done something to warrant such gesticulations!
954 girlie said:
You should consider that often bikers filter to the front of stationary traffic to avoid the possibility of being rear ended!
No problem with that - they are thinner! I'd do the same if I could!
954 girlie said:
you should also consider that sometimes bikers may have spotted a hazard that a car driver has missed, simply because they are often more aware of their surroundings.
Why is that? I don't have to look through a little slot in a crash-helmet: my peripheral vision is better. Or is it because unaware bikers are dead bikers?
954 girlie said:
just bear in mind that when you are on 2 wheels your life may be taken from you very easily by someones momentary lapse of concentration
I agree. But it took me a lot more concentration to deal safely/negotiate these guys than if they'd been riding in a roughly straight line at a roughly predictable speed! Surely, to avoid one's life being taken from you, it's best to proceed in a sensible fashion and if you want to do 70mph, keep over and let the TVR on your six that wants to get past, do so, without titting about and creating grief for everyone?
954 girlie said:
however if someone does something stupid putting my life at risk, giving me a heart stopping moment, I may 'gesticulate'
No problem with that; I'd do the same. But it would have been nice to have done something to warrant such gesticulations!
simpo two said:
you should also consider that sometimes bikers may have spotted a hazard that a car driver has missed, simply because they are often more aware of their surroundings.
Why is that? I don't have to look through a little slot in a crash-helmet: my peripheral vision is better. Or is it because unaware bikers are dead bikers?
Yes to the last question. Also mirrors on bikes are usually hopeless, therefore nesitating 'active observation'.
I tend to agree that there is a common knocking of car drivers, which i dont agree with as generally most bikers actually drive anyway. I'm afraid its is a case of numbers, there are so many more cars than any other form of transport on the road, law of averages sugests there will be more bad drivers than motorbikers.
Simpo, thanks for hearing me, I dunno what that berk was flapping about, perhaps he had an intercom linked to his wife at home or something??
I've just tried to give you an insight into why we do stuff, as for vision, that in itself is not impaired by your helmet, but we like to have maximum road visiblility, making ourselves seen & being able to see & anticipate every little thing, bits of mud on the road that may indicate farms & slow farm machinery, telegraph poles that show where the next bend is leading, uneven surfaces, diesel, I look at the 'body language' of cars (wheels turned toward the road when passing parked cars) the list is endless! Advanced instruction is order of the day for most bikers.
Totally with you on the cars/bikes that insist on fixating their speed & effectively blocking overtakes by other road users, this is just as frustrating on a bike as it is in a car!
Just remember that we aren't all the same & can't be judged on the frustrating experiences that you have written about here, any more than car drivers are!!
I'm not going to come over to the car board & call you all a bunch of boring, pipe smoking, slipper wearing, old duffers with nodding dogs & panama hats on yer parcel shelves - well I might, you never know!!
Anna
I've just tried to give you an insight into why we do stuff, as for vision, that in itself is not impaired by your helmet, but we like to have maximum road visiblility, making ourselves seen & being able to see & anticipate every little thing, bits of mud on the road that may indicate farms & slow farm machinery, telegraph poles that show where the next bend is leading, uneven surfaces, diesel, I look at the 'body language' of cars (wheels turned toward the road when passing parked cars) the list is endless! Advanced instruction is order of the day for most bikers.
Totally with you on the cars/bikes that insist on fixating their speed & effectively blocking overtakes by other road users, this is just as frustrating on a bike as it is in a car!
Just remember that we aren't all the same & can't be judged on the frustrating experiences that you have written about here, any more than car drivers are!!
I'm not going to come over to the car board & call you all a bunch of boring, pipe smoking, slipper wearing, old duffers with nodding dogs & panama hats on yer parcel shelves - well I might, you never know!!
Anna
954 girlie said:
[P.S. the reason that bikers do this is to:
- Get the best visiblity (ie seeing round vehicles & making sure the driver can see you in his wing mirror)
- Be at the safest point in the road (ie to avoid junctions, moving to the right for approaching left handers & vice versa).
- To make sure car drivers coming in opposite direction can see you at their earliest opportunity!
- To avoid bad road surfaces!!
If you stop to think about WHY bikers use the road like this it will make sense, and may even improve your car driving (it has mine!).
I can see your point... But do you really think moving to the right hand side of the road as you are coming up to a left hander is the best option? I'd hate to think a truck, or a wide load was heading round the corner...As for weaving all over the road, you really can't do that in a car, which was my point.
954 girlie said:
I'm not going to come over to the car board & call you all a bunch of boring, pipe smoking, slipper wearing, old duffers with nodding dogs & panama hats on yer parcel shelves - well I might, you never know!!
On the Griff forum? I'd like to see you try! But you're very welcome to say hello
Good natter - I like your style. I think mutual respect and awareness is the agreed order of the day. And plenty of loud pedal. Or right wrist, whatever you guys use (dunno, my last bike had three gears and pedals!)
Andy Mac said:
But do you really think moving to the right hand side of the road as you are coming up to a left hander is the best option? I'd hate to think a truck, or a wide load was heading round the corner...
The idea is to get to see further/sooner round the corner, which includes seeing oncoming trucks and stuff. Another related check is to look over the tops of the hedges for the upper parts of trucks.
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