Filtering (look behind you)
Discussion
Why don't some bikers look behind when they are filtering? The reason that R1 was so close to you through the stationary traffic was;
1. You were going painfully slow and kept braking
2. Your brake lights don't work!
I have no problem in moving aside for faster filterers. One of the regular s I see is particularly fast on his gold Fazer. He caught the pair of us up and ended up splitting lanes 1-2. Wish I'd taken the same opportunity.
Dunno who Mr Slow was but he was on a blue R6 I think (replacement undertray with non-working brake lights so I can't be sure). Had no more protective gear than his helmet.
Apologies for the rant but I followed him for ages as I couldn't see a safe way to pass him.
1. You were going painfully slow and kept braking
2. Your brake lights don't work!
I have no problem in moving aside for faster filterers. One of the regular s I see is particularly fast on his gold Fazer. He caught the pair of us up and ended up splitting lanes 1-2. Wish I'd taken the same opportunity.
Dunno who Mr Slow was but he was on a blue R6 I think (replacement undertray with non-working brake lights so I can't be sure). Had no more protective gear than his helmet.
Apologies for the rant but I followed him for ages as I couldn't see a safe way to pass him.
Edited by rsv gone! on Monday 10th September 08:42
You tend to find those not in protective bike gear other than the helmet are 'summer' or 'dry' weather only commuters who are generally not as adept at 'getting on with it' they generally have nice shiney sports bikes too. Generally most I catch up even with the gear on seem blissfully unaware of whats going on behind them I'd agree. The worst are the cain of off the line to get in front of you only to be f-ing useless when they come up to traffic but they won't ever let you passed riding gods.
Some people really seem to be incapable of reading/predicting the traffic and come to a stop, wait or are just over cautious much to the irritation of other more experienced biker who know what they're doing.
Basically if someone is genuinely catching me up while filtering or just making quicker progress I've got no problem moving out of their way - to be honest this is very rare for me save for the odd one or two most of whom are mental couriers on a mission.
Some people really seem to be incapable of reading/predicting the traffic and come to a stop, wait or are just over cautious much to the irritation of other more experienced biker who know what they're doing.
Basically if someone is genuinely catching me up while filtering or just making quicker progress I've got no problem moving out of their way - to be honest this is very rare for me save for the odd one or two most of whom are mental couriers on a mission.
Steve_T said:
I do my best to step aside whenever I can - I'm somewhere in the middle order of filterers. What gets me is when I let someone by because I think they want to go quicker and then they slow me down! 
Its always easier to do the chasing - most of the time the traffic has already been split for you and most drivers are then aware of the presence of bikers...I commute in on the A40 on a daily basis and always have the option of moving lanes if some tosser, sorry i mean slower rider isnt aware of my superhuman observational and filtering technique
John Laverick said:
To be fair ... whilst filtering you do tend to have ALOT of your attention on whats going on ahead rather than behind. No excuse though.
I agree, however this is how you tend to be able to weed out the inexperienced riders though cos they never ever look behind. My mirrors are invaluable to me and it only takes a fraction of a second to check by moving my eyes from the road ahead to the mirrors and back. Generally I use the time when not filtering or stopped at the lights to keep a proper eye on the mirrors checking for bikes coming up behind or beside you anyway. Basically if you know whats round you all the time you can't ever be shocked that someone appears behind you.rsv gone! said:
Why don't some bikers look behind when they are filtering? The reason that R1 was so close to you through the stationary traffic was;
1. You were going painfully slow and kept braking
2. Your brake lights don't work!
I have no problem in moving aside for faster filterers. One of the regular s I see is particularly fast on his gold Fazer. He caught the pair of us up and ended up splitting lanes 1-2. Wish I'd taken the same opportunity.
Dunno who Mr Slow was but he was on a blue R6 I think (replacement undertray with non-working brake lights so I can't be sure). Had no more protective gear than his helmet.
Apologies for the rant but I followed him for ages as I couldn't see a safe way to pass him.
Why not just try and relax a bit when you ride and stop critising other rider/drivers.1. You were going painfully slow and kept braking
2. Your brake lights don't work!
I have no problem in moving aside for faster filterers. One of the regular s I see is particularly fast on his gold Fazer. He caught the pair of us up and ended up splitting lanes 1-2. Wish I'd taken the same opportunity.
Dunno who Mr Slow was but he was on a blue R6 I think (replacement undertray with non-working brake lights so I can't be sure). Had no more protective gear than his helmet.
Apologies for the rant but I followed him for ages as I couldn't see a safe way to pass him.
Edited by rsv gone! on Monday 10th September 08:42
He had as much right to be on that piece of rad as you. He dosnt have to pull over or get out your way because you are in a hurry andprobably want to ride way faster than you should between the lines of traffic.
slim_boy_fat said:
Why not just try and relax a bit when you ride and stop critising other rider/drivers.
He had as much right to be on that piece of rad as you. He dosnt have to pull over or get out your way because you are in a hurry andprobably want to ride way faster than you should between the lines of traffic.
You only have my side of the story so you'll have to take my word for it that he was painfully slow; about 10 to 15mph with lots of unpredictable braking and, as I said, no brake lights.He had as much right to be on that piece of rad as you. He dosnt have to pull over or get out your way because you are in a hurry andprobably want to ride way faster than you should between the lines of traffic.
I am sort of medium speed through traffic. I see plenty of commuters faster then me through the traffic. I move aside to let them pass. Seems like good manners to me. (And as previously said, it can be preferable to follow).
rsv gone! said:
slim_boy_fat said:
Why not just try and relax a bit when you ride and stop critising other rider/drivers.
He had as much right to be on that piece of rad as you. He dosnt have to pull over or get out your way because you are in a hurry andprobably want to ride way faster than you should between the lines of traffic.
You only have my side of the story so you'll have to take my word for it that he was painfully slow; about 10 to 15mph with lots of unpredictable braking and, as I said, no brake lights.He had as much right to be on that piece of rad as you. He dosnt have to pull over or get out your way because you are in a hurry andprobably want to ride way faster than you should between the lines of traffic.
I am sort of medium speed through traffic. I see plenty of commuters faster then me through the traffic. I move aside to let them pass. Seems like good manners to me. (And as previously said, it can be preferable to follow).
slim_boy_fat said:
Why not just try and relax a bit when you ride and stop critising other rider/drivers.
He had as much right to be on that piece of rad as you. He dosnt have to pull over or get out your way because you are in a hurry andprobably want to ride way faster than you should between the lines of traffic.
I think it was a pretty reasonable thing to ask from one biker to another and making the assumption that the OP was riding faster than he should is not right as you weren't there. I will always pull over to let someone filtering more quickly than I past and I always am grateful when people extend the same courtesy to me.He had as much right to be on that piece of rad as you. He dosnt have to pull over or get out your way because you are in a hurry andprobably want to ride way faster than you should between the lines of traffic.
rsv gone! said:
Why don't some bikers look behind when they are filtering? The reason that R1 was so close to you through the stationary traffic was;
1. You were going painfully slow and kept braking
2. Your brake lights don't work!
I have no problem in moving aside for faster filterers. One of the regular s I see is particularly fast on his gold Fazer. He caught the pair of us up and ended up splitting lanes 1-2. Wish I'd taken the same opportunity.
Dunno who Mr Slow was but he was on a blue R6 I think (replacement undertray with non-working brake lights so I can't be sure). Had no more protective gear than his helmet.
Apologies for the rant but I followed him for ages as I couldn't see a safe way to pass him.
The lack of brakes is very worrying!1. You were going painfully slow and kept braking
2. Your brake lights don't work!
I have no problem in moving aside for faster filterers. One of the regular s I see is particularly fast on his gold Fazer. He caught the pair of us up and ended up splitting lanes 1-2. Wish I'd taken the same opportunity.
Dunno who Mr Slow was but he was on a blue R6 I think (replacement undertray with non-working brake lights so I can't be sure). Had no more protective gear than his helmet.
Apologies for the rant but I followed him for ages as I couldn't see a safe way to pass him.
Edited by rsv gone! on Monday 10th September 08:42
To be honest, I've held up a couple of faster filterers because there simply was no where to go but straight on...then get to a spot where the traffic was too close to get throuogh so have waited. I could almost hear barry sheen behind me muttering under his breath, but sorry, I'm not going to go quicker than I feel comfortable and if I can't get out of his way then there's not a lot I can do. If, like once, he then decides to ride just a couple of feet from my rear wheel, then it puts a hell of a lot of pressure on you and you're much less likely to be able to get into that just big enough gap to be able to let him pass. Catch 22. make a slow filterer more uncomfortable and he is less likely to be able to get out of your way.
Fair point if he just didn't see you and could have moved over, but your OP does say you were 'so close' and in stationary traffic there sometimes is not that many palces to let someone past, especially for the less experienced.
Perhaps us lesser mortals should just stay in the traffic...
None of the above is a dig, just an observation from someone probably considered a 'slow filterer'
No i don't ride a dodgy blue R6
Car driver here! Just returned to bikes - after many years away - with a new Hornet but currently ride like an old fart so don't feel qualified to comment from bikers point of view. BUT why can't more car drivers just ease over a couple of foot when in traffic? It makes the extra 'lane' that bit wider and makes it easier for a bike to filter - and hence get off your shoulder and out of you blind spot. I do it and usually get a nod or foot waggle only to watch the next two crettins actually close the gap ahead. Returning to bikes has made me a better driver I reckon - my car might have a top speed near 200mph but it ain't going anywhere in a queue so why not let someone who can 'make progress'?
I am new to biking but as a car driver I always made the point of making space in traffic, and usually got some thanks which makes it worthwhile. I also do the same on the bike. I have not had much experiance of filtering but I would, if space was available let a faster rider through. The issue would always be how to let them past. In the small amout of filtering I have done there were no points at which two bikes could have fit in the lane and would have been difficult to "make space" by getting back in lane.
Just have to make sure I am keeping track of aproaching bikes and available spaces in the traffic.
Just have to make sure I am keeping track of aproaching bikes and available spaces in the traffic.
Pugsey said:
Car driver here! Just returned to bikes - after many years away - with a new Hornet but currently ride like an old fart so don't feel qualified to comment from bikers point of view. BUT why can't more car drivers just ease over a couple of foot when in traffic? It makes the extra 'lane' that bit wider and makes it easier for a bike to filter - and hence get off your shoulder and out of you blind spot. I do it and usually get a nod or foot waggle only to watch the next two crettins actually close the gap ahead. Returning to bikes has made me a better driver I reckon - my car might have a top speed near 200mph but it ain't going anywhere in a queue so why not let someone who can 'make progress'?
I completely agree! I've only been riding for 2 years and I find exactly the same thing when filtering through slow moving traffic. Alot of the time I can see that some drivers simply don't use their mirrors any more, and I can remember being told its worth while checking your mirrors at least every 10secs as a minimum. Riding has improved my driving style because I am very much more observant of myself and others around me, car, bike or anything else for that matter.As someone who has to filter a lot I have a foot in both camps. Yes its bloody frustrating when someone is much slower and holding a line up. On the M4 each morning it only takes one slower filterer (nothing wrong with that) not to look and before you know it theres a queue of bikes behind.
Having said that, I'm not that quick and I always pull over if I'm holding people up. Its very very rare that you can't get across, unless the traffic is absolutely stationary there is always a gap to dive into.
But in the main I agree with the chill bit. No matter how good you think you are there is always someone faster and no matter how slowly you think you are going it'll still be quicker than the car!!!
Having said that, I'm not that quick and I always pull over if I'm holding people up. Its very very rare that you can't get across, unless the traffic is absolutely stationary there is always a gap to dive into.
But in the main I agree with the chill bit. No matter how good you think you are there is always someone faster and no matter how slowly you think you are going it'll still be quicker than the car!!!
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