The missus doesnt really do bikes, I can count on one hand the times shes been on the back over the last ten years, but today was one of those days, it might be her last thanks to some twats.
I took her over to Bristol via some of the nice back roads from pontypool via Usk, Chepstow etc.
Im not a particularly fast rider on my own, and I really take it easy with the guvnor on the back, but anyway, approaching Chepstow on the old Usk road suddenly ive got several headlights in my mirrors coming up fast, Ive got a tin box in front and Im keeping my distance, but suddenly Ive got 3 sports bikes all diving in front of me in the gap causing me to brake quite sharply,the missus slamming into me, then going for it on a blind bend, next thing a blackbird comes past, white helmet, POLICE stamped on the back , couple of bends later, copper in the middle of the road with all the sports bikes pulled in, copper signals to me to pull in aswell which I do.
Straight away the copper says to me, its ok we only wanted a chat with you, my missus starts going ape at these guys saying they could have killed us etc etc, blackbird copper says I know I saw it all, and so did my video camera.
The copper starts saying to one of the guys that hes really contemplating seizing his bike there and then.
Anyway copper says thanks for stopping to me and bids me fairwell after handing me the Bike safe leaflet.
I knew I shouldnt have gone on the bike today, with the missus anyway, she reckons she wont do it again, it really shook her up, its a shame really, Im off on me own down the New Forest tomorrow, a little saddened by it all,
Theres good and bad in everything I know, just a pity we had to meet the downright irresponsible today
:(
That's exactly what worries me about taking my own sandbag out on the back, apart from me not having carried one since the 70's nor her since then either.
It's at moments like that the sound of a Gixxer being crushed can be quite appealing, I'm happy to see the Blackrats out on the road, they are more intouch and sensible than many of the Pandaboys.
Biking is under threat from so many directions it really makes me angry when you see these incidents involving those that non bikers associate with all bikers. :x
Tim
As you know I don't ride anywhere unless it's two up,but when the weather is like this in the UK the last thing in world i'd want to do is ride a bike in the Uk,for all the reasons you've already covered.
On the way back down the A5 a week ago 9 o'clock at night on the way back from the NW,never saw a living sole,it is possible to ride in the UK but you sure have to pick you times,i've spent the weekend sat in the sunshine and watching Moto GP and BSB,listening to all the prats howling past on the motorway :roll:
Funny thing bikeing,the PR has you beleave it's all about freedom and individuality,when really it's all about lemmings :roll:
Sorry to hear about that Tim. It's a real shame that the missus doesn't wanna go on the back.
I think that road does have any number of idiots on it on a sunny day and I share your feeling about some sportsbikes riders- They are a bloody menace sometimes.
Quote from: "Chris Canning"Tim
As you know I don't ride anywhere unless it's two up,but when the weather is like this in the UK the last thing in world i'd want to do is ride a bike in the Uk,for all the reasons you've already covered.
On the way back down the A5 a week ago 9 o'clock at night on the way back from the NW,never saw a living sole,it is possible to ride in the UK but you sure have to pick you times,i've spent the weekend sat in the sunshine and watching Moto GP and BSB,listening to all the prats howling past on the motorway :roll:
Funny thing bikeing,the PR has you beleave it's all about freedom and individuality,when really it's all about lemmings :roll:
I know Chris, and usually I also avoid Sundays especially like the plague.
I should count myself lucky that I can ride a lot during the week should I wish, Ive got all week off so tomorrow going down the New Forest should be a better experience.
Enjoy the New Forrest on yer todd Tim, I lived down in Lymington for a few years and drove thru the 'forrest' most days to work in Sot'ton, but also to the west and south. Enjoyed the fact I had a couple of different route options to get to work. Pity I was in a Van... :lol:
I prefer goin out on the Tigger through the week if i can and avoid the weekend warriors :ImaPoser
KK
I`ve given up riding on Sundays, partly down to whats been mentioned, plus i work Sunday nights.
Best day for me is Fridays, my day off. :D
There's me thinking i was the only one who'd worked it out!!!
Tim will enjoy Sammy Millers,it's one of the real gems,if you have never been go,if the weather is like it is now,not only a great bike museum with some fanastic displays,but good facilities as well.
+1 i work shifts so do most of my riding during the week.. I live just down the road from Cadwell and they had the BSB round there this weekend.. I was actually off this weekend, but purposly headed in the opersite direction and went to see some club racing at mallory, and had a completley numpty/plod/hassel free ride.. 8) :)
unfortnately this is the way of things around the South East too..
This last weekend was a scorcher down here and there were idiots everywhere. All riding too fast in the wrong places, overtaking on corners etc.. It is scary.. But then we have a Caterham 7 Clan around here who behave exactly the same.
Lucky for me within 2 hours i am in france and heading out on the quiet rural roads. I leave the uk riding for other times of the year or early mornings..
Quote from: "NeilD"+1 i work shifts so do most of my riding during the week.. I live just down the road from Cadwell and they had the BSB round there this weekend.. I was actually off this weekend, but purposly headed in the opersite direction and went to see some club racing at mallory, and had a completley numpty/plod/hassel free ride.. 8) :)
I had two tickets for the above,because of the 848 thing,ironed the settee and watched the GP and BSB instead
Tim,
I agee with everything here so far, idiots spoiling it for the sensible etc. If the police take away their toys they'll only find something else annoying to do....
Anyway, regarding the impact on your wife, try to play down the negatives (she got a fright and bounced under braking etc) with the line that we know biking is dangerous but it's also exciting because of that. Whether in the car on or the bike we meet idiots every time we're out so this incident - whilst an extreme example - wasn't that unusual but you both survived because YOU did all the right things and kept it together. Try to get her to focus on the positives - the police were there, they got it right (ie you weren't in any way to blame) and they dealt with the problem. Once she's calmed down she might see it for what it is, and the idiots are probably looking at dangerous driving charges which are looked on seriously by the courts especially when others are at risk.
Good luck, and I hope she gives it another go soon. :wink:
Commuting aside, all my fun rides are on weekdays. With so many distracted and largely talentless riders and drivers clogging the roads on weekends I just opted to avoid it altogether. I also ride with my panniers on 24/7/365 and the police will usually ignore me or give a little wave.
06' with all the fixin's
I agree with everything said here* - I'm also one of the lucky ones who can ride when I feel like it, and increasingly that's never at weekends. I had to go out in the car yesterday and the appalling driving (cars and bikes) just made me feel pleased I wasn't on the bike - that and climate control!
*except can't agree with Bixxer Bob that danger is what makes riding exciting - personally I try to minimise my own exposure to danger. The excitement of riding to me is the front wheel nosing out onto an unfamiliar French D road in the early morning mist with no idea of where I'll be sleeping that night.....
Thanks for all the feedback guys, yeah, maybe the missus will come round but as I said, shes never really been into bikes anyway.
Sammy Millers was great, almost had the place to myself apart from a few Dutch and French riders who'd come over for a looksee.
Jeez, glad I had the sport screen on and i was still a bit too hot, lovely part of the country mind, though Im not sure its that good for biking in general what with all the ponies about :shock:
What a difference a day makes, saw quite a few bikes on the way and back, very few sports bikes, all the twats were in tin boxes today :lol: apart from maybe one on an Orange Tiger :wink:
I hear what you are saying Timbox2 and have to agree. For that reason I tend to travel on the scenic twisty,bumpy, single track back roads which are not in favour with the power rangers. I count myself lucky to live in Scotland where such roads abound. :)
Andy.
Quote from: "iansoady"...except can't agree with Bixxer Bob that danger is what makes riding exciting -....
Maybe that didn't come across the way it was meant. riding bikes is dangerous but exciting in the way that jumping with a paracute you packed yourself is dangerous but exciting - the jump is inherently dangerous, but you know it's packed right so you've relied on your own skill and judgement to minimise the risk. The pleasure is the confidence in your own ability to cope with whatever comes your way; but the stakes are high - get it wrong and it's gonna hurt, big time.
Quoteapart from maybe one on an Orange Tiger Wink
:ImaPoser
Thanks for the tip about Sammy Millers Museum, I had no idea.
He was a bit of a boyhood hero having been succesful in both track and field and I particularly connected with his experience with Ariel. I've put that one on my must visit list.
QuoteI tend to travel on the scenic twisty,bumpy, single track back roads which are not in favour with the power rangers
Theres plenty of them in the New Forrest too, but as Tim says theres also quite a bit of random stock.... In fact the only thing there is a distinct lack of in The New Forrest is trees.(As a Kiwi I had a hard time getting my head round that one)
Strangely, as someone New Forest born and bred (Burley, a favourite tourist honeypot) I could never get away from the place fast enough!
Its not the power rangers you have to look out for, its Uncle Bert and auntie Doris spending more time looking at the scenery and ponies than at the road or the oncoming motorcycle.
Having said that, it is pretty and my best advice is get a good map, park up and walk. Most of the Groggles (tourists) cant stray more than 100yds from their cages and you will soon find yourself alone.
I will count myself very lucky with the ballast, she loves the pillion. Says its like being on holiday, nothing to do but watch the scenery and ponder the meaning of life and why the Tiger pillion isn't longer (that'll be my fat arse then.)
Hmmm - Guess i'm lucky... or spoiled. My wife pilots her own ST1300 (doesnt trust my 2 up skills due to me propensity for attraction to dirt roads) and we get to ride paved roads, that on weekdays, ya may commonly only see a car every 5 mins or so. The extreme is some of our western US & Northern Canada secondary Hiways - my brother and I only saw a car every half hour or so. YIPPIE. On the flip side - got caught in Los angeles traffic on Hwy 101 mid day - 4 hours to make 50 miles!! Just depends on where and when ya are. But one thing for sure is... the hiways & byways aint getting any LESS crowded. And an aging population in Buicks & use of cell phones (in spite of the laws against use while driving) have only made it more dangerous. Be carefull out there!
Count yourself lucky Timbox, last summer a workmate was riding in Mid Wales, as he approached a bend 3 eeeeejits on sports bikes decided to overtake, bike 1 and 2 made it past before the bend, but bike 3 attempted to overtake entering the bend.
The overtaking rider realised he was going to fast, so he braked, the bike sat up, he crossed the centre line and hit a car coming the other way the bike then bounced back across the road and wiped out my workmate.
My workmate suffered a broken leg and arm as well as his bike being written off.
Cheers Ade.
Unfortunately its the same here in Oz Timbox, riding is getting more and more popular with 'born again' bikers riding bikes they haven't a clue about.
I'm a bit fed up with being held up in the corners by sportsbikes when my wife and I are two up on the Tiger!
So while I agree with you about the young blokes, 40+ people area part of the problem too.
I hope you are able to convince your wife to have another go, preferably midweek.
Cheers
There's complete idiots on our side of the pond also. I continually see people coming up on me to fast and think "oh crap, here we go". It's like you have to have super radar and your spider senses in high gear all the time. Still love to ride though. I try to not drive too fast when it's not appropriate and be as careful as I can but oh man people just dont pay attention.
Hey Gang Here BE Tigger Roads (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=62261&id=1324578798&l=42784dfb0f)Do ya see any Power Rangers?
few folks but mostly locals So nice to be on the back roads and leave the faster stuff to the Saggy leather bum brigade :D
Nice shots Jay. 8)
Well, on the very day this thread was first posted I had just enjoyed a big loop round Wiltshire. Some off road, some on. Glorious sunny day. Here have a photo...
(http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs618.snc3/32498_388910036861_723571861_4671634_5809711_n.jpg)
... and I was on my way back when the road was closed just before Avebury on a notorious set of s-bends. (Berwick Bassett for those that know the road) Sports biker had crashed badly, ambulances, police the lot.
Passed the spot again today and the yellow fatal accident witness appeal boards were up. I was in the car and within one hundred yards of that spot some dork in a bomber jacket on a gsxr 750 wheelied past at god knows what speed.
:BangHead
Good advice folks,
Where we have just moved ( Canberra, Oz) theere is a great network of gravel roads taking in some spectacualr scenery.
I've yet to see a revenue collector or a sportbike on them