Ranty ranty rant + lessons

[bezajel]

A courier van nearly hit me on Monday evening (well, pulled in front of me so I nearly hit it). I was heading along Vivian Street in the left lane and had just passed Cuba Street when the van pulled out from the left of the road and crossed the lane in front of me. Thankfully quickly, as couriers do, but still with little enough space to spare that I had to brake heavily and swerve to miss them. I don't think they even noticed me even after nearly killing me. I would have tooted and yelled at them but by the time I'd finished rescuing the bike and making sure I was still upright, they were going through the lights and I was deciding to turn left down Taranaki and to get the hell away from them.

What I learned:

1) What it feels like to lock the rear brake and fishtail
2) COURIER DRIVERS ARE IDIOTS

This morning I was on my way to work and took the bypass. I was behind a truck going about 80 or 90 and I wasn't bothered. A huge black SUV came along and decided that they wanted to sit right behind me. RIGHT behind me. They were so close I almost couldn't see them in my mirrors. There are NO good reasons to drive that close to anyone, and plenty of good reasons not to. As soon as the new entry/exit lane appeared I indicated to pull into it, and when I headchecked saw that SUV had already pulled into it, so I pulled ahead of him (risked missing my exit if I waited) and accelerated with all the little Scorpio has (it was enough), but then hoped like fuck he wouldn't slam into me when I slowed so as not to hit the line of cars exiting.

What I learned:

1) SUV DRIVERS ARE COCKS
2) I really don't like being followed with probably less than a quarter of a second gap, particularly at speed.

[zahria]

A courier van nearly hit me on Monday evening (well, pulled in front of me so I nearly hit it). I was heading along Vivian Street in the left lane and had just passed Cuba Street when the van pulled out from the left of the road and crossed the lane in front of me. Thankfully quickly, as couriers do, but still with little enough space to spare that I had to brake heavily and swerve to miss them. I don't think they even noticed me even after nearly killing me. I would have tooted and yelled at them but by the time I'd finished rescuing the bike and making sure I was still upright, they were going through the lights and I was deciding to turn left down Taranaki and to get the hell away from them.

What I learned:

1) What it feels like to lock the rear brake and fishtail
2) COURIER DRIVERS ARE IDIOTS

This morning I was on my way to work and took the bypass. I was behind a truck going about 80 or 90 and I wasn't bothered. A huge black SUV came along and decided that they wanted to sit right behind me. RIGHT behind me. They were so close I almost couldn't see them in my mirrors. There are NO good reasons to drive that close to anyone, and plenty of good reasons not to. As soon as the new entry/exit lane appeared I indicated to pull into it, and when I headchecked saw that SUV had already pulled into it, so I pulled ahead of him (risked missing my exit if I waited) and accelerated with all the little Scorpio has (it was enough), but then hoped like fuck he wouldn't slam into me when I slowed so as not to hit the line of cars exiting.

What I learned:

1) SUV DRIVERS ARE COCKS
2) I really don't like being followed with probably less than a quarter of a second gap, particularly at speed.

Hmm, if I still had my SUV I'd think about feeling aggrieved, but I sold it.
I dont miss peak hour in Wellington, did the Pram run for 10 years.
Same old same old, Tailgaters are everywhere.
I just let them past, cos I'm older now.

[Laxi]

I just let them past, cos I'm older now.

If I cant split away from them, I just let them past caus I'd rather loose 30 seconds in slowing down than loose a limb or worse

[mad.mike]

[QUOTE=bezajel;1129397223]

COURIER DRIVERS ARE IDIOTS

Thats not a very nice thing to say....not all of us are like that. It is because most of them are on time based deliverys therefore if they are late they get less money. One more thing i would like to say is that when you are on the road that much you get to know most gaps very well, I don't condone him pulling out in front of you but I can say that sometimes its very hard to see bikes (even when you drool over most of them when you see them):msn-wink: especially if you are on the route that you know well and do every day...

[varminter]

Courier drivers are always in a hurry, most SUV drivers have small willies, almost all Subaru drivers are total wankers. There are exceptions, he says, forestalling the couriers, SUV and Subaru drivers on this site.

[Swoop]

they wanted to sit right behind me. RIGHT behind me. They were so close I almost couldn't see them in my mirrors.
This is why you carry a large bolt in the top hole of your triple clamp. Over the shoulder and into the windscreen...:devil2:

on time based deliverys therefore if they are late they get less money.
I had a good "discussion" with a dozy bitch recently. Since she was unable to get her arse out of bed at the correct time, she was exonerated from the road rules that the rest of us follow.
For some reason, when I left her, her blood pressure had risen considerably.:argue::spanking:

[mattian]

careful what you say about courier drivers/riders.... apparently they are not be criticised..... re-my post.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=107280

[hang0ver]

Heading home this morning, a bus ahead blocking the oncoming lane... Traffic pulling around it and refusing to give way to me... Was so busy giving this lady the finger as I sqeezed between her and parked cars I almost ran into her her bonnet. Stupid but satisfying all the same. I usually know better.

Welcome to motorcyclism.

[Blackshear]

The fishtail is horrible.
Heart pounding - Oh god oh god I need more front and less rear - but too fucking stunned/scared to change braking power.

FUCKING LEGNUMS OVERTAKING ON BLIND CORNERS WITH PARKED CARS ON BOTHS SIDES

[AlpinePossum]

COURIER DRIVERS ARE IDIOTS

Thats not a very nice thing to say....not all of us are like that. It is because most of them are on time based deliverys therefore if they are late they get less money. One more thing i would like to say is that when you are on the road that much you get to know most gaps very well, I don't condone him pulling out in front of you but I can say that sometimes its very hard to see bikes (even when you drool over most of them when you see them):msn-wink: especially if you are on the route that you know well and do every day...

I've heard that one in a couple of places... tell us _which_ Courier companies have this damn fool policy (or better which ones don't) so we can pressure the companies we work for to ban the use of them and (use the decent ones instead).



One more thing i would like to say is that when you are on the road that much you get to know most gaps very well,


I've seen minibus taxi drivers in 3rd world countries drive like that. They are an highly evolved species. (The Huge death rate weeds out the weak and slow)

Alas, the rest of humanity hasn't evolved reflexes like that.

Thus the taxi/courier drivers do amazing things which they know they can pull off, assuming all other drivers are as good, and then get surprised when the rest of humanity doesn't compensate in time and slam into them.

Hint to NZ courier drivers. You may have perfect timing and wondrous reflexes, but the rest of humanity hates you and think you drive (and park) like assholes.

[Elysium]

Well I surpose I will say that yesterday I got stuck behind a big four wheel drive so I didn't see the pedestrians crossing,nor crossing light, at an intersection as I was turning left.
Luckly the pedestrian had slowed down as the four wheel drive made no attempt to stop for this person so as I was followng the truck I of course didn't know this person was there as I rode.
Leason here is slow down and be careful when you find yourself beind a large truck at an intersection turning left. :sweatdrop

On a lighter note I lane split to get to the front at an intersection so there's cars to my left and right. I hear a car reving its engine and notice a shitty V8 incing forward and still reving its engine to my left. Of course a shity V8 was no match for a VTR in the end and I was only interested in getting ahead of this guy so I could get in the right lane to stop at a Countdown. He of course had continued speeding down the road proberly not realising I wasn't playing his game.

[javawocky]

I dare not get too critical because your skills got you out of the situation with some wobbles.

I do notice however when I ride my wifes Scorpio that there is a rather useful disc brake up front. Used wisely it can save your life. :innocent: don't fall into the trap of relying on the back brake, learn to use the front smoothly.

[duckonin]

Courier drivers are always in a hurry, most SUV drivers have small willies, almost all Subaru drivers are total wankers. There are exceptions, he says, forestalling the couriers, SUV and Subaru drivers on this site.

Agreed, and those that don't have small willies, have big vaginas.:Oops:

[Danae]

Agreed, and those that don't have small willies, have big vaginas.:Oops:

No, there are 3 types of people in the world. Dicks, pussies, and assholes. Pussies don't like dicks cos they get fucked by them all the time. but dicks also fuck assholes. And assholes just want to shit all over everybody.

[MDR2]

[QUOTE=bezajel;1129397223]

COURIER DRIVERS ARE IDIOTS

Thats not a very nice thing to say....not all of us are like that. It is because most of them are on time based deliverys therefore if they are late they get less money. One more thing i would like to say is that when you are on the road that much you get to know most gaps very well, I don't condone him pulling out in front of you but I can say that sometimes its very hard to see bikes (even when you drool over most of them when you see them):msn-wink: especially if you are on the route that you know well and do every day...

Wouldn't loss of licence from reckless use of a vehicle cause accident mean even more loss of money? Seems a pretty extreme gamble to be playing with otherpeoples lives and your own livelyhood.

[bezajel]

If I cant split away from them, I just let them past caus I'd rather loose 30 seconds in slowing down than loose a limb or worse

Yess, well I was riding as 80 on the motorway, what else should I have done to let them pass me? I wish they had! (I generally let people pass if I perceive that they want to go much faster than I do, OR that they are an aggressive driver who will sit on my tail and make me uncomfortable.)



Thats not a very nice thing to say....not all of us are like that. It is because most of them are on time based deliverys therefore if they are late they get less money. One more thing i would like to say is that when you are on the road that much you get to know most gaps very well, I don't condone him pulling out in front of you but I can say that sometimes its very hard to see bikes (even when you drool over most of them when you see them):msn-wink: especially if you are on the route that you know well and do every day...

Well, had I smacked into them, it would hold them up for a lot longer! (Assuming they stopped...) But I do understand the familiar route and low visibility thing. I /think/ they saw me coming (misjudged speed) otherwise they may not have pulled out so fast... who knows.


This is why you carry a large bolt in the top hole of your triple clamp. Over the shoulder and into the windscreen...:devil2:

I like this idea ;)


I dare not get too critical because your skills got you out of the situation with some wobbles.

I do notice however when I ride my wifes Scorpio that there is a rather useful disc brake up front. Used wisely it can save your life. :innocent: don't fall into the trap of relying on the back brake, learn to use the front smoothly.

I definitely need some emergency braking practice. I did use the front as well, but not as much as I could have (I was also not trying to stop in a straight line, rather trying to slow down enough and miss the van - I may not have stayed upright if I'd grabbed a handful of front!). Anyway, yes, I suspect it was as much luck as skill, so thanks for the polite suggestion to work on the skill side of it ;)