Riding like a dickhead - confessions of an old biker.

[rastuscat]

Just saw this. Kind of feel it hits the mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqxEyKv_Lrw

Lots of crashes on group rides.

[onearmedbandit]

Great message

[nerrrd]

Lovely production values but...do people watch commercials like this anymore?

[rastuscat]

Lovely production values but...do people watch commercials like this anymore?

Throw it onto the various channels where people consume their advertising and you'll catch the majority.

It's not just TV any more, most video is consumed on phones these days. Via social media.

[nerrrd]

Throw it onto the various channels where people consume their advertising and you'll catch the majority.

It's not just TV any more, most video is consumed on phones these days. Via social media.

I'm not a social media user but I pretty much ignore any of the ads I see online, even on streaming platforms.

I might be a demographic of one, though.

[rastuscat]

I'm not a social media user but I pretty much ignore any of the ads I see online, even on streaming platforms.

I might be a demographic of one, though.

If advertising didn't work, they wouldn't do it. It may not work for you, but it works.

[jellywrestler]

If advertising didn't work, they wouldn't do it. It may not work for you, but it works.

if advertising works then why haven't woke kotahi and all those other agencies used it as a form of education for road craft, I did a defensive driving course decades ago, some of those points still stick with me, and i pass them on to others, and i often wonder why they didn't turn those into adverts

for example when your blinker blinks faster than normal its telling you something, but i bet the percentage of people who actually know what is low, and way lower before led bulbs brought on this symptom like in recent years.
And yet, people unknowingly drive thinking they are in fact indicating, when in reality a bulb is out.
the results are pretty horrific when you think of what can and what does happen, yet no adverts ever have been done about this and many other things?

[nerrrd]

If advertising didn't work, they wouldn't do it. It may not work for you, but it works.

Fair enough, also I don't ride like a dickhead so not the target market.*

*At least it was never about speed or keeping up with people for me, more about lack of skill, confidence and co-ordination.

[R650R]

Fair enough, also I don't ride like a dickhead so not the target market.*
.

And Theron lies the problem. No one will ever admit their riding isn’t that flash (not talking about you) or that the guys they are riding with are complete tools.

Because if people were conscious of their own limitations and their mates then the bad group rides and de visions wouldn’t happen.

Perhaps that ad should be te filmed…. “ I thought my mates were pretty sharp til one of them rammed me off the road” etc…

[R650R]

I tried finding stats on Mc vs Mc but hard to find anything. But agree 100% group rides are trouble.

This was interesting but not much new https://www.taupodc.govt.nz/repository/libraries/id:25026fn3317q9slqygym/hierarchy/our-services/transport/road-safety/documents/Motorcycle-Safety-Single-Point-of-Truth.pdf

The guts it is lots of older riders are dying(because we frail old buggers). 3/4 of our bad accidents happen rural areas so delayed access to healthcare. Crashes are trending upwards, probably inline with our long term increase in personal wealth. So we’re riding more in our final years and we’re buying faster more powerful machines that would whip the GP bikes of our youth at the same time as our reactions/cognitive ability and physical reactions are in natural decline.

Of note is lack of head injuries (%wise) for MC which says helmets work, should we make car drivers wear them???

[rastuscat]

Of note is lack of head injuries (%wise) for MC which says helmets work, should we make car drivers wear them???

We inflict helmets on cyclists. So why not car occupants?

[Berries]

Who would have thought that if you pulled out to overtake without looking behind you you might get shunted off the road?

Next up is The Red Traffic Signal Means Stop brought to you by some twat who never bothered until he got mounted by a Toyota Hilux followed next week by Roads are Slippery When Wet presented by someone in a hedge.

Basic basic shit.


I tried finding stats on Mc vs Mc but hard to find anything.
173 injury crashes in last five years involving two or more motorbikes

Five crashes of the type described, bike pulls out and gets hit by another bike behind them. 12 crashes were ‘other’ types of overtaking crashes which means weird ones, like two bikes overtaking a car at the same time and clipping handle bars. By comparison 43 crashes were a rear end of some kind. I would wager that group rides feature in those numbers.

[pritch]

*At least it was never about speed or keeping up with people for me, more about lack of skill, confidence and co-ordination.

Not for you perhaps but for too many it is.

[nerrrd]

Heard another in what must be the same series on the radio, this one about riding after drinking I think?

[BMWST?]

Who would have thought that if you pulled out to overtake without looking behind you you might get shunted off the road?

Next up is The Red Traffic Signal Means Stop brought to you by some twat who never bothered until he got mounted by a Toyota Hilux followed next week by Roads are Slippery When Wet presented by someone in a hedge.

Basic basic shit.


173 injury crashes in last five years involving two or more motorbikes

Five crashes of the type described, bike pulls out and gets hit by another bike behind them. 12 crashes were ‘other’ types of overtaking crashes which means weird ones, like two bikes overtaking a car at the same time and clipping handle bars. By comparison 43 crashes were a rear end of some kind. I would wager that group rides feature in those numbers.
I wager that you are 100% correct in that it takes at least a group of two to have an accident with another motorcycle. A LOT of my riding was with groups but it was mostly the same individuals,we had a very good understanding of what each of us would do . I dont recall ever talking about it but i dont recall any incidents within the group.

[roogazza]

Lol went in for a Doc cert yesterday for licence renewal ...75 yrs !! Tomoro is the day DOB 10/4/49

Did some strange little tests like draw a clock and remember a name and address after being told it.
The nurse did that part and asked do you drive an automatic , I said yes and I ride bikes they're manual !!!! you ride motors bikes ????? How often ? I said once a week ! Then it started !
I felt like a dottery old fool after she'd finished !!! :crazy:

Have to do it all again in 5 years ! :rolleyes:

[jellywrestler]

We inflict helmets on cyclists. So why not car occupants?

how many people actually get head injuries in car accidents, like they are belted in, theres not a lot or places the head can actually come in contact with?

[onearmedbandit]

Who would have thought that if you pulled out to overtake without looking behind you you might get shunted off the road?



Yet I've seen it happen numerous times (not accidents but riders not looking behind before overtaking).

[release_the_bees]

Yet I've seen it happen numerous times (not accidents but riders not looking behind before overtaking).That's one thing I've caught myself do once or twice over the years. I've absolutely no idea why, given the amount of attention that I give to most aspects of my riding. Maybe it's a combination of not doing all that much overtaking and, after being stuck behind someone for a good while, just going for it when an opportunity arises.

Regardless of the reasons, I've given myself a good telling off when it has happened, and try to be more analytical in my approach when a potential overtaking opportunity arises.

I have a personal mantra that my riding is only as good as my last decision. Years of safe riding mean nothing if I do something brain dead in the present moment.

Sent from my SM-S901E using Tapatalk

[Moi]

Lol went in for a Doc cert yesterday for licence renewal ...75 yrs !! Tomoro is the day DOB 10/4/49

Did some strange little tests like draw a clock and remember a name and address after being told it.
The nurse did that part and asked do you drive an automatic , I said yes and I ride bikes they're manual !!!! you ride motors bikes ????? How often ? I said once a week ! Then it started !
I felt like a dottery old fool after she'd finished !!! :crazy:

Have to do it all again in 5 years ! :rolleyes:

Think about the 'cognitive test' you were given: in your opinion, how much relevance did it have to driving? Did it check anything to do with identification of hazards? did it check your reaction times? did it check your ability to discuss how you would deal with a specific road/driving/riding scenario? did it check your observational skills?

[rastuscat]

Heard another in what must be the same series on the radio, this one about riding after drinking I think?

Yes, heard that this morning. Part of the same series.

[rastuscat]

Think about the 'cognitive test' you were given: in your opinion, how much relevance did it have to driving? Did it check anything to do with identification of hazards? did it check your reaction times? did it check your ability to discuss how you would deal with a specific road/driving/riding scenario? did it check your observational skills?

From what he said it was more about them doubting his questionable life choices e.g. riding a motorcycle.

[Berries]

I felt like a dottery old fool after she'd finished !!! :crazy:

She was just trying to hold you there for 15 minutes to see if you soiled yourself.


:doctor:

[F5 Dave]

She was just trying to hold you there for 15 minutes to see if you soiled yourself.


:doctor:
Do you think that is a fetish thing?
I'm sure I could squeeze one out.:pinch: Which testing centre is that?:love:

[Grumph]

Lol went in for a Doc cert yesterday for licence renewal ...75 yrs !! Tomoro is the day DOB 10/4/49

Did some strange little tests like draw a clock and remember a name and address after being told it.
The nurse did that part and asked do you drive an automatic , I said yes and I ride bikes they're manual !!!! you ride motors bikes ????? How often ? I said once a week ! Then it started !
I felt like a dottery old fool after she'd finished !!! :crazy:

Have to do it all again in 5 years ! :rolleyes:

Jeeze, you must come across as a tad damaged. Mine was a few questions during which I revealed I regularly backed a full size van down a narrow driveway - and an eye test.
Then i proved how acute I am by going back the following day so the doc could correct the certificate by putting the right date on the bloody thing.
Me 1 Doc 0

[roogazza]

She was just trying to hold you there for 15 minutes to see if you soiled yourself.

:doctor:

Haha don't laugh ! Nearly shat last Saturday in the car ! The old Crohns was acting up and i nearly didn't make it home with the Pizzas !!!!!!!!! lol.

[roogazza]

Jeeze, you must come across as a tad damaged. Mine was a few questions during which I revealed I regularly backed a full size van down a narrow driveway - and an eye test.
Then i proved how acute I am by going back the following day so the doc could correct the certificate by putting the right date on the bloody thing.
Me 1 Doc 0

Cheers grumph, I reckon I present as pretty good. No one picks my age (essspecially with a hat on lol).

But yeah the tests were bullshit ! Eye test was ok, I used the old "Made in England" when she said can you read the bottom line hahahaha.

I'm still getting used to using the bloody backing camera in the new car,after looking over the shoulder and checking blind spots for 60 yrs !!!! Garked the alloy rims a couple of times,which pissed me off.

[Grumph]

Cheers grumph, I reckon I present as pretty good. No one picks my age (essspecially with a hat on lol).

But yeah the tests were bullshit ! Eye test was ok, I used the old "Made in England" when she said can you read the bottom line hahahaha.

I'm still getting used to using the bloody backing camera in the new car,after looking over the shoulder and checking blind spots for 60 yrs !!!! Garked the alloy rims a couple of times,which pissed me off.

In fairness to my doc, we'd just spent 15min discussing my meds. During which i specified exactly what I wanted - and why. Suspect he was glad to see the back of me so raced through the licence form. Hence the wrong date.

I'm looking forward to when the wife has to renew hers. She still can't back anything even with a reversing camera, two well set wing mirrors and a clear view out the back. And she's argumentative....

[pritch]

Lol went in for a Doc cert yesterday for licence renewal ...75 yrs !! Tomoro is the day DOB 10/4/49

Did some strange little tests like draw a clock and remember a name and address after being told it.
The nurse did that part and asked do you drive an automatic , I said yes and I ride bikes they're manual !!!! you ride motors bikes ????? How often ? I said once a week ! Then it started !
I felt like a dottery old fool after she'd finished !!! :crazy:

Have to do it all again in 5 years ! :rolleyes:

That's a bit surprising. My recollection of the 75 year thing was that it was basically about handing over the cash.

I was worried about the 80 year one and bought glasses in case I failed the eye test without them. That was a good idea because I did fail it. I had looked at what I could find about the Montreal Cognitive Assessment because that's an option when you renew at 80 and I didn't want any nasty surprises. That's the test Trump repeatedly claims he aced. The question that bothered me was where early on they tell you to memorise five random words, then later in the test ask you what the five words were. Bonus point if you get them in the right order.

One guy I know failed the MOCA and had to pay $700 for a driving test. He just had to take the tester for a drive, there were no silly questions. He passed that.

Below there is a sample MOCA. There are probably big pads of these all different in detail but they seem to follow a similar format.

Oh and happy birthday!

[roogazza]

Cheers pritch, yes, it was really about handing over the money ! ?

Medical Cert after seeing Doc, $90 !

NZTA/AA $21 for the new licence (which arrives in two weeks by mail system!).

I'll be ready for the 80 yr old test in 5 yrs . :yawn: :confused:

[F5 Dave]

Ha. Thanks for posting that form. This could be quite surreal.

I've had to do some of that by phone as a follow-up for an extended hospital stay. I got the words in the wrong order to be fair. Then again, she said her name saying it was a 5 month check or something and I repeated the words back. . . Erm, that's later in the test. And I have to tell what they are first ( I remembered them from several months back).

But next time I can say, lion, rhinoceros, camel. Obviously on the phone she can't show the pictures, but she will know the test and go "what the?" :msn-wink:
Now I just need to commit that to memory and repeat it fast enough that I couldn't look it up on a random call.

[SaferRides]

Yet I've seen it happen numerous times (not accidents but riders not looking behind before overtaking).I'm always very careful overtaking motorcyclists as I'm sure most of those I pass don't know I've been following them. I certainly don't check my mirrors often enough, which is something I am working on as I do ride slower at times now.

Had a near miss last weekend on a group ride. I had slowed down to find somewhere to stop to take a photo, moved to the centre of the road with my right indicator on, checked my mirrors before pulling off to see another rider about to pass me on the right.

We both braked and he passed on the left, but it could have easily gone wrong.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk

[pete376403]

I'm always very careful overtaking motorcyclists as I'm sure most of those I pass don't know I've been following them. I certainly don't check my mirrors often enough, which is something I am working on as I do ride slower at times now.

Had a near miss last weekend on a group ride. I had slowed down to find somewhere to stop to take a photo, moved to the centre of the road with my right indicator on, checked my mirrors before pulling off to see another rider about to pass me on the right.

We both braked and he passed on the left, but it could have easily gone wrong.

Sent from my SM-S906E using Tapatalk
Add to this many riders replace the standard (usually pretty large) indicators with little tiny LED units that can be hard to see.

[onearmedbandit]

Add to this many riders replace the standard (usually pretty large) indicators with little tiny LED units that can be hard to see.

So true. I'm very happy that my set up has 4 indicators at the rear, 2 built into the tail lights and 2 in the tail piece.

[rastuscat]

I'm always very careful overtaking motorcyclists as I'm sure most of those I pass don't know I've been following them. I certainly don't check my mirrors often enough, which is something I am working on as I do ride slower at times now.

Had a near miss last weekend on a group ride. I had slowed down to find somewhere to stop to take a photo, moved to the centre of the road with my right indicator on, checked my mirrors before pulling off to see another rider about to pass me on the right.

We both braked and he passed on the left, but it could have easily gone wrong.


The standard for mirror use on a CBTA test is every 6 - 10 seconds, and every time you are slowing down. Because that's when you REALLY need to know what's behind you. Head checks before moving sideways too.

Most riders seem to think their bike has a mirror so it can get a WoF. Years of CBTA testing causes me to watch riders I'm following even after moving on from the industry, just to see how their riding is. Most wouldn't pass a licence test these days.

And yet they will all tell me how long they have been riding for, as if that's a proxy for how well they ride. When often the inverse is true.

[BMWST?]

I reckon most motoryclist just dont believe any else will pass them

[pete376403]

The standard for mirror use on a CBTA test is every 6 - 10 seconds, and every time you are slowing down. Because that's when you REALLY need to know what's behind you. Head checks before moving sideways too.

I recall reading about WWII fighter pilots - "you stop moving your head - you're dead" Constant head checks, up, around mirror, instruments, forward and repeat. Maybe not enemy fighters anymore but they're still out to get us

[SaferRides]

Add to this many riders replace the standard (usually pretty large) indicators with little tiny LED units that can be hard to see.
The R1 had flush mount indicators at the front and the rear indicators were integrated into the red LED taillight. I am not sure quite how it got a WoF like that, but the inspector at the AA testing station said no. Fortunately, the bike came with a large box that had all of the original parts and I refitted the standard indicators. I left the LED tailight as it has nice, bright brake lights.

Some newish bikes don't have great lights. I ride with someone who has a Street Triple R and you can barely see the rear indicators on a sunny day.

[SaferRides]

I reckon most motoryclist just dont believe any else will pass them

That's been my experience!

[rastuscat]

The R1 had flush mount indicators at the front and the rear indicators were integrated into the red LED taillight. I am not sure quite how it got a WoF like that, but the inspector at the AA testing station said no. Fortunately, the bike came with a large box that had all of the original parts and I refitted the standard indicators. I left the LED tailight as it has nice, bright brake lights.

Some newish bikes don't have great lights. I ride with someone who has a Street Triple R and you can barely see the rear indicators on a sunny day.

Under braking, indicators on tail tidies basically disappear.

Especially at night.

[roogazza]

The standard for mirror use on a CBTA test is every 6 - 10 seconds, and every time you are slowing down. Because that's when you REALLY need to know what's behind you. Head checks before moving sideways too.

Most riders seem to think their bike has a mirror so it can get a WoF. Years of CBTA testing causes me to watch riders I'm following even after moving on from the industry, just to see how their riding is. Most wouldn't pass a licence test these days.

And yet they will all tell me how long they have been riding for, as if that's a proxy for how well they ride. When often the inverse is true.

I used to put my hand over the rearview mirror and say, whats around us and behind ?????? They didn't like it !!!!

Mirrors ,I'm on it all the time . Also just one reason I like to keep moving forward on the bike. Keeping myself with a clear road if possible.

[onearmedbandit]

I put a horrid pair of mirrors on my bike years ago, sure they looked discreet but offered terrible vision. I felt incredibly vulnerable riding with them, I was constantly expecting someone to rear end me. I got rid of them quickly and replaced them with ones that actually work as they should and I use them constantly. I'd admit not every 6-10 seconds, but definitely when braking or stationary at an intersection. I like that I have room for improvement, gives me something to aim for.

[rastuscat]

I like that I have room for improvement, gives me something to aim for.

Your blood should be bottled.

Oh, that's right, quite a lot of it was. ;)

[F5 Dave]

I recall reading about WWII fighter pilots - "you stop moving your head - you're dead" Constant head checks, up, around mirror, instruments, forward and repeat. Maybe not enemy fighters anymore but they're still out to get us
We used to teach that as the 'Messerschmitt flick'

[F5 Dave]

I was going to add there's a penchant for crap mirrors. Especially upside-down bar end. Wow that's cool:rolleyes:.
And you have to look down.

My 765RS came with the most effective bar end mirrors I've used. They are safely on the shelf and the old 675 ones removed to take their place.

To my shame the 675 got sold with some Ali ones a mate had bought. They were OK if you scrunched your shoulder and the object behind moved into exactly the right place.
Meh new owner would have bought the same along with some shorty levers and micro indicators anyway.

[neels]

It doesn't seem unreasonable to use the advice from the older bikers who have survived to try and educate the future.

I have had many experiences when checking the (big clunky ugly) mirrors after turning on the (big clunky ugly) indicators when about to pass seeing another bike dive out of the line behind when there's an opportunity to pass.

This may be in part due to the fact that I'm so fucking slow in the first place, but I've managed to avoid getting cleaned up from behind by someone else who is taking no notice of what those in front are doing.

I'm not a fan of the ride with the group at whatever speed the leader decides it should be, more of the see you when we get there type, but equally I'll sit where I am and stay out of the way until the ones who are likely to maim me are safely up the road ahead.

[onearmedbandit]

Your blood should be bottled.

Oh, that's right, quite a lot of it was. ;)

I should've charged for it!

A lot of my friends hate the idea of getting old, I on the other hand (no pun in ten did) love it, the older I get the more I realise I have to learn.

[wetanz]

Below there is a sample MOCA. There are probably big pads of these all different in detail but they seem to follow a similar format.



ha
... have to say, i know, for sure, those animals arent my kids so i have no fukk'n idea what their names are - the lion could be Wally as far as i know - perhaps 'it' identifies as a bottle of water and calls himself Nestle

... the visuospatial is more an IQ mindbender ... 1A2B3C4D5E
... draw a clock ... as what? 12hr/24hr/analogue/digital/am/pm?

... as for abstraction - finding the similarities between words - they dont stipulate whether as nouns or verbs or ...

libtards

[pritch]

This is a bit of a puzzle to me. For once I wouldn't disagree with the Police that speed was a factor. Apparently alcohol wasn't a factor because the police had been speaking to him only minutes prior. It's a big bike (a BMW inline four?) so presumably he's an experienced rider.

If you watch the associated clip until the end the crash was captured on a security camera. Even in slow mo it's quick. I think the speed limit there is 60kph.

https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350262203/horror-motorcycle-crash-sees-renewed-call-speed-camera-busy-new-plymouth-highway

[Hoonicorn]

"We need a speed camera here"
moments later...
"The police just minutes ago gave him a ticket for speeding, he obviously didn't listen" :pinch:

Put in some speed bumps, there are other options than a camera. Getting a ticket obviously wasn't going to change his behaviour. Also, if that's a car yard, is that a dealership, and if it's cost him $80,000, why hasn't he invested in a barrier or requested the council install one?

[R650R]

That sort of crash should be excluded from statistics and just filed under utter stupidity.
Our local rag has also a recent high speed crash from Saturday. Its happened well inside a 50 mph area where there might also be 30 roadworks signs. An open road level of damage has occurred with one car head on. Police are said to have clocked him at 130k on outskirts of town, presumably in the 100k area. There’s nowhere to hide so likely travelling at excess through 70 and 50 before crashing about 1-2km from where cops sighted.

[1/32 man]

Ah Mr R650R....I think I can guess your locale.

I read the crash report and immediately felt some cliched thoughts pop into my head such as the drivers age, gender and narcotic contents of his blood.

That qualifies as reckless stupidity that endangers anyone nearby or on the road.

I ride along there quite often.

[Berries]

new-bike-impounded-after-going-170kmh-70kmh-zone (https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/crime/new-bike-impounded-after-going-170kmh-70kmh-zone)


Bloody cagers.

[R650R]

new-bike-impounded-after-going-170kmh-70kmh-zone (https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/crime/new-bike-impounded-after-going-170kmh-70kmh-zone)


Bloody cagers.

Only 170 must have been stuck in 2nd gear. You do have to laugh at the impound part. It’s bit inconsequential when he’s prob got 28days instant disqualification and will be in court before that finishes for a much larger disqualification period.

[Gremlin]

Put in some speed bumps, there are other options than a camera. Getting a ticket obviously wasn't going to change his behaviour. Also, if that's a car yard, is that a dealership, and if it's cost him $80,000, why hasn't he invested in a barrier or requested the council install one?
Speed bumps would have just given him more air time :crazy: Looks like the dealer does have bollards (well, square metal sunk into the ground), but by some miracle he missed every one of them (solid odds that if he did hit one, it would have cleaved him in half). No point offering advice to this knucklehead... just, "Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly"

Much like dog ownership. No point putting in tighter rules if the owner didn't bothering registering the dog before... just the law abiding people getting impacted.

[R650R]

Confession time of something that could have ended badly, all down to simple factors on an early morning coffee run.
A little residual fatigue, dash of complacency from over exposure to cones and signs during cyclone clean up with a dash of poor lighting from riding into rising sun.
So on a halfway backroad mid morning on the outer ebb of morning “rush hour” over take few cars pull in yeah we’ll pop past this slow bugger too… pull back in see traffic ahead slowing assuming just for the junction ahead and woah lots of cones.
There’s a gorilla sized chap holding Stop sign and I do my best impersonation of Toprak Rasliogu in front of him. He’s a cool chap though and spins the sign to go for me instead of doing a home run on me with the sign. He was wearing hi vis and hard hat but it may have well been camo standing in shade of tree line with sun above him.
Thankfully as always they were digging up a perfectly good road so I had maximum traction available for braking.
But yeah nearly another statistic anomaly, deeply embarrassed.

[rastuscat]

Thankfully as always they were digging up a perfectly good road so I had maximum traction available for braking.


Perhaps for a reason you are unaware of.

[sugilite]

Perhaps for a reason you are unaware of.

While I fully agree that there may be unknown reasons for these roadworks, I do feel that some of the biggest corruption going on in NZ is some of these roading projects. Take the haywards hill roadworks in the Wellington area. They have been working on this for more than 4 years, about 3 km's of road at most. I go by every 2 months or so and can NEVER work out what the fuck they have done or are doing or even see any meaningful progress. One stretch been dug up at least 7 times now. I don't give a fuck how detailed the project might be, it cannot possibly take this long, and neither can it be efficient to dig up the same stretch over, and over, and over a fuckingain.

[rastuscat]

While I fully agree that there may be unknown reasons for these roadworks, I do feel that some of the biggest corruption going on in NZ is some of these roading projects. Take the haywards hill roadworks in the Wellington area. They have been working on this for more than 4 years, about 3 km's of road at most. I go by every 2 months or so and can NEVER work out what the fuck they have done or are doing or even see any meaningful progress. One stretch been dug up at least 7 times now. I don't give a fuck how detailed the project might be, it cannot possibly take this long, and neither can it be efficient to dig up the same stretch over, and over, and over a fuckingain.

Often projects have to be phased due to the need to keep the road open to traffic, even if at least in a limited capacity.

Haywards used to be one I would cycle over when I lived in Wellington, but the last time I did it was, well, the last time I'll do it. Traffic volumes and speed make it very difficult. I can't imagine the upheaval if they closed Haywards for 18 months to do the work all in one go.

[jellywrestler]

Often projects have to be phased due to the need to keep the road open to traffic, even if at least in a limited capacity.

Haywards used to be one I would cycle over when I lived in Wellington, but the last time I did it was, well, the last time I'll do it. Traffic volumes and speed make it very difficult. I can't imagine the upheaval if they closed Haywards for 18 months to do the work all in one go.

nah, the project has always lacked staff, what they would do in a week on other roads seems to drag on for months, it's disgusting, and they've had a 50km zone here for so many years you can barely see the sacks that weight down the signage
They were needed when they built that sideroad and the lanes so trucks could have their own while waiting for a gap, but that's been finished for years,mind you there are still signs warning of trucks on the paekakariki hill for the transmission gully side entrance yard, that has been not used for 18 months now, you'd think one staff member would have travelled it and thought it odd anough to ring in


https://www.google.com/maps/@-41.1179644,174.9397368,3a,75y,283.23h,92.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s2a1Scd7dGmvwPF61D89Cpg!2e0!7i1 6384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[pete376403]

W-K and the contractors are still arguing over whether Trans Gully is properly finished or not.

[F5 Dave]

While I fully agree that there may be unknown reasons for these roadworks, I do feel that some of the biggest corruption going on in NZ is some of these roading projects. Take the haywards hill roadworks in the Wellington area. They have been working on this for more than 4 years, about 3 km's of road at most. I go by every 2 months or so and can NEVER work out what the fuck they have done or are doing or even see any meaningful progress. One stretch been dug up at least 7 times now. I don't give a fuck how detailed the project might be, it cannot possibly take this long, and neither can it be efficient to dig up the same stretch over, and over, and over a fuckingain.
Have to agree. Wtf are they doing there?

[neels]

While I fully agree that there may be unknown reasons for these roadworks, I do feel that some of the biggest corruption going on in NZ is some of these roading projects.
It does make you wonder, 4 laning around 1km of road near our place took about 2 years, they rebuilt both ends and left a couple of hundred metres unfinished in between, then all the machinery moved to another part that wasn't going to be used for at least another year. In the meantime that left the traffic dodging traffic cones driving on a temporary sealed goat track.

Recent observations would suggest that road works (and many other things) are being run by project managers whose objectives are to come up with plans so convoluted and confusing that nobody else understands them, and make the job take as long as possible therefore maximising the length of their contract.

Gone are the days of an engineer designing something, and giving the plans to someone who knows how to do the job to just get on with it.

[roogazza]

W-K and the contractors are still arguing over whether Trans Gully is properly finished or not.

It's certainly rough as guts compared to the new Otaki end !
Maybe they have just learnt to make a road !!!!354715

[BMWST?]

I agree re Haywards. This should have been all completed at th same time as T G because of the increase in traffic coming off TG. I went over there yesterday and they are now excavating for the roundabout at Flightys Road. All the work there and the narrow little bridge by the firewood place seems odd

[SaferRides]

Must be the same crowd that are doing the SH2 upgrades at the Mount. That is probably getting on for 10 years now.

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[Berries]

I'll just put this one here and say a 240km/h wheelie does exhibit a very high level of skill, more than the referenced bullet train driver anyway - speeding-melbourne-motorcyclists. (https://www.odt.co.nz/news/australia/speeding-melbourne-motorcyclists-almost-fast-bullet-train)

[rastuscat]

Nobody think they will crash. So nobody does anything to prevent the crash they don't think they will have.

https://youtu.be/scrixARkrFI

[onearmedbandit]

I do, but then again I have a daily reminder of the fact that I will crash haha.

[rastuscat]

I do, but then again I have a daily reminder of the fact that I will crash haha.

Yes, quite the reminder.

[onearmedbandit]

Yes, quite the reminder.

Other than my children (who are actually only alive because of my accident) it is the best thing to ever happen to me.

[R650R]

Nobody think they will crash. So nobody does anything to prevent the crash they don't think they will have.

https://youtu.be/scrixARkrFI

When you travel same roads often I counter the boredom by occasionally wargaming in head about if situation x happens here what would I do. There’s sections of road where it may be safe (relative to a head on collision) to go bush tracking at 100k, others where the lay of the land would throw your vehicle back into path of innocent person behind the centre line crosser etc.

I watched that ad and I think once again it falls into the too fancy to capture the target audience. What we need is Rossi or Marquez standing beside a crashed biker whose blaming the road surface or something else and the GP star saying no you crashed because your not as good as you think you are.
GP star then picks up crashed bike and proceeds to ride the corner successfully, takes dudes bike home and he starts walking….

[onearmedbandit]

This is one of the best safety ads I have seen (old but gold).

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wnx20F51S_E?si=jucxIgLFL02EEFnC" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[R650R]

This is one of the best safety ads I have seen (old but gold).

Must spread Rep, yes that is the way to get message across. I find the new NZTA cardboard car kinda interesting. It should go one step further give the kind an angle grinder to show how thin modern car panels are.
And stop talking about crumple zones and crash protection/a cap ratings.its like saying which politician is more trustworthy than another.

[rastuscat]

This is one of the best safety ads I have seen (old but gold).

Yes, one of the best. Mick Doohan did a whole series of road safety ads i tried to get access to for use here, but talent contract expiry and copyright prevented us from using them.

[wetanz]

... but talent contract expiry and copyright prevented us from using them.

similar problem with construction eg roads - each subcontractor, power, comms, gas, sewer, stormwater, water etc needs to get 'signed-off' for insurance purposes - means returning the site to original/found condition ... insurance sharks dont like feeding litiginous scavengers ... result, same section of road gets repeatedly 'dug up' and refilled ... repairs are worse than new builds

[roogazza]

Got out for my usual fang Tuesday. Bloody cold and the leg was giving shit.

Knee Op Tuesday week, so I reckon thats it for me until I can swing a leg over again.

Surgeon has suggested the needle in the Spine to numb the lower half, he said they have better results that way ???

I'll be back on the beast for the finer weather me thinks ??? :corn::rolleyes::banana:

[Berries]

Got myself new thermals for a quick blast around Southland and then to Queenstown tomorrow. Wife thinks I will be a dickhead simply for riding.

Would a needle in the spine numb the other half rather than the lower half?

[roogazza]

Got myself new thermals for a quick blast around Southland and then to Queenstown tomorrow. Wife thinks I will be a dickhead simply for riding.

Would a needle in the spine numb the other half rather than the lower half?

Surgeon just said it'd numb the lower half. (6hrs so he said ?)
Then they give another little Entree to make you nod off ???
I don't think it'd be much fun to be awake and listening to the hammering and sawing lol.

[Berries]

I was talking about my wife.

You'd given me an idea for a birthday present.

[pritch]

Got out for my usual fang Tuesday. Bloody cold and the leg was giving shit.

Knee Op Tuesday week, so I reckon thats it for me until I can swing a leg over again.

Surgeon has suggested the needle in the Spine to numb the lower half, he said they have better results that way ???

I'll be back on the beast for the finer weather me thinks ??? :corn::rolleyes::banana:



I've got two bionic knees. Took the epidural option both times. They still knock you out but apparently it doesn't mess your brain around as much as a full anaesthetic.

First time was the left knee. On my initial attempt (somewhat over two weeks post op) I couldn't get my foot on the peg. A week later I could get my foot on the peg but couldn't move my toes to change gear. In just under a month though I was riding the VFR.

Thought the right leg would be easier because I didn't have to worry about shifting gear. My mistake. I couldn't even get my leg over the seat. Still have trouble.

I found out too late but you are not supposed to drive for a month after the anaesthetic. Anyway if it's the right knee you need to be able to operate the brake instantly before getting behind the wheel.

Do the exercises. Good luck.

[roogazza]

I found out too late but you are not supposed to drive for a month after the anaesthetic. Anyway if it's the right knee you need to be able to operate the brake instantly before getting behind the wheel.

Do the exercises. Good luck.

It's the right and I've been riding for 6 months without using the rear brake ! That was the original problem I have a syst the size of a golf ball at the rear of the knee which cuts off either blood flow or nerves to the foot. The powers that be reckon the arthritis is causing the syst.
I was hit by a car on my M/cycle in 1968 which started all this. The surgeon said ,you have no ACL in the right knee ?????????????????? No one told you in 1968 , so I duly ran marathons and played squash at a reasonably high level for years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Previous I've had 3 Ops to clean out all cartilage....

haha always had trouble in right handers when riding too.

I'll be back !!!!!!!! as Arnie said !

[F5 Dave]

I'd broke several ribs on right. Kicking my leg over was a problem for like months after they mostly healed.
So I started getting on from the right, which was just odd. But much easier.

Now I'm ambidextrous mounting. Try it.

[Kickaha]

.

Now I'm ambidextrous mounting. Try it.

I've always done that, still primarily mount from the left though

[SaferRides]

I've tried getting on from the right on occasions when someone has parked his bike too close. But it felt too weird. I should practice at home as it would be useful sometimes.

I've noticed that the MotoGP riders from Europe mount from the right. Must depend where you learnt to ride.

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[Berries]

I've noticed that the MotoGP riders from Europe mount from the right. Must depend where you learnt to ride.
Left hand drive.

[SaferRides]

Left hand drive.Exactly!

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[wetanz]

... Would a needle in the spine numb the other half rather than the lower half?

... might depend who's on top

[nerrrd]

I've had to start using the peg to get on because my right hip is struggling to get my leg over the seat now, here's some reasons to do that primarily from the right side.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDjQmMfTylk

[Grumph]

Back in the days of push starts for roadraces, you'd occasionally strike someone who pushed from the right.
A swift kick at the right moment usually gave you enough room to push safely.

Kick - I'd have thought climbing aboard from the right was an acquired habit once you had a sidecar.
i suppose if someone just couldn't manage it, they could build a chair with sidecar on the right.

[F5 Dave]

I've always done that, still primarily mount from the left though

Always done what? Broken lots of ribs?


Geez you're hard on gear (and body parts).:bleh:

[Kickaha]

Always done what? Broken boys of ribs?


Geez you're hard on gear (and body parts).:bleh:

Hopped on from the right hand side

Haven't broken any ribs since 2018 but I did rather a lot of them at that time

[roogazza]

Getting out this morning for my usual fang to Pahiatua.
Back to surgeon Monday after Op was canned because of infection I had on my left arm..... Too risky surgeon said.

So a fang it is today in case they throw me in next week !!!!!!

Think of me at about 1030am ,cigar and coffee in hand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol xxxxxxxxxx

[pritch]

Getting out this morning for my usual fang to Pahiatua.
Back to surgeon Monday after Op was canned because of infection I had on my left arm..... Too risky surgeon said.

So a fang it is today in case they throw me in next week !!!!!!

Think of me at about 1030am ,cigar and coffee in hand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol xxxxxxxxxx

That should be easy to remember. As much as anything is easy to remember these days. I'll be sitting enjoying a coffee with half a dozen members of the local Ulysses Club.

[R650R]

These riders have to be your classic learners straight on big bikes. Classic mistake you go where you look times two, not even going fast. But these are the ones pushing up our insurance/crash stats.
Panic drops bike after picking it up for a car that stops 50m away.

There’s another vid normal speed fwds but can’t link it, there doing maybe 45-60km/h???


https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XmH3iHEXuEw?si=Hc3dFZhRO8fJWrlR

[F5 Dave]

Chicken kebab stick with chilli powder liberally applied.

Friday smoko . Without the smoking obviously. (2 strokes tucked up in garage).