Damn Cagers!

[Beemer]

Maybe all the 'cagers' (dang, I'm one of those too!) had a previous experience like mine - saw a young guy come off going around a roundabout in Lower Hutt. Low speed, so I didn't think he'd be seriously hurt, but I pulled over anyway and asked if he was okay. Well, his mouth was! "I don't need your fucking help, just fuck off and leave me alone" - sure, he was probably highly embarrassed, but it's not like I ran up laughing and said "you stupid twat, are you okay?" I just walked up and said "are you all right, is your bike okay?"

Also, being a female, I'd probably be cautious of stopping to help some guy on his own in an isolated spot whether he was in a car or on a bike. If there are two of us, we always stop and see if there is anything we can do, and we've often had people stop to see if we need any help too. (Usually just stopping to readjust the earplugs!) I did have one guy stop and see if he could help when I used to work in Wellington. I finished work about 9.30pm and the RG was always a bit cold to get going so I used to wheel it out from the bike park onto the flat to get it started rather than pull out and stall it! This guy thought it wouldn't start when he saw me pushing it, so good on him for stopping to help a motorcyclist (helmet on, so no idea of gender) late at night in the city!

Considering how many of us ride bikes and drive cars, are all cagers shitheads? I doubt it, and I think those who have bikes are even more aware of bikers as a consequence. Just because others didn't stop to help, don't condemn them - most would think "bike, I know nothing about them" and wouldn't stop. Same with cars "don't know how to fix them, better keep going". I remember my Dad stopping once when he saw this pregnant woman on the side of the road beside a car with its bonnet up. When he stopped, two guys with back packs came running out of the bushes - it wasn't even their car, they just thought they'd stand a better chance of a lift if the pregnant woman stood by it! Suffice to say, with a family in the car, they were out of luck space-wise!

[Marmoot]

My speed reading is letting me down. Either that or I need glasses !

Just admit it....you're getting old

[Fart]

Just admit it....you're getting old

I dont have to admit it, I know I am getting old when my girlfriend 10 years younger than me demanding sex and me saying, not your birthday again is it?

[Wolf]

I have never understood this term "cagers".
Not content that non-motorcyclists marginalise us, we gotta marginalise ourselves by creating a mythical enemy?
Whats that all about?

I'd say someone doing their level best to shove you off the road or looking straight at you as they deliberately pull away against a red light straight across your bows as not a mythical enemy.

Sure I drive a car as required (with two kids, it's required a lot) but I keep a look out for bikes as I know what it's like out there - unlike most car drivers, including a number with defensive driving stickers on the rear window (must've come with the car).

Sure I know dickheads on bikes - including a friend of mine that is likely to wind up dead because he rides like there is no one else on the road. That species of idiot I call "Temporary New Zealander."

I know not everyone driving a car is a "cager", I know a lot of bikers also drive cars, vans and trucks, but when I encounter some jerk-off driving a car carelessly, recklessly or (occasionally) offensively (as in "Offensive Weapon"), then that person is a cager.

When I encounter a person driving like an idiot on a bike that person is a Temporary New Zealander and I don't expect them to cause problems for long.

The Mongrel Mob member who tried to ram me was a cager, the arsehole driving the car full of his mates that deliberately pulled out in front of me against a red light (they had already stopped for the light, saw me coming and then decided that they would disobey the light, gave me "whatcha gonna do about it, arsehole" looks) was a cager - and there have been many others I've encountered or heard about - like that silly bitch who thought that bikes have to give way to cars - classic "cager" that one.

In short: a "cager" is anyone who thinks that they have more right to be on the road because they are in a car - and that seems to be most people driving a car.

I prefer bikes over cars - always have, always will. To me a car is a "coffin on wheels", a trap. I get enjoyment out of riding bikes that I cannot match driving a car - and I do enjoy going for a drive with my family. Enjoyable though that family drive is, it never matches riding a bike. I look forward to the time when Juliet is licenced to ride a bike and the kids are big enough to reach the pegs - then there are going to be some serious family trips.

If that makes me a "biker", so be it - but it's not my sole "identification". I am "me", and one of the many things about me is that I love bikes more than cars.

I will help anyone on the road if I can, especially those on bikes because I know how terriying the thought of leaving the bike parked up, unprotected, on the side of the road is.

I feel constantly "antsy" at the moment because I have no running bike and I haven't been for a ride in such a long time. Guess that makes me a "biker", if nothing else.

[TonyB]

"I don't need your fucking help, just fuck off and leave me alone" - sure, he was probably highly embarrassed, but it's not like I ran up laughing and said "you stupid twat, are you okay?" I just walked up and said "are you all right, is your bike okay?"

Have to admit I've been in his position- my first fall happened shortly after I'd passed two little old ladies. I was standing in the middle of the road swearing like a trooper when this kindly wee voice said
"are you OK?"
"I fell off in some fucking oil and my fucking bikes fucked!" I yelled (not at her- adrenaline and general grumpiness was at fault)
"Are you sure? It doesn't look to bad to me"
I stomped over to the bike and swore some more, then turned around to see the little old ladies picking up broken bits off the road That shamed me into calming down....

Then there was the time I fell off on a new (to me) bike in some ice. A lady pulled up in her car and asked if I was OK- got a similar response to the above. Drove off in a hell of a rush

[Eurygnomes]

I was chatting to my father the other day who said that it'd be "nice to have me join the rather large, loose family that is all 'bikers'" (other than Harley's may have been muttered under his breath!!! *grin*) which I thought was really sweet. And he mentioned that the one thing I MUST do is stop whenever I see a biker on the side of the road - either down or just generally looking annoyed at their bike - whether I'm on bike or in my car. If nothing else, some company and possibly some shelter to wait in while the tow/AA gets there would be appreciated.

So I hereby do solemnly promise that provided stopping poses no risk to my safety or health (i.e. sorry folks, but if it's a dark uninhabited road, I'll stop and throw my cellphone out of the car, but probably not let you in till I've called someone through with your name and license details at least) then I will stop for all down bikers. And I have spare fuel too.

Oh - and does the same thing happen with bikes as with tattoos then? As soon as I walked out of the tattooists for my first one - I a) started noticing who else had them, b) felt part of a group (hello abandonment issues anyone?) and c) WANTED ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Oscar]

I'd say someone doing their level best to shove you off the road or looking straight at you as they deliberately pull away against a red light straight across your bows as not a mythical enemy.

Sure I drive a car as required (with two kids, it's required a lot) but I keep a look out for bikes as I know what it's like out there - unlike most car drivers, including a number with defensive driving stickers on the rear window (must've come with the car).

Sure I know dickheads on bikes - including a friend of mine that is likely to wind up dead because he rides like there is no one else on the road. That species of idiot I call "Temporary New Zealander."

I know not everyone driving a car is a "cager", I know a lot of bikers also drive cars, vans and trucks, but when I encounter some jerk-off driving a car carelessly, recklessly or (occasionally) offensively (as in "Offensive Weapon"), then that person is a cager.

When I encounter a person driving like an idiot on a bike that person is a Temporary New Zealander and I don't expect them to cause problems for long.

The Mongrel Mob member who tried to ram me was a cager, the arsehole driving the car full of his mates that deliberately pulled out in front of me against a red light (they had already stopped for the light, saw me coming and then decided that they would disobey the light, gave me "whatcha gonna do about it, arsehole" looks) was a cager - and there have been many others I've encountered or heard about - like that silly bitch who thought that bikes have to give way to cars - classic "cager" that one.

In short: a "cager" is anyone who thinks that they have more right to be on the road because they are in a car - and that seems to be most people driving a car.

I prefer bikes over cars - always have, always will. To me a car is a "coffin on wheels", a trap. I get enjoyment out of riding bikes that I cannot match driving a car - and I do enjoy going for a drive with my family. Enjoyable though that family drive is, it never matches riding a bike. I look forward to the time when Juliet is licenced to ride a bike and the kids are big enough to reach the pegs - then there are going to be some serious family trips.

If that makes me a "biker", so be it - but it's not my sole "identification". I am "me", and one of the many things about me is that I love bikes more than cars.

I will help anyone on the road if I can, especially those on bikes because I know how terriying the thought of leaving the bike parked up, unprotected, on the side of the road is.

I feel constantly "antsy" at the moment because I have no running bike and I haven't been for a ride in such a long time. Guess that makes me a "biker", if nothing else.

I can't disagree with that "antsy" feeling - I drive defensively and ride super-defensively. Dickheads are dickheads whatever they're driving/riding - I've had the misfortune to be passing the pub when the Outcasts were leaving...
Anyone who fails to give way to a motorcycle is just as likely to not see a bicycle, or a little old lady crossing. The mythology I was talking about is the "cager", that group of people that we create to explain the dickheads. This epithet is almost as stupid as the people who see my Austrian Dirt Bike and call me a "bikie".

I guess my point is that labelling people is pointless. All we can do is try to make a positive difference - waving to car drivers who pull over, that sort of thing.

[Marmoot]

I guess my point is that labelling people is pointless. All we can do is try to make a positive difference - waving to car drivers who pull over, that sort of thing.

You get my vote for "The Post of the Thread"

Well done summary

[Wolf]

I can't disagree with that "antsy" feeling - I drive defensively and ride super-defensively. Dickheads are dickheads whatever they're driving/riding - I've had the misfortune to be passing the pub when the Outcasts were leaving...
Anyone who fails to give way to a motorcycle is just as likely to not see a bicycle, or a little old lady crossing. The mythology I was talking about is the "cager", that group of people that we create to explain the dickheads. This epithet is almost as stupid as the people who see my Austrian Dirt Bike and call me a "bikie".

I guess my point is that labelling people is pointless. All we can do is try to make a positive difference - waving to car drivers who pull over, that sort of thing.

I agree, but I do find that "cager" is a handy epithet when having a good mutter under your breatrh (or yell, whatever flips your switch) as in "Fucking stupid dickheaded cager" - gives you a longer, more satisfying rant. Likewise "stupid bloody dickheaded temporary New Zealander!"

I wave to anyone who behaves courteously - irrespective of who is driving/riding what, stop to help anyone I can - even if I don't figure i can help, I at least offer to call assistance or ride up the road and get help.

[Wolf]

Then there was the time I fell off on a new (to me) bike in some ice. A lady pulled up in her car and asked if I was OK- got a similar response to the above. Drove off in a hell of a rush

When I arse-ended the car on the way to work on my old RX125, bent the front of the bike, ripped open my thighs on the tank badges, nutted myself on the instrument console, discovered one shoe lying in the middle of the road (must've jumped clean out of it with the impact) and a voice says "Are you all right?" Turned around to see one of the young girls from work who had stopped behind me. So overwhelmed by all of what happened I just stared, disbelieving, at her and yelled FUUUCK!

She freaked out, bolted to her car and took off.

Poor chick - she had the look of one who didn't hear that word often, much less use it. Felt rather stink about it.

Riding the TS125 like a mad thing along Rukuhia Road towards the lights. They changed and I hit the rear brake (in my terrified of the front brake days), back broke away and tried to beat the front to the lights. I crossed up the front wheel and slid down the road , gradually slowing, came to a stop just short of the lights. I was so shocked that I hadn't fallen off, I forgot to put my foot down once I'd stopped and the bike toppled. A woman in a car in the neighbouring lane wound her window down and asked if I was all right

"Yeah, only a dented ego," I replied.

At least she thought to ask.