IDIOTS on OUR best roads

[Ixion]

It's Mabel's definition of "F***ing prick" that matters. Cos if *she* thinks you're being a "f***ing prick" she's on the cell to *555. Which eventually means trouble for everyone.

Can't avoid a bit of that (well, only by not speeding!) , but we *need* for our own sakes to keep it to a minimum. If you want to pull wheelies, fine, but wait until Mabel isn't in sight, or at least is far enough away that she isn't going to feel intimidated by it.

By and large the police turn a bit of a blind eye to bikers doing "naughty things". So long as it's done with discretion. If some "f***ing prick" goes and gets the natives all riled up, that blind eye gets opened, and that spoils things for all of us. Including me. And that pisses me off.

F'Heaven's sake, it's not rocket science. You (hypothetical you, not you you) can see the other traffic on the road. You can tell by the look of the driver and the vehicle if they're likely to be scared by having someone blast past at hyper speed. The dude in the XR-8 ? No probs. The old lady in the Corolla. Yep, ease it back , give her a moment to realise you're there before passing. And give her a bit of space, it scares her when she sees you 6 inches from her window.

It's just a matter of consideration for others.

[madboy]

The dude in the XR-8 ? No probs. The old lady in the Corolla. Yep, ease it back

The dude int he XR8, f***ing cane it past cos he ain't gonna like no punk ass bitch on a bike out on HIS road, aye Shazza? And get the hell outta dodge too, cos he's gonna wanna piece of your ass for passing him.

And the old lady in the Corolla? Who cares, she can't see the truck in front of her, let alone the young ruffian on the motorcycle that passed her. And boy was he flying. He must have been doing at least 120. I feel sorry for his mother when the policeman has to come and tell her he was killed in an accident, because if he keeps riding that way he surely will be.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Nor do I think that the message will hit the intended audience. In my experience mentoring only provides the mentored with the skills to ride even further outside their comfort zone. I am at a loss as to how we provide young folk with the mental strength to ignore peer pressure and develop self-awareness to the point where they are aware and unashamed of their personal limitations.

Speaking for myself only, if you live long enough you develop it personally. "Growing the hell up" I understand its called.

Since I am unlikely to be offered a Motogp ride for next season, I figure I will go at a pace that gives me my jollies.... screw anybody else.

One of the reasons I like to ride by myself.

[ManDownUnder]

Nod - hear ya, but suspect Auckland's not the only region blighted with two wheeled carnage looking for somewhere to happen.

If they want to play and they're a threat I just stop and let 'em go for 5 mins. Takes the wind out of their sales ("what - you don't wanna play???"), clears the road for you and gives you a game of catch up if you feel like it (which REALLY pisses them off if you actually do catch them).

You have the considerable disadvantage of being a wearer of blue as well, so any incidents you ever got involved with would be slammed by those issuing fines (i.e. the courts). Ask Speedy...

5c poorer, but happy all the same.
MDU

[Motu]

I'm with Ixion (as per usual) I used to love SH16,SH22 and the Kaiawa loop,been doing them all since the '70's.But the last few years (3 or 4) the sprotbikes seem to have found them (possibly because of this site) and I seldom go on these roads now,just to get to other places to ride.I see packs of bikes totaly monstering cars off the road,they seem to have a total disregard for other road users.Tough,they are only cages....yeah but there are people in there,maybe our very own Andy Knackersack being shown around some of these trouble spots where the bikes are crashing....

I'm with Jim2,too - I don't really care how you ride...but it worries me that my freedom may be curtailed because others don't give a shit.

[Paul in NZ]

I'm with Ixion (as per usual) I'm with Jim2,too - So am I somewhat predictably....

I don't really care how you ride...but it worries me that my freedom may be curtailed because others don't give a shit.

Now that sums it up for me...

I toot and wave but try to go the other way from other riders unless it's a classic club run. People are happy to see an old chuffer on the road having fun and will stop and yarn and we have a jolly old time but not one member of the public type person has ever talked to me on a group ride with spout bikes except to tell me off... (why they pick on me I cannot imagine)

[The_Dover]

(why they pick on me I cannot imagine)

Must be the guzzi...

[Paul in NZ]

Must be the guzzi...

Could be! They have a certain attraction to slack jawed mouth breathing kitten jugglers renown of having disgusting habits involving ferrets, latex wearing dwarves of unsavoury temprement and margarine...

However that usually repulses people...

Nope, in a crowd, the average nutter will single me out at a hundred paces and thrust their american express or greenpeace membership forms into my face and demand (with menace) a signature or agreement. I guess I'm just approachable..

[pritch]

Ride fast, ride slow, who cares, just do not endanger the people around you

Somebody here used to have a signature line that said words to the effect that, anybody driving slower than you is stupid, anybody driving faster than you is an idiot. Which as it happens, is actually a very common attitude.

I generally ride so as to keep space around me to allow for the unexpected.
People who remove that space unnecessarily tend to piss me off.

I've seen comments on here that we should watch our mirrors. Bullshit! Why would anyone be looking in their mirror as they enter a corner at speed? The attention should be focussed up the road.

IMNSHO the people who endanger others are the genuine idiots.

[mikey]

Nor do I think that the message will hit the intended audience. In my experience mentoring only provides the mentored with the skills to ride even further outside their comfort zone. I am at a loss as to how we provide young folk with the mental strength to ignore peer pressure and develop self-awareness to the point where they are aware and unashamed of their personal limitations.

what limitations jim?

first few minutes of riding a bike i wouldnt lean it round a corner, next few i tried leangin a bit, went well, tried leaning some more, going bit faster, went well, just kept trying, its how you learn. go to fast into a corner in the rain on bald tyres you go into a wall/car/paddock/cliff/off the cliff, common sense doesnt always work though, but you learn from your mistakes, even if not conciously your sub concious should stop you doing the same thing again, if you can work out why you crashed that is

sure i crash some learning but im stil alive an a little bit faster and safer? than the day i first rode a bike, im stil learning, or half the time i go out anyway.

racing/riding/riding faster/talking is how you learn, not from magazines or books, an following your dad up the takas on his rf900......

[Lou Girardin]

I saw some things on Sunday that I thought was stupid. No doubt someone thought what I did was equally stupid.
Horses for courses really.
Nothing will stop the real idiots, except for death or old age.

[Marmoot]

NOW with our import drivers, tractors,born again losers,politicans with draconian laws,etc, do I have to give up on jaffaland and play on greener pastures??

Putting someone so full of biased and prejudiced opinions in a position with power over other people looks quite similar to putting a monkey inside a jetfighter......

[The_Dover]

Now that would be cool.

A monkey in an F16. Just like that film with Matthew Broderick.....

[mstriumph]

Somebody here used to have a signature line that said words to the effect that, anybody driving slower than you is stupid, anybody driving faster than you is an idiot. ......................

that was Zadok from West Aus. - think he still uses it?

[mstriumph]

Could be! They have a certain attraction to slack jawed mouth breathing kitten jugglers renown of having disgusting habits involving ferrets, latex wearing dwarves of unsavoury temprement and margarine...