999.9....1000! (and nearly not much more!)

**apteryx_haasti** · 27th July 2006, 19:49

Well, exciting stuff! For me, anyway. This morning on my way to work, I ticked over to my first 1000 kms! Must book that service now...

However, on my way home just now....

So, I live in Eastbourne. For those of you who don't know, to get to Eastbourne, you go round the bays for a good 10 kms before you actually reach Eastbourne.

Tonight I followed a car into Eastbourne, I mean the whole way into Eastbourne. Keeping a reasonable following distance, blah blah blah. Anyway, the car indicates and pulls to the left hand side of the road into a park as I approach. Then WITHOUT LOOKING AT ALL, she pulls straight out back onto the road so that she is perpendicular to me (so that she can pull into a driveway on the RHS of the road).

SHIT! Brakes on, hard, swerve, HORN!

SHe looks at me absolutely flabbergasted. And as I went past and headed on my way (thankfully intact) I started to think...I had been behind her for at least the last 10 kms...did she not use her mirrors at all? Was she really unaware that a bike had been behind her for all that time?

Really pissed me off - of course, would have been way more pissed off if I had ended up broadsiding her (I presume it would have been her fault)...

That's my first close call - dumb woman needs a rocket up somewhere....

Oh, but back to the good news...1000 kms, rode to work every day so far this week (and plan to tomorrow) and oh yeah, I LOVE MY BIKE!

A_H

**Clivoris** · 27th July 2006, 19:57

Churr churr!

**madboy** · 27th July 2006, 20:01

Now just imagine that when you're lanesplitting, going 30k faster than her, and she really really doesn't have any reason to suspect there's a bike there!

**Drum** · 27th July 2006, 20:07

Nice moves A_H. You avoided the collision and thats the main thing. Now file it under experience and the next time a cage pulls to the left you will be ready again!

You are to be congratulated.

**quickbuck** · 27th July 2006, 20:25

Originally Posted by Drum

Nice moves A_H. You avoided the collision and thats the main thing. Now file it under experience and the next time a cage pulls to the left you will be ready again!

You are to be congratulated.

I Concur, well done.

You are probably right in saying she didn't use her mirrors for 10 k's. Cagers are blind, so even if there are mirrors fitted, they can't see any reflection in them.

Also, yes it would have been her fault, BUT you would be in a world of hurt! Broken bike is the salt in the wound for a broken body.

A good mate (who has had less off's than me), once said, "Even if a car pulls over to the left to make it look like you can pass, NEVER pass!!! It could be that they have run off the road, and will wake up and swerve back on. Or they are going to pull to the right all of a sudden, Or, they are being A Holes and trying to flick stones in your face".

I only pass a vehicle that has pulled left if, and only if, the whole other lane is free. That way I have plenty of room.

Also, the situation you found yourself in is a classic case where MORE power can get you out of trouble. Shame the GN doesn't have a blast of acceleration of a biger bike, but you managed to avoid a potential nasty anyway.

And finally (it's like I didn't type enough at work today) as time goes on, things like that won't scare you as much. They will still happen, but the heart rate won't jump through the roof.

Take care, and I hope your GN sees many more thoughands of kilometers of service.

**gamgee** · 27th July 2006, 20:45

they're all out to get ya, if a cage pulls to the left, slow down and be ready for a no look uturn cause they're the only ones on the road after all

**andrea** · 27th July 2006, 21:15

bloody hell some car drivers are so useless, good to hear that your ok.
even when im driving my car you get the same sort of drivers, they dont check their mirrors n stuff. i think one of the worst ive had is when i was riding down teirirangi road heading to manukau and this asain lady is waiting and watching me coming up. its an 80k road and im only doing 90 ahem, maybe a little bit more. but im coming up really close to her, and then all of a sudden she pulls out. so i had to brake and move into the right lane, it really pissed the shit out of me, so farken blind. im not being racist cause im part asain, but shit man. hmm anyways take care, alot of stupid drivers out there.

**Hawkeye** · 27th July 2006, 21:29

Well done on the 1000k. apteryx
Put the near escape down to experience, store in the back of the mind and recall when ever needed....

**boostin** · 27th July 2006, 22:43

Well done on the 1000km's, and good to hear you avoided the cage.

I'm this situation do many people consider or do stop, and then approach the driver of the other vehicle? Just to have a calm word to them about looking or whatever?

**apteryx_haasti** · 28th July 2006, 07:49

Originally Posted by boostin

I'm this situation do many people consider or do stop, and then approach the driver of the other vehicle? Just to have a calm word to them about looking or whatever?

I didn't stop because she had clearly seen me and appeared to already be freaked/mortified. Also she pulled across the road and into a driveway and by the time I had sorted my own self out (sheeeeet, brakes, horn etc) I was already past.

Also, thanks everyone for the words of encouragement!

Here's to many more kms!

A_H

**frogfeaturesFZR** · 28th July 2006, 07:55

Well done

Were your lights on ??

**XP@** · 28th July 2006, 09:54

well done on the 1000km's

Good attitide on the incident :-)

BTW did you get your wobbles sorted?

**dnos** · 28th July 2006, 10:03

nice one on the miles bud,
and good skills - especially the not using mirrors for 10ks thing that cracks me up.
Don't u wish you had the power to cut up someones license for being unfit to drive.

**Fatjim** · 28th July 2006, 10:12

As I was saying yesterday, you have to say to yourself, within reason, whats the worst thing they can do.

For example, to do a u-turn, a vehicle has to slow right down. So a car doing 80k isn't about to "doa ue".The worst it can do is swerve back to th right. Therefore, with the right amount of lateral distance it's safe to pass, but always assume they might swerve back at any time and be ready with the brakes/throttle.

BTW, well done. Did you draw mud, or did you get the clench on in time?