For Sale : Slightly soiled under garments

**Ozzie** · 2nd September 2006, 12:37

jeezusss!

A very close call yesterday. Heading north on the southern motorway, about 9:20, there were road works, blocking the "fast" lane just south of manukau.

i was slowing to find a hole in the traffic, clear road between me and the tail roadworks truck, doing probably 70 - 80.

Coming past a dump truck, towing a trailor (him in the middle) and low and behold, he isn't watching, rapidly approaching the car in front of him, brakes hard indicates and immediately pulls into my lane

. I sit on my horn, start to brake, think "nup, that wont help me", so then start to accellerate to get past him.

He keeps coming across, I'm riding on a foot of road at the most, truck to my left, wet grass and armco to my right, I'm thinking I am toast, my life has been fun, cheers!

In the "impending accident way", I slow mo watch this guys bull bar first just miss my leg, then just miss the arse of my bike. Once past him (still slow mo) I look up, am mostly not on the road, the bike hung on, dunno how, and I stayed upright.

Scared the absolute be jeezus out of me, had to pull over and take a breather for a few minutes and stop shaking

.

My god it was close!

**Maha** · 2nd September 2006, 12:43

Well at least you live to tell all Ozzie....

Truckie had to make a split decision to avoid total mayham on the M/Way, but they seem to change lanes whenever it suits them in my experience, they just indercate and move over, who's going to fuck with them?...

**Drunken Monkey** · 2nd September 2006, 12:44

Go buy a lotto ticket, it's your lucky weekend...

**Drunken Monkey** · 2nd September 2006, 12:48

Originally Posted by maha man

...but they seem to change lanes whenever it suits them in my experience, they just indercate and move over, ...

Ever driven a truck? They've got massive blind spots, and clueless drivers like to ride in them. All you can do is indicate, wait 3 seconds and start moving over slowly. And I've only driven small trucks, kudos to those who regularly do it with a 5 axle b-train.

**Ozzie** · 2nd September 2006, 12:58

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

Ever driven a truck? They've got massive blind spots, and clueless drivers like to ride in them. All you can do is indicate, wait 3 seconds and start moving over slowly. And I've only driven small trucks, kudos to those who regularly do it with a 5 axle b-train.

Yes, and the thing with most blind spots is, if you turn your head and look, they go away. Blind spots are an excuse for the stupid fkrs that don't drive using anything but their mirrors, like most of the f'n cagers.

Point of clarification......

I think he must have hit the indicator as he was turning the wheel, would have been lucky to have been 3 milliseconds.

Oh, and I was not "riding" his blind spot, I was passing him, not fast, not slow, just coasting along looking for a place for me to merge.

Happy to accept when it is my fault, like my bin the last time I tangled with a truck, but not this time!

**Maha** · 2nd September 2006, 13:00

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

Ever driven a truck? They've got massive blind spots, and clueless drivers like to ride in them. All you can do is indicate, wait 3 seconds and start moving over slowly. And I've only driven small trucks, kudos to those who regularly do it with a 5 axle b-train.

Yeah i have been behind the wheel of a Kenworth before today, i wasnt slagging them, you said basically what i did, in that they 'indercate and move over'...in my view, what the said truck driver did was all he could do to save clogging up the southern for a few hours....

**Drunken Monkey** · 2nd September 2006, 13:09

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Yes, and the thing with most blind spots is, if you turn your head and look, they go away. Blind spots are an excuse for the stupid fkrs that don't drive using anything but their mirrors, like most of the f'n cagers.

No need to be rude. I wasn't talking about you specifically. Still, your ignorance of vision from a truck's cab is evident. Chill out and don't take everything so personally.

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Point of clarification......

I think he must have hit the indicator as he was turning the wheel, would have been lucky to have been 3 milliseconds.

Oh, and I was not "riding" his blind spot, I was passing him, not fast, not slow, just coasting along looking for a place for me to merge.

Happy to accept when it is my fault, like my bin the last time I tangled with a truck, but not this time!

Easy tiger, I was in no way suggesting that YOU were. It was just a general observation. Guilty consceince?

Maha man: agreed

**Ixion** · 2nd September 2006, 13:11

I hate following a truck, but I REALLY REALLY HATE being stuck beside one. Always drop back or accelerate past. Had far far too many similar happenings, they basically just don't look. Best is to hang back a bit slower than the queue speed until there's enough space in your lane ahead of him then accelerate past as hard as they bike can go until you're comfortably in front of him.

I like a nice clear box of empty road around me, don't like cars invading it, but I really HATE trucks in my box (bloody painful that sounds)

**Ozzie** · 2nd September 2006, 13:12

Originally Posted by Drunken Monkey

Guilty consceince?

Not this time.

**Patch** · 2nd September 2006, 13:13

You can probably blame some useless kunt (who didn't take driving lessons) in a cage for that
1. too busy on the phone
2. picking their nose
3. eating breakfast
4. having a shave
5. doin' their makeup
6. even reading the newspaper who didn't bother to look then indicate but just decided to change lanes right in front of the truck, forcing the truckie to take evasive action. Bad luck for Ozzie.

Hence why you will never ever see me sitting beside a truck or bus in traffic.
Always always sit in their mirrors (if following) or pass quickly and sit two car lengths in front to their right. Use their lane (and space) at your peril.

Ps. All of the above can be witnessed during the day at some stage traveling SH1

Oz, you ain't having much luck with trucks man.

Member things happen in three's - watch out for the third one

hopefully just be a case of you being helped out by a truckie rather than . . . I ain't even going there. Touch wood, be careful bro.

**Ozzie** · 2nd September 2006, 13:20

I wondered how long it would be till you posted Patch, expected a bit of grief, was surprised it didn't come.

I am taking your point on the 3, but by my count this was number 3.

1. Dumbed up passing a truck - ended up in a ditch
2. Truckie pulled me out of the ditch
3. Truckie was having a chat instead of watching were he was going

But yes, will watch for more. Oddly enough, this scared me more than the one that did result in coming off.

**Patch** · 2nd September 2006, 13:22

Originally Posted by Ixion

I hate following a truck, but I REALLY REALLY HATE being stuck beside one.

Given the choice I'd rather sit behind a truck any day than a cage.
a. they will indicate for you to pass given enough clear road
b. they move over on steep inclines
c. most will stop an give assistance if needed

how many times does a cage do this?? ha ha ha, didn't think so.

Ps. not that I ride slow enough for this to be a regular occurance