Hassled for riding at the speed limit...

[Gizzit]

Who gets hassled by trucks/cars when you are riding along actually doing the speed limit ??

Today I was riding in town, and a guy in a Beaurepairs truck came up so close behind me, I felt sure he was going to make contact.

As I always do when anyone tries to bully me .... I stick to my guns (actually wish I had been carrying one !! A bloody big one !!)

He kept close behind, and I stayed at the speed limit of 50Kmh. Where I was riding, is often a place for speed camera's and patrol cars, so I wasn't tempted to increase my speed to appease the impatient truck driver.

A little further up the road, he decided to sit back from me, then had a run and overtook me, not giving me a lot of room as he went past. Shortly after this, the road divided into two lanes, he took the right lane, and I started to head for the left lane, and he swerved over slightly, as if he was going to come into my lane. He just did it to be a prat, thinking he would intimidate me. At the lights, when we were stopped pretty much beside each other ... he looked over at me, and I demonstrated with my right hand .... that he was wanking himself. I thought he might get out of the truck and come over, so I had my bike ready to turn off and put on its side stand, and was ready to "discuss" the situation. However ... it didn't happen ...

I rode on home without any further incident.

This really pissed me off! I had just had a really enjoyable cruise in the sunshine, out towards the beach and then back into town. I was in a relaxed mood .... until this arsehole ruined my ride!

How many of you get this kind of hassle from car or truck drivers .... when you want to drive at the speed limit, and get the intimidation tactics of sitting just off your back wheel, trying to bully you into speeding up for them ??

I don't get intimidated .... I just get angry! It may not be the right response .... but I don't take kindly to anyone trying to bully or intimidate me .... it's in my genetics I think !!! ^%$#*&!@#$ !!! ARGGGHHHHHH !!!

Rant over ......

[Badjelly]

From your account it sounds like you attempted to pass him after you had held him up. Maybe not a good idea?

I sympathise, mate, but it's best let him go on his way and give him a wide berth.

[Ragingrob]

Yep cars will sit on my ass sometimes when I'm going even 58 or so in a 50, right up my backside! Then it'll increase to 80 or 100 and they'll no longer be in my mirrors. Wankers, take that!

[Gizzit]

From your account it sounds like you attempted to pass him after you had held him up. Maybe not a good idea?

I sympathise, mate, but it's best let him go on his way and give him a wide berth.

No I didn't try to pass him. I stayed at 50K, and went into the left lane, as it was going straight on ... where I wanted to go. He was ahead of me. He was in the right lane, to turn right at the lights ahead. I had no intention of hassling him with my riding .... I just let him know what I thought of him when we were at the lights. I was angry ....

[3DKiwi]

Could be that your speedo is reading too high like many bike speedos are. My VStrom 650 for example the speedo is 8% out. An indicated 50kph is in fact 46kph (checked with GPS).

Just an idea.

[Gizzit]

Could be that your speedo is reading too high like many bike speedos are. My VStrom 650 for example the speedo is 8% out. An indicated 50kph is in fact 46kph (checked with GPS).

Just an idea.

Yeah you could be right. I haven't mounted my GPS on this bike yet. Still ... I hate being tailgated by anyone. I wasn't purposely trying to piss this guy off .... I was just riding at the speed limit .... which I am more inclined to do of late !!

I think it's more about the driver of a big vehicle .. trying to intimidate the driver/rider of a small vehicle. Your bog standard "bully syndrome".

[Taz]

Why not just pull to the left and let them go by?? Alot less agro and stress involved in that. Makes you a bigger person.

[mattian]

Umm... how often do you go out on your bike? I don't know what its like in Whangarei but, this kind of thing is a daily occurance in Auckland. Just pull over and let them go,.... don't give them a wank sign or the fingers. You just exacerbate the situation. Just ride your own ride and don't let anyone else ruin it for you. Having said all that! ever since I started riding,driving, using the roads, I learnt very quickly that if the posted speed limit says 50 then, unofficialy its 60 and, in 100 k zones..... unofficially its 110. As a rule of thumb.

[Ragingrob]

Depending on the road, "pulling over" will just make them really squeeze past you in perhaps dangerous situations. I hold the right hand wheel track, if they wanna pass me they can feel free to, but they ain't pushing me into the gutter to do it.

[Taz]

Depending on the road, "pulling over" will just make them really squeeze past you in perhaps dangerous situations. I hold the right hand wheel track, if they wanna pass me they can feel free to, but they ain't pushing me into the gutter to do it.

Crikey the main roads (you know the ones with more traffic trying to get past) aren't that narrow.

[mrchips]

nup, must be just up north.

Car / truck & scooter drivers down this way are extremely courteous to other road users, would never revert to this sort of shinanagins.

[zzzbang]

Umm... how often do you go out on your bike? I don't know what its like in Whangarei but, this kind of thing is a daily occurance in Auckland. Just pull over and let them go,.... don't give them a wank sign or the fingers. You just exacerbate the situation. Just ride your own ride and don't let anyone else ruin it for you. Having said all that! ever since I started riding,driving, using the roads, I learnt very quickly that if the posted speed limit says 50 then, unofficialy its 60 and, in 100 k zones..... unofficially its 110. As a rule of thumb.

Thats because the posted speed is ridiculously slow lol.

[McJim]

Dude, what is a speed limit and in what way does it apply to a bike?

[McJim]

Thats because the posted speed is rediculously slow lol.

Haha - your spelling is ridiculously funny...you don't spell warrant as warrent too do you?

[AllanB]

Ironic really - you've gone from the Hornet to the cruiser to, well - 'cruise' at a more legal rate of knots and then get bullied for keeping within the limit!

Life is weird!

I must admit to giving the odd old person sitting on 35-40 the hurry along