Cholmondeley run (Sat 2 May)

[Silage]

Just a note to the geniuses who decided to block traffic today;

You have no right whatsoever blocking traffic on public roads to try and aid the flow of motorcyclists on the ride. I was waiting in line behind one motorcyclist at the Centaurus road intersection, and it is disgraceful that when a car tryed to pass them to continue on its way that they gave it a whack on the side panel. If they thought that anything that motorist said or did was inappropriate, then they need to harden the fuck up and respect the road rules, because they had every right to get out and berate you for holding up traffic and then having the audacity to lay hands on their vehicle.
That sort of bullshit can only harm the image of motorcycling in general in the public eye. If you want a clear, flowing run then for fuck's sake ask for police aid.

I hope the kids got something out of today.

Hmmm. I just thought it quite funny at the hairy audaceousness of bikers stopping traffic. But then I was being advantaged. I would have thought the fluoro vests that most of the human barriers wore would have carried sufficient authority

And yes the kids did get a great buzz out of this

[SDU]

This was my first Chomley run and my first outing with company. After a good many years out of the saddle, I'm still getting aquainted with the bike and riding in general so I apologise to those who were witness to , sloppy gear selection......

You're riding a Guzzi you'll never get over the sloppy gear selection---most off them toy with you unless you kick them positively into place it's called character

[gman49]

Hi Guys, thanks for the support on the ride.
Re- The photos, the link has been removed, having not viewed the photo's first, I didn't realise or even think that there would be photo's of the kids. The Ulyses site will be either editing or taking the pics off.

Thanks

[gman49]

Just a note to the geniuses who decided to block traffic today;

You have no right whatsoever blocking traffic on public roads to try and aid the flow of motorcyclists on the ride. I was waiting in line behind one motorcyclist at the Centaurus road intersection, and it is disgraceful that when a car tryed to pass them to continue on its way that they gave it a whack on the side panel. If they thought that anything that motorist said or did was inappropriate, then they need to harden the fuck up and respect the road rules, because they had every right to get out and berate you for holding up traffic and then having the audacity to lay hands on their vehicle.
That sort of bullshit can only harm the image of motorcycling in general in the public eye. If you want a clear, flowing run then for fuck's sake ask for police aid.

I hope the kids got something out of today.

Interesting, so you saw the assault on the person doing the blockade, and by the way I (me) think the police have more important things to do. In 21 years I believe there has never been an incident, correct me if I am wrong.

[MyGSXF:Me]

Awesome lookin day my darlings!!! & fantastic pics..

My first Chomley Run was 16 years ago.. I still love seeing the grins on the kids faces!!!!!

[McWild]

Interesting, so you saw the assault on the person doing the blockade, and by the way I (me) think the police have more important things to do. In 21 years I believe there has never been an incident, correct me if I am wrong.

Assault? The asshole doing said blockade hit another person's vehicle on a public road for their own personal reasons. They had no right to block the road - they were using it for their own agenda. As much as I appreciate how long this run has been going, if a vehicle has right of way and motorcyclists are stupid enough to put themselves in front of said SUV then they need their bloody head checked.
Don't think that it being for a good cause removes you from responsibilities as road users. If you're too busy fucking about to request police or other official assistance, then guess what, you're bound by the same laws as every other road user.
I'm sure everybody on that ride could have made their way to the re group points without blocking the road. Not hard.

[Guzza]

You're riding a Guzzi you'll never get over the sloppy gear selection---most off them toy with you unless you kick them positively into place it's called character

Oh yeah, My guzzi has 11 gears, 5 of them neutral

[JMemonic]

If you're too busy fucking about to request police or other official assistance, then guess what, you're bound by the same laws as every other road user.

A wee bit of calm is needed here, ok you make a point and getting the police to control an intersection is useful but in this day and age I doubt you could get police to block intersections, but they perhaps could be approached if they we not.

As to someone hitting a persons car I didn't see the event but consider a little patience from the driver would have cost perhaps 3-5 minutes max but to use your car to run at another person is a form of assault even if you don't actually hit there is the charge of using a vehicle in a threatening manner, as its a community/charity event a little media might be possible but that is for PMC to consider, perhaps someone could suggest this to them in a calm manner.

[MyGSXF:Me]

The asshole.. are stupid enough.. they need their bloody head checked.. If you're too busy fucking about..

Gee.. you really have a great way to put forth your constructive criticism..

I'm sure everybody on that ride could have made their way to the re group points without blocking the road. Not hard.

The whole idea of charity rides is to have a "mass group" & to make it high impact.. dribs & drabs of bikes do not have that effect. Each intersection holdup would have taken all of approx 3-4 minutes.. if that!!! & the people stopping the traffic were all wearing fluro "official" (as you say) looking vests.. were they not.....

I organized a charity ride in Nelson on Sat.. we had 200 bikes.. & guess what.. we stopped the traffic!!! loooots of traffic

[MyGSXF:Me]

then they need to harden the fuck up and respect the road rules. That sort of bullshit can only harm the image of motorcycling in general in the public eye.

Just looking at the visitor messages on your public profile.. guess what I saw...& in your own words too.. by crikey...

"Me and this other guy were doing like 100 in the tunnel haha"


yep.. sure respecting the road rules & portraying a good image to the public there.. ain't ya fella...

[gman49]

Assault? The asshole doing said blockade hit another person's vehicle on a public road for their own personal reasons. They had no right to block the road - they were using it for their own agenda. As much as I appreciate how long this run has been going, if a vehicle has right of way and motorcyclists are stupid enough to put themselves in front of said SUV then they need their bloody head checked.
Don't think that it being for a good cause removes you from responsibilities as road users. If you're too busy fucking about to request police or other official assistance, then guess what, you're bound by the same laws as every other road user.
I'm sure everybody on that ride could have made their way to the re group points without blocking the road. Not hard.

The motorcyclists blocking the road, by law were not, they were intending to make a left hand turn and as such had to (BY LAW) give way to the oncoming right turning traffic. The said SUV (Silver 4x4) had to illegally pass on double yellow lines to get around the vehicles doing the legal give way for the left turn. When the SUV drove out around the waiting traffic (illegally) he drove at the motorcyclist.

Just how long and where were you observing from. I have listened to several points of view tonight. The SUV 4x4 driver is rather fortunate that there was no law around.

Abusive indescriminate use of language is a far too emotional state to portray your obviously inadequote point of view.

[gman49]

Assault? The asshole doing said blockade hit another person's vehicle on a public road for their own personal reasons.

I would just like to know, did you see the driver get out of his vehicle which was more than a meter over the center double yellow lines, stride up to one of the bikers and strike him with his fist?

[gman49]

A wee bit of calm is needed here, ok you make a point and getting the police to control an intersection is useful but in this day and age I doubt you could get police to block intersections, but they perhaps could be approached if they we not.

As to someone hitting a persons car I didn't see the event but consider a little patience from the driver would have cost perhaps 3-5 minutes max but to use your car to run at another person is a form of assault even if you don't actually hit there is the charge of using a vehicle in a threatening manner, as its a community/charity event a little media might be possible but that is for PMC to consider, perhaps someone could suggest this to them in a calm manner.

The police know about the ride and past rides have been sanctioned, the use of police escort or redirection of traffic is not in their interest because as you say it is only for a few minutes. We have found that all motorist that have been blocked for a few minutes have returned a friendly wave of understanding, most are in awe of the large contineous stream of motorbikes.

We unfortunatly had some incidents of motorcyclist riding on the wrong side of the road in the tunnel and passing other vehicles, this will be addressed at next years pre ride meeting with all attendees.
Cheers

[JMemonic]

The police know about the ride and past rides have been sanctioned, the use of police escort or redirection of traffic is not in their interest because as you say it is only for a few minutes. We have found that all motorist that have been blocked for a few minutes have returned a friendly wave of understanding, most are in awe of the large contineous stream of motorbikes.

We unfortunatly had some incidents of motorcyclist riding on the wrong side of the road in the tunnel and passing other vehicles, this will be addressed at next years pre ride meeting with all attendees.
Cheers

Thanks for the info.

I was wondering, do you guys contact media ie radio stations etc for their community notices, I know its a motorcycle run but doing this could potentially increase public awareness, and potentially improve the tolerance of some.

As to the passing in the tunnel I have posted this before but will reiterate there are cameras lining the tunnel as you head to Lyttelton look above the lights on your right (the eastern side) about every 4 lights there is a camera, there is also a couple of radars in operation and people have been ticketed on the basis of this video evidence.

[McWild]

The SUV did not "drive at" the motorcyclists. He crept forward. He clearly had no intention of making contact with them.
The rider blocking traffic was not wearing any vest. He had the responsibility not to block traffic coming through, which he was doing.
The driver didn't "strike him with his fist", he gave him a push. But I suppose that's totally unreasonable, because since motorcyclists are a law unto their own we can expect to abuse other people's property and not expect any comebacks right?
And with the "making an impact" statement... that's ridiculous. I didn't see any "Cholmondeley children's home" signs being waved about. Any impact you could have made would have been a) when you turned up at the home, which could have been acheived by your re group points or b) egotistical "I think I'm so cool" impact.

And with the going onto my profile to find dirt on me. First of all, wow. Second, if I break the law I expect to get caught and take responsibility, and I do not see how I was endangering or affecting any other road users.

My main beef here is with the idiot who hit the suv. I was sitting behind him at the intersection from when the first bike went past to the last. Yes while that driver's patience would have been appreciated, so would the patience of that rider on one of the more trivial parts of the trip.
If other road users are happy to wait in line then good for them, but let them have a choice in the matter, and accept that not everybody will be sympathetic to your aims.