Posted: 21-June-2010 at 11:56 | IP Logged

Maybe it's just me but sometimes I get a bit annoyed at other bikers who are in such a rush to get past that they sit what feels like 2 inches off your tail.

I get it that I'm going slow and they want to go fast but why make it feel like I should move over at all costs. Sometimes all I can see in my mirrors is another bike. It doesn't really matter when there's plenty of room but when there's not, and you have to slow down and really move over for them, it annoys me!! Especially as they seem to then go on to make several more crazy overtakes.

The worse bit is someone with a really loud exhaust when they fly past you, scares the sh!t out of me!

*Moan over*

Posted: 22-June-2010 at 01:53 | IP Logged

I still have the "L" plates on my bike, so obviouly feel "new" anyway.  I feel great around cars (apart from what I've moaned about on here in gnereal lately!), I suppose I mean I feel more confident.

When I see a biker without L plates, I wonder if they'll cut me any slack, perhaps understand my predicament when filtering or getting out of a bus/motorcycle lane to an outer lane.  Apart from one other learner driver, no-one has given me any special "help" or treatment.

Having said that, I do feel that we are more vulnerable on a bike, and that they must feel the same - it seems to me that it's every person for themselves.  So maybe they're not being impolite, but just riding the way that they've been taught?

If I see a biker coming up behind me, I tend to do what Psychosian says and get out of the way!  Or rather, I do my best not to slow them up anyway.

But the other day, I was driving my car to a queued-up 3 lane roundabout, and a biker (not on L plates) filtered to the roundabout between the 2nd and 3rd lane, then suddenly cut across the 2 cars to his left and took the first exit at the roundabout.  They had to slam the brakes on.  How the hell did he pass his test and how has he stayed alive?

Keep your wits about you mates, be it on yer bikes, cars, bicycles, scooters, tractors, skateboards, rollerskates, supermarket trolleys, wheelbarrows.....etc (I'll shut up now!)  Makes you wonder though, doesn't it?!

Spirit x

Posted: 22-June-2010 at 09:00 | IP Logged

GadgetGran wrote: I wonder if that's one of the dangers of 'ride-outs' - that you are no longer riding/thinking for yourself, just the red mist of trying to keep up with everyone else

I've tried keeping up with different riders and it just doesn't work which is why I don't bother. If they want to arrive somewhere 3 minutes before me, so be it!

Sometimes me, the hubby and our nephew go out (only passed his test a few weeks ago, got a fzr400) and he's said to me I if overtake, he knows chances are it will be safe for him to do so too. I think he meant it as a compliment.............

I still get some stick off them for not overtaking, going to slow, blah blah blah but I quite like being alive and intend to stay that way for a while........