Little things I've learned from riding a while...

[EvilSteve]

I've had two occasions in the recent past where I've had to resist the urge to follow someone home. Once a woman was attempting to pass me on the shoulder on a two lane road while I was doing 5 over the speed limit and the other was when I was doing the speed limit in a very touristy town and a guy started to overtake me in a 30 zone on a double yellow while I was doing 30. It took a lot of effort not to follow these people but nothing like that ever turns out well. Recently I had a guy come around a corner part way in my lane and swerve at me, I was already expecting to have no room so it was fine but as you said, these irrational & dangerous people are the *last* ones I want to be anywhere near.

[bigiain]

Originally Posted by EvilSteve

I've had two occasions in the recent past where I've had to resist the urge to follow someone home. Once a woman was attempting to pass me on the shoulder on a two lane road while I was doing 5 over the speed limit and the other was when I was doing the speed limit in a very touristy town and a guy started to overtake me in a 30 zone on a double yellow while I was doing 30. It took a lot of effort not to follow these people but nothing like that ever turns out well.

I always remind myself that it's not _my_ job to teach these people to drive. No-one's paying me to correct their mistakes. If they want to go through life driving in a fashion that makes everyone else think they're a jerk, that's their choice...

(I always try to remember to word it that way if I happen to pull up next to them at lights too "Hey Mate! That lane change you pulled back there without indication or looking? People will think you're a fuckwit if you drive like that all the time!")

big ('course, _sometimes_ they just get "the bird" as I accelerate away...)

[EvilSteve]

My concern isn't that their driving sucks but they put my life in danger. I don't care how anyone drives until the put me at risk. Doing so by accident is a forgivable offense IMO, doing so deliberately makes me want to kick the living shit out of someone. I'm always trying to point out the distinction to people when the subject of mirror smashing comes up. The number of people that don't understand or choose not to take the difference into account really surprises & concerns me.

As far as saying something to someone, I wouldn't want to do that but your way of putting is pretty funny. Probably works for you too.

[akihabro]

Originally Posted by AndyK

Just pretend everyone else is trying to kill you.

lol that's the best! i tend to hang a little to the left while in the fast/carpool/lane next to the curb. i'm so use to my car driving skills that i've come to like accelerating past them if u don't like how they drive and when the car in front stops too quick using lane splitting as a last ditch effort

[erik822]

Watch out for cars with temporary tags. Even if the driver is normally an attentive driver, they still won't know their new car's blind spots, how the radio works and where all the controls are. Same goes for people driving rental cars.

[mmoore]

Originally Posted by erik822

Watch out for cars with temporary tags. Even if the driver is normally an attentive driver, they still won't know their new car's blind spots, how the radio works and where all the controls are. Same goes for people driving rental cars.

Excellent one! I hadn't considered that when thinking about risks.

[Obsessed?]

As my friend Bob the EMT pointed out to me, the vehicle with the most lugnuts ALWAYS wins, and pinch bolts area poor substitute. Even in Bike vs Ford Festiva, the Ford comes away as the winner.

Riding gear, like divorce, is expensive because its worth it.

My chrome-finish helmet may look kinda funny, but it makes me very visible. Same with my Icon Millspec vest at night. I'd rather have them see me think me funny looking than not see me at all.

The sound from my horn travels at roughly 770 mph. The light from my headlight travels about 240 times as fast. Between the two I have a pretty good chance of getting their attention if I need to.

The hottie on the sidewalk is going to laugh really hard if I run into something in front of me while I'm watching her.

Try like hell not to wind up shiny side down.

As previously stated, tell your family you love them. Often.

Lastly, because bad things do happen, sign the back of your license.

~Gibby

[belmont2001]

Originally Posted by Mostrobelle

I've been riding a tiny, little while, but here's a few...

1. Always give yourself an "out." If I'm riding at 80 mph I'm looking for the safest spot to go in case someone does something stupid. If I'm coming to a stop, I always leave room and have a good line on an escape in case the cage behind me doesn't decide to stop. (I always stop a little ways behind the crosswalk at a light if I'm the first one there, just so I don't have to ride into the intersection to move out of the way of a car who doesn't stop.)

2. I generally try to keep my bike in gear at a stop, unless I'm sure the car behind me is at a complete stop and the light is known to be very long. This generally applies to #1 and holds true for bad neighborhoods too--get ready to move when someone is walking towards you!

3. Make eye contact with other drivers/riders whenever possible.

4. Be courteous--try to be anyway. A friendly wave or a nod of the head often defuses potentially hostile situations and helps promote the good image of our sport.

5. Be especially careful when riding around other bikers. I often encounter other motorcyclists who don't check their mirrors, their speed, are rude, preoccupied, posing, flirting, listening to music, are ill-equipped/dressed, or experiencing mechanical problems. If you don't know the motorcyclist, give him/her plenty of space to do the unexpected.

Talk about promoting the good image of our sport, there have been two incidents recently here in St Louis where a pack of 30 or more riders on sport bikes have vandalized moving cars on the highways. One car had its rear window smashed out with a rock, and there were back set passengers at the time. There are plenty of violent crimes committed in the St Louis area every day, but these boobs are making bikers look like criminals

[madmax178]

To ride faster you must first rider slower

[Triangleforge]

To build on a couple of things that have been mentioned above:

1) At intersections where you've got the right of way, be aware of what the WHEELS are doing on cars that appear to be stopped. Since you're moving & your perspective is constantly changing, cars that look stopped may actually be creeping out into the intersection. The wheels don't lie. Unless they're those spinner hubcaps, and then they're just sad.

2) When riding in cow or sheep country, be extra aware of places where ranchers may have been driving stock across or along public roads. That sh*t's mighty slick and isn't always clearly visible until you're in it! First time I was aware of the issue was my first road (bicycle) race in Idaho, when the race referee's pre-race talk included that warning. That, and I learned that there's ALWAYS a breakaway attempt after the field crosses a cattleguard, but that's for another forum...