Be careful out there

[xbruby]

Don't ask me how I know this as I wont tell you.

A fleet of unmarked police bikes with on board cameras left police HQ in Derbyshire this morning.

If you are riding in Derbyshire this summer you have more to worry about than the infamous 'plumbers van'.

Take care and enjoy the riding but watch your mirrors carefully.

Toodle Pip!

[guest18]

Shouldn't be a problem to any of us as I've noticed we all ride sensibly and at a steady pace well below the posted limits... you didn't happen to notice what sort of bikes they are did you?  (looks for smiley of walking away whistling noncholantly...)

[beeman]

No problem if your riding safely and making progress.
They are usually more interested in preventing incidents than doing you for speeding. A good talking to and being shown your bad riding on their on board camera often helps people see sense. Hopefully reducing any accidents in the future.

[trophydave]

We are taliking about Derbyshire here.50mph limits and speed cameras everywhere.

[beeman]

Plenty of roads off the beaten track all you need is an os map, must admit I do avoid the cat and fiddle etc. Coming from Lincolnshire I tend to go out that way, although their police can be very active at times.

[squirrelciv]

The tone of this thread reminds me of a conversation/row I had with a woman in work. She was berating me for wearing army boots and jeans when riding instead of 'proper' boots and leathers. Aparently I wasn't fully aware of how dangerous biking could be. In her long and distinguished career as a pillion, in the past 3 years she had had many close shaves. As I was told, "you overtake someone at 120mph and have them pull out and then tell me you don't need proper protection"  FOR FECK'S SAKE!!!! YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GET!!

Best of luck to those coppers I say, I've little to fear. Most coppers I know (and I work with them) actually care about the public. However it is very easy to be harassed by the law when you keep breaking it.

[beeman]

I agree most of the police I meet are ok just trying to keep the idiots in check.
In my line of work I sometimes have to deal with the results of "mistakes" by motorcyclists so maybe I'm a bit biased.

I consider myself an average biker I have done advanced car and motorcycle training, I cover 10-12k on bikes through out the year. I like to make progresss but know when to let other clowns go past and into the distance. I am not an expert I learn all the time and try to improve my riding.

IF I GET PULLED OUT BY A CAR WHILST OVERTAKING AT 120mph" I wouldn't be moaning about it, cos' being a WA*KER is not my idea of being clever.
Sh*t this is fast becoming a rant, I think I will go sort the bees out

beeman

[johnr]

tbh, anyone riding at speed near the cat and fiddle deserves everything they get. its not like it hasnt got a reputation for being heavily policed.

[Steffan]

The question that isn't being asked is why is it so heavily policed in the first place? 

[trophydave]

Too many loons throwing themselves into dry stone walls.Plus the all important revenue.

[Andy M]

The question that isn't being asked is why is it so heavily policed in the first place? 

It's a fairly major commercial and tourist route. If the knee down shiney leather brigade were playing on the M-1 and killing themselves like they did on the C&F they'd police that heavily too.

What I don't get is why people continue to do it. The C&F, Helmsley, Devils Bridge etc. are so full of bikes at any decent time of day you are more likely to get a ticket for loitering. If you want to ride fast why not just pick another section of fast A-road at 3.00 on a Saturday afternoon during the football season? If the C&F ride is so great for the group thing, surely it's not rocket science to work out you obey the speed limit where you know they'll be out to get you?

Andy

[xbruby]

Shouldn't be a problem to any of us as I've noticed we all ride sensibly and at a steady pace well below the posted limits... you didn't happen to notice what sort of bikes they are did you?  (looks for smiley of walking away whistling noncholantly...)

All sorts, sports bikes, Adventure bikes, tourers etc. In other words most genres covered and in standard colours too.

Intersetingly whilst riding on Sunday morning my brother and I came across the archetypal idiot who threw his bike (and himself) into a ravine on the Via Gellia road due to taking a bend far too fast (but probably within the speed limit, it's national at the point of the accident), panicked and hit the brakes. Result, rider and bike leave road and take trip into ravine. Conclusion, two police cars plus officers, 1 ambulance with specialist spinal stretcher on board plus fire engine with lifting tackle and gear to get said rider and bike out of ravine. My brother and I were not surprised as we see this all too frequently and both agreed why the police in Derbyshire get so fed up with the antics of some riders. More ammunition for the politicians to aim squarely at all of us I's afraid.

Strangely 5 minutes further down the road we noted the A6 was shut and again assumed it was another motorcycle accident. Truth is stranger than fiction - some poor motorcyclist was riding through the heavily wooded area about three miles from Cromford when a branch fell off a tree and killed him. Unbelievable and tragic indeed.

As has been pointed out elsewhere in this thread the best way to avoid the aggravation is too ride carefully and sensibly, you can still enjoy the ride. That being said it doesn't hurt to be aware of covert measures in place.

Derbyshire and Staffordshire have many beautiful and rewarding riding roads well away from hose frequented by the lunatic fringe. These are mu preferred routes and easily sought out with the aid of a good map.

Incidentally, anybody who enjoys or is interested in industrial engines might want to take a visit to the Anson Engine Museum http://www.enginemuseum.org/ just north of Buxton. A great place to visit.

Regards,

Andy

[Mark]

[/quote]
Strangely 5 minutes further down the road we noted the A6 was shut and again assumed it was another motorcycle accident. Truth is stranger than fiction - some poor motorcyclist was riding through the heavily wooded area about three miles from Cromford when a branch fell off a tree and killed him. Unbelievable and tragic indeed.
[/quote]

Apparently I had a close miss with a branch falling from a tree a few weeks back. I didn't see it but my wife was following on her bike and had to avoid it, she said it just missed me but I was oblivious to it all. So another danger to look out for.