Spotted this morning

[Steve H]

Pootling along the 50mph stretch of the M4 in heavy traffic, a fireblade shot past me and then proceeded to overtake the cars which were in the outside line, this was done by passing them between the barrier and the car and the outside lane, which has loads of lovely gravel and rubbish kicked up by cars/trucks.
Just struck me as pointless, but maybe I'm getting old.

[andy230]

.....getting.....

   

Oh contraire Mr H!!   

(waits for flak)

a

[Steve H]

Ok then old(er)

[guest18]

Funnilly enough on the way home tonight I was pootling along filtering in the appalling (Highland show) traffic in the cue for the Forth Bridge when a large BMW saloon pointedly moved over to block my progress, I gave him a minute or so to see how determined he was then nipped across behind him and passed him on the right through the yawning gap of (clean!) tarmac he'd left me...

As I passed him the youngish bloke behind the wheel shouted something (several things I suspect), so I slowed and allowed him to draw level to see what he had to say...
Apparently, it's people like me who cause accidents and I should wait in the queue like everyone else  (no doubt adding to the cue but I'm sure that fact has passed him by  )because there are two lanes not three (with expletives naturally).
Actually there are three marked lanes on that part of the road, four if you count the slip road but I thought that particular observation might go over his head so I suggested instead that perhaps it was people like him who caused accidents by purposely obstructng people... as he seemed in danger of getting over-excited at this I decided to move on (and save his poor girlfriend/wife further embarrasment, she looked as though she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her).
Squirting ahead and slightly to the left of lane ready to start filtering again he gunned his car and used all the road including the manky bit off to the right of the carriageway to draw alongside me and wave goodbye, although quite why he should wave cheerio by emulating shaking an aerosol can we're left to guess... 
Naturally out of politeness I replied in kind before scooting off out of the way.

Why do I always seem to attract the berserkers  My riding really isn't *that* objectionable! Honest!

I had another one yesterday, I was bopping up the back road towards home doing just over 40mph (on a road relatively recently re-restricted from 60mph down to 40mph) when on coming round a corner I saw a bloke coming down the hill almost climbing out of his seat gesticulating at me to slow down  my first thought was maybe he's warning of a speed trap but there were no Police anywhere on the road after that, just another one of the self appointed traffic berserkers like the ones who flash their headlamps frantically when you overtake and they are oncoming (and miles away usually  )

I know we have our share of nutters on bikes, but ffs I'm riding a very quiet, very sensible bike in IAM style and I'm getting this nonsense??
I'm tempted to go back to riding like an a**e and bo**ox to the lot of them! 
(I won't mind you, it's much more fun winding them up whilst being "mr reasonable"  even more fun when you can see that there significant other is going to give them a well deserved ear bashing the second you're gone  )

[Andy M]

I'm with you Steve, old mans attitude or not, trainee organ donors like that put by insurance premiums up. I assume by passing Steve means overtaking moving traffic not filtering.

I've seen some daft things and done a few myself, and maybe it's advancing years rotting the grey matter, but most of the ones I recall (BMW vs 2xRoutemaster = 6 foot sparks etc.) from wayback weren't the result of deliberate stupidity. I would say it's todays youth, but I'd bet the Fireplace rider was older than me, so it has to be in the current bike culture? Most days I see bikes "filtering" through 70 mph traffic, which to me is plain daft.

Andy
(aged 35 1/12 th)

[guest18]

Oh you're right about the firebore rider, I was just taking the opportunity to shimf while it presented itself 

I have to say I will still filter enthusiastically when required but I draw the line above about 40 45 these days...

Smudge
(just cresting the hill..... )

[robG]

Filter , fine . Do what this C*& K was doing and I have no sympathy at all . When I was despatching all those years ago ,one numpty did this to me on the approach to Heston . Unfortunately I caught up with him at a set of lights in Hammersmith . A short sharp conversation then took place.

Rob .

[guest18]

Agreed! 

Filter , fine . Do what this C*& K was doing and I have no sympathy at all . When I was despatching all those years ago ,one numpty did this to me on the approach to Heston . Unfortunately I caught up with him at a set of lights in Hammersmith . A short sharp conversation then took place.

Rob .

[squirrelciv]

Grabbed a link to a thread I started in the rants forum some months back. Basically there's nothing wrong in my book with filtering, I do it every day. That is our gift, drivers get dry boxes to sit in and radios to amuse themselves through the long hours of traffic jams, we get.....outa here!

But there are some idiots who put themselves and our reputations in jeopardy. The link tells the tale of one such numpty. Enjoy

http://www.thumperclub.com/smf/index.php?topic=3141.0

[SteveC#222]

Spotted a guy driving a builders van through our village steering with his knees......he had to do this as he was using both hands to pull his T shirt over his head at time!... ....what chance have we got!!....

Having said that I see that silly season has started..the local harleybirds are now in their summer plumage of shades, tshirt, shorts and sandals! 

[guest29]

Just finished a 4 day Midas minibus driver  assessors course in work, the experienced instructor( Cars bikes  HGV and minibses) )set up crash scenario involving a bike , car ,minibus and HGV then asked us to appropotion blame  and score them 1 to 5  5 being the most , I scored it in this order 3 4 2 1  He went on to say all drivers of the vehicles involved should be marked as a 5 because they had all had done something they shouldn't have or not done something they should have
Instructor then told us there was nothing wrong with filtering when done correctly and that was the best part of owning a motorcycle!!

[guest40]

re "filtering", I didn't think it was safe to do this at any speed on a bike, like, I mean, if you really want a cup of caff, why not just use instant as it doesn't take your mind off the roads for near as much time.

[Andy M]

re "filtering", I didn't think it was safe to do this at any speed on a bike, like, I mean, if you really want a cup of caff, why not just use instant as it doesn't take your mind off the roads for near as much time.

At least with instant, using water drained out the radiator and the odd fly in there might improve the taste!

Andy

[Steffan]

Sorry to hear your tale Smudge, but I have to say that after a week on the IOM and this weekend in North Wales, I begin to see where these poor bastards are coming from. Notwithstanding that their behaviour is totally unacceptable. We are overrun by *******s and *******wits with no sense of "brotherhood" however you want to define that; they see nothing but the road ahead of them and they assume that it's sole reason for being is their small minded entertainment. Frankly my experience of bikers (so called) almost tempts me to give it away altogether. Frankly I seen unhandleable ferrets with better temperements. But what really burns is that when people look at me riding down the road they see these prats and respond accordingly. If they were hounds you wouldn't feed them.

Steffan

[guest18]

Sorry to hear your tale Smudge, but I have to say that after a week on the IOM and this weekend in North Wales, I begin to see where these poor bastards are coming from. Notwithstanding that their behaviour is totally unacceptable. We are overrun by *******s and *******wits with no sense of "brotherhood" however you want to define that; they see nothing but the road ahead of them and they assume that it's sole reason for being is their small minded entertainment. Frankly my experience of bikers (so called) almost tempts me to give it away altogether. Frankly I seen unhandleable ferrets with better temperements. But what really burns is that when people look at me riding down the road they see these prats and respond accordingly. If they were hounds you wouldn't feed them.

Steffan

Steffan, mate, relax... thesis is written, the sun is shining, I'll get you a beer Saturday, 

Nah, I know what you mean, but if you give up the f***wits win. I stopped for a pair of bikes at the side of the motorway today (one late eighties 750 sports, one big v twin trailie) and discovered that one of them had already stopped to help the original broken down bloke, a thanks a wave and I was away again but at least it showed some of us still play fair, and I'm getting waves or nods from 90+% of the bikes I pass or who pass me so all is not lost.
It's always the berserkers who get noticed and the dozens of normal people float by without ever being seen, way of the world. So screw them over quietly and politely and stick with looking out for the good guys 
Smudge