Randya has a good sign

[footsie]

I was riding Saturday and came up behind a group of guys on bikes, mostly harleys, they were running a little slower than I was but not enough for me to pass the on a 2 lane.

So I just rode along behind, and began to notice how they rode, sitting straight up, heads held up chin up, first thought was these guys ride with good posture.

So I straighten up out my normal slouchy postion, but then as we went through intersections they looked straight ahead not really looking at the cars coming up to the intersections. At one crossroads a pickup appeared that he was not going to stop, he actually had to slam on brakes and slide to a stop, not one of the 7 bikes in frount of me made any adjustment or preperations to avoid the truck. last bike on the right missed the frount bumper of the truck on a few inches, I had allready moved left and slowed to be ready if he came out. But the others rode on as if they never saw him.

This is way many bikers get hurt, they ride like they own the road, yes we had the right-of-way, but he was in a 3/4 ton four wheel drive.

 

I thought of RANDYA's signs off,

Ride as if you are invisible not invincible

words to stay alive by.

 

thanks RandyA

and mine now, You might have the right-of-way, but ride like you don't.

Gregg

[Yammer Dan]

I've been hit twice in the last 5 yrs. Once on bike once in cage. Both of the IDIOTS just were not looking and couldn't have been avoided. Countless times looking has saved me. These two the only thing that could have saved me was not being there. Both times on the way home from work. I just won't do that anymore!!

[footsie]

There are times your are just trapped, no way out. I been there too.

But most of the time, keeping up with what going on around you, will keep you safe in most situations.

In the situations you were in, nothing to do but hold ride out, and pray for the best.

 

Gregg

[Renne]

I know the feeling! After 52 yrs of "survival" riding, I know I've made it this far by the knowledge that "all cagers" are out to kill me. I anticipate every intersection is marked by one just waiting to pull a stupid. I know there will always be one ready to t-bone me even in the middle of an abandoned corn patch road. I know the tailgater is a chick on a cell doing her lipstick and a deer will no doubt be patiently waiting till I get "right there" to pop out of the ditch. I pass semi's "fast" as I know a tire is about to disintegrate. Yep, we have a "right" but it's really a "privilege" and with privilege comes responsibility. I know it sounds like a lot of paranoia but for me it's just become "natural", I take "nothing" for granted when I'm out there with the mentally inept.

 

Renne

[ablumny]

I know the feeling! After 52 yrs of "survival" riding, I know I've made it this far by the knowledge that "all cagers" are out to kill me. I anticipate every intersection is marked by one just waiting to pull a stupid. I know there will always be one ready to t-bone me even in the middle of an abandoned corn patch road. I know the tailgater is a chick on a cell doing her lipstick and a deer will no doubt be patiently waiting till I get "right there" to pop out of the ditch. I pass semi's "fast" as I know a tire is about to disintegrate. Yep, we have a "right" but it's really a "privilege" and with privilege comes responsibility. I know it sounds like a lot of paranoia but for me it's just become "natural", I take "nothing" for granted when I'm out there with the mentally inept.

 

Renne

 

Well stated. That is exactly how I ride; intersections, tailgaters, trucks; the are aiming for me for sure!

[Brake Pad]

People think riding in a pack is safer...

your just more people to take out....

[Venturous Randy]

Gregg, thank you very much and for sharing the experience, as you saw the invincible attitude first hand, right in front of you.

I really do try to pay attention and routinely ride with my finger on the horn (loud airhorns) button. I would rather be guilty of blowing at someone that acted suspicious, than missing one that would get me. I don't want to get to the point that I am so paranoid that I can not enjoy riding, but so far, that extra bit of being on guard has saved my butt more than once.

If you look at the many auto crashes, you will see people do some pretty stupid things and sometimes it kills them and innocent others. We had a local 37 year old woman that turned in front of another car (red) on a clear road in broad daylight this past week that killed her and severely injured two others. Her thinking about things other than driving ended her thinking, period. Maybe that is a good saying; "Thinking about things other than driving, can end your thinking."

For some reason I feel many motorcyclist are a little timid when it comes to using a horn. We need to be aggressive about "this is my piece of road and don't come into it".

RandyA

[jburrell]

Yep. Too many cages out there with idiots not paying attention to what their doing. As a side note recently there was a motorcycle fatality near Galveston Tx. Three riders were leaving Galveston from a local meeting and as crossing back onto the mainland the lead motorcycle broke an axle ( dont know specifics as to why). This threw the rider and passenger off as it went end over end and the sad part it that the 2 bikes behind them also crashed into them and 5 people went to hospital with one dead and 2 in critical condition. Be aware of things around you..both the cages and the other riders and look for those "outs" you may need to use to avoid a crash. Obvioulsy here they didnt leave an out to protect themselved from a crash from their leader/

[footsie]

If you see your own mother at the intersection, remember she is after you too.

It's not parinoid, it's a way to learn to ride ever vigilate, becomes second nature.

We were in the gulf a few weeks back, and my wife asked me 'why to you continually look behind and all around the boat.' I told her just keeping up with what is happening around us. Bad things can happen quickly out at sea too.

 

Lets just all stay safe as we can, always remember Randya saying.

invisible not invincible.

 

Gregg