40 replies to this topic

[Daveb]

On the way home tonight with my lights on with an amber filter fitted to stand out, Dayglow vest obscured by faring and rucksac, travelling about 20-25 mph (just turn from one main junction), coming up to a junction for some premises, one car turned right, across my path going the opposite direction - this one wasn't the problem as he booted it, another car decided to turn at the same time as the first car but going in my direction moving about 5mph, had to take avoiding action, drove around her, blowing my p**S poor TDM horn to inform her I was there, I stopped at the next junction about 50ft from the junction of her works, give gestures of am I invisible. can you see me.

She pulls along side me and mutters those immortal words: - 'sorry I didn't see you' not quite a red rag to a bull so I told her you could have killed me, Try and explain that to my kids after that' She just filled up with tears and said 'you are correct I could have killed you' so with this a let her go with a word of warning 'look for us on two wheels in the future as the next one may not be so lucky'

Basically she though it was clear as the other car went the opposite direction

Don't think she will be doing that again


I'll think I will ride with full beam on from tonight on-wards, this might help, there again....

Edited by Daveb, 13 November 2006 - 06:47 pm.

[Doc]

Glad you're OK.

I had two near ones this morning. First a Corsa with three lads swapped lanes without indicating 1 car ahead of me while I was filtering. I don't think they knew I was there 'til I passed them a second later. The lad in the back kinda jumped. Then not 400 yards later I was in the left lane thinking about my lucky escape when a large van in the right lane decided to share my space! Fortunately I saw him coming and just squeezed round him. Must have only had an inch.

Ordered a flourescent vest tonight....

Edited by Doc, 14 November 2006 - 12:38 am.

[TonyDevil]

glad your ok guys

sounds silly but if ordering a florescent jacket make sure it has vertical reflective strips as well as horizontal.
its amazing how much difference this makes
its a big difference because of your posture on the bike.

[duibhce Kaelann]

sounds silly but if ordering a florescent jacket make sure it has vertical reflective strips as well as horizontal.

[Landy]

I would always go for a sleeved HI vis, they are much better.
Also look for one with a zip velcro soon gives up the ghost on these things.

[TonyDevil]

I would always go for a sleeved HI vis, they are much better.
Also look for one with a zip velcro soon gives up the ghost on these things.

mine has a zip and velcro that covers the zip so it doesnt scratch the tank

[stu]

Lads, just a reminder - the vest only works if they are looking at you
You still need to ride defensively.


By the way, I may have a couple of sleeved vests with zips left; if anyone is interested PM me.

[Daveb]

I hope she got the message, usually if someone mentions 'SMIDSY' I go off on one, but I found talking nice to her (not shouting), had a good result. She'll be more aware of other road users.

I still belive she didn't see me, this might have something to do with her not looking before pulling out of the junction so the dayglo vest didn't work.


Have you noticed how peoples driving skills in the UK have deteriorated since the Clocks went back 1 hour.

[unclesumo]

Have you noticed how peoples driving skills in the UK have deteriorated since the Clocks went back 1 hour.

I think theyve been deteriorating for years!

[RevvinKevin]

Snot just cars and vans who are idiots. Wifey and I were out on our travels yesterday. Country lane, curves to the right with a road on the apex on our left. Suicidal scooter rider heading towards us (although we were blissfully unaware of his existence due to the blind bend) cuts the corner into the road on our left. Wifey hits the brakes, I hit the horn. Youths eyeballs hit the inside of his visor as he realises just how close he had come to being wiped out. Had it have been a car coming round the bend ( myopic and no doubt speeding) matey boy scooter tosser would have been road kill.

Anyway, mind if I pop back to play on occasion, cos I missing you guys even though I deserted and bought an XT660 and wifey has an XT125 and the XT site isn't the same and the quality of jokes and insults is better here......................please!

[ROB1]

i think i saw either on the news or a newspaper that there is a campaign to stop this clocks going back thing.Not too sure what the pros n cons are of this.

[cyco900]

Did ya know the military boffins did some tests a few years back and they found that they could hide a whole loada tanks (the big things wi, guns on Not wi, petrol in em) behind a few hi power spot lights.
Soooo. if your riding with your headlight on and there are cars (any box) behind you with its lights on. You can become INVISIBLE. I saw this in MCN a while back as well.
So DO daytime lights realy work ?

[Minty Hippo]

Did ya know the military boffins did some tests a few years back and they found that they could hide a whole loada tanks (the big things wi, guns on Not wi, petrol in em) behind a few hi power spot lights.
Soooo. if your riding with your headlight on and there are cars (any box) behind you with its lights on. You can become INVISIBLE. I saw this in MCN a while back as well.
So DO daytime lights realy work ?

They do work if drivers bother to look. I think the question is - how well will bikers fare when by law all new boxes have their headlights hardwired on in the near future? EU again, somebody can no doubt provide the detail? I'm saving up for an HID kit.

[Daveb]

If they don't look, they'll never see anyone, even with hi vis jackets, brighter lights, etc. I have fitted an amber lens cover, just to be different.

There was an article in MCN a couple of weeks ago about Aussie riders protesting naked on thier mechanical steads, the slogan was can you see us know, don't know if it worked.

[Minty Hippo]

If they don't look, they'll never see anyone, even with hi vis jackets, brighter lights, etc. I have fitted an amber lens cover, just to be different.

There was an article in MCN a couple of weeks ago about Aussie riders protesting naked on thier mechanical steads, the slogan was can you see us know, don't know if it worked.

er...that'll be this campaign, a little lower down the page, then...

http://www.carpe-tdm...?showtopic=2227

[Daveb]

er...that'll be this campaign, a little lower down the page, then...

http://www.carpe-tdm...?showtopic=2227

Correct, eeeerrrrr..... I'll thought I would make reference to it again

[tdm850rider]

Daytime lights do work, just look at the difference between the cars with lights and those without when the sun is behind them. You can't see the cars without lights. Many drivers figure 'I can see fine' and never stop to think the drivers coming the other direction are looking into the sun. Anything that makes you even 1% more noticible is worthwhile.

[laughin in a windstorm]

just a bit naughty this, well maybe a lot naughty really but,, when I'm having a frustrating ride to work with endless amounts of people getting in my way and I can take no more and I'm about to explode in a fit of rage, I lose all care and say to myself ''move your fucking arses coz I'm coming through and I don't care if I hit you anymore'', then I have a burst of wheelie mode and for some reason everyone can see me coming and everyone on or in vehicles or on foot just gets out of the way, this is strange, why can I now be seen, is it because they feel I'm a danger to them or is it because the exhaust note is thundering off the road.
I don't think my riding like this is clever, I don't think I'm clever for doing it and I know it is stupid, but sometimes I lose self control and anger and the 'rush' takes over.
please accept my apologies for letting the side down and riding like a moron but sometimes I just don't give a shit.