Hi,
This threads been a little quiet for 6 months, I'll see what I can stir with much interest on you opinions.
I rode from Tarragona to Valencia yesterday on my GS8 and given the 2.5 hours riding time on a pretty empty A7 toll motorway heading home to family after 2 months away gave plenty time to think about my own bike safety and to reflect back on my relative short time riding experience of 6 years.
Dare I name lanes as slow 1, middle 2 and fast 3? I spend a lot of time in Europe, it will be easier for me than lefts and rights.
So:
1. Accelerating away from danger? Do you ever? When? Does it sometime include approaching the legal limit?
My bikes got a tooth less up front so geared down from most but it happily still sits at the legal 120kph comfortably for hours. I know its good for at least 180kph (only from sums of course). When do I do it?
Scenario 1: Following proven or doubtful numpty in lane 1 or 2 and I see 2 or more unknown numpties on a slip road just about to enter my current safe zone. See it early and skip pass (at pace) all numpties in lane 3 given situation behind all good. Otherwise I'll tuck in allowing ample space ahead to deal with the combined numpties.
Scenario 2: As demonstrated on my ride to Valencia. Lorry ahead i'm gaining on is swerving literally between hard shoulder and lane 2. Vehicle in lane 2 overtaking all. Falling asleep? Watching youtube? Drunk?
Retreat to safe distance, assess, hazards on, flash full beam to raise attention of lorry, 3 mins later no change. No other traffic.
I can't follow this hazard inevitably. So next time I think safe to do so with no vehicles behind, full beam and gun it past. Quick glance into cab proves it was the mobile phone distraction case but not ruling out the also drunk possibility.
2. Indicating when coming back in from lanes 2 and 3? Do you naturally do it regardless? Special occasions?
When I sat my IAM car driving test at age 18 on the Isle of Wight and admittedly we only have one short stretch of dual carridgeway I was taught indicating to come back in after overtake is generally not required as what would other road users expect, especially when most overtaking on the IOW is done on country roads only when safe to do so. Does the overtaken vehicle really need to know my intentions of not intending to carry on on the wrong side of the road?? Appreciate motorways can be different.
The only time I really indicate back in is when I have a tailgater that I can't get away from and I want to make it clear I'm doing the best I can to let him through and in someway resist him the temptation to undertake before I can get into a safe position ahead and behind me in lane 1 or 2.
I followed a fleet of Spanish GS12's on the motorway a couple of weeks ago at night and having them all indicate back in was to me nothing more than unnecessary loss of night vision and distraction. Maybe it's a fleet riding thing, I normally ride alone.
Maybe the rather large reach for the indicators on the GS8 has just made me somewhat lazy. I do indicate back in when there is any chance that the signal will be seen and it is of some use.
3. Undertaking on 3 lane motorways
Come on you must have? I'll put my hand up.
Again I spend a lot of time in Spain where this seems to be a little more accepted on occasion and especially on certain roads.
When? Numpty in lane 2 or 3 no other traffic around for miles. I think GPS and lane assist function may have a role here. It's great being in the correct lane but 5 miles early?
How do you deal with this? Are you a flasher? Beeper? Tailgater? Pull of at next opportunity and go for coffee? Hold back and wait hoping numpty just might look in the mirror in the next 15 minutes?
I give everyone the chance, I hold back, assess their road position and what they might be thinking or experiencing. But after about 3 minutes of no action with my indicator on signalling my intention and following at safe distance I'm done. If they are lane 3, mirror and shoulder checks complete and all is clear I heading for lane 1 to pass at speed but still ready for them to make a last minute decision to regain the position they should've been. I'm safe and getting away from them but I know I've broken the law by doing this.
4. Being cut up.
They love this in Spain. Miles of motorway nothing ahead or behind until someone overtakes you and decides to cut in 30 feet ahead when they've passed. Priceless. By default in a car I try never to come back in as minimum until I have clear view of them in my rear mirror and they are continuing to get smaller, if there's nothing behind me (tailgater) I'll go for miles before I regain ahead of them. Why pull in so early? Especially in the rain! There is no reason, as I don't think there is anything you can do as the overtaken other than immediately increase distance ahead of you and look for all the escape routes when they have to brake or take avoiding action themselves.
Hope you may sympathise a little with the above novice observations or have your own experienced comments to add. I'd like to hear any more of your own pet hates that may cause you to cross the line of the law.
If you haven't been there Valencians at traffic lights seem to depart about 5 seconds before the light goes green! It's unlike any other Spanish city I've ridden in. Therefore I suggest don't be at the front of queue especially lanes 2 and 3. Lane 1 but still geared and ready to go for the nearest escape if required is my advice.
Regards
Fez
Numpty
Scottish usage:
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others.
b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment
c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person
a) "No. That wisnae wit she meant, ya big numpty!"
b) i.e. "Silly billy", "You big dafty"
c) "That numpty's driving with no lights on!"
This threads been a little quiet for 6 months, I'll see what I can stir with much interest on you opinions.
I rode from Tarragona to Valencia yesterday on my GS8 and given the 2.5 hours riding time on a pretty empty A7 toll motorway heading home to family after 2 months away gave plenty time to think about my own bike safety and to reflect back on my relative short time riding experience of 6 years.
Dare I name lanes as slow 1, middle 2 and fast 3? I spend a lot of time in Europe, it will be easier for me than lefts and rights.
So:
1. Accelerating away from danger? Do you ever? When? Does it sometime include approaching the legal limit?
My bikes got a tooth less up front so geared down from most but it happily still sits at the legal 120kph comfortably for hours. I know its good for at least 180kph (only from sums of course). When do I do it?
Scenario 1: Following proven or doubtful numpty in lane 1 or 2 and I see 2 or more unknown numpties on a slip road just about to enter my current safe zone. See it early and skip pass (at pace) all numpties in lane 3 given situation behind all good. Otherwise I'll tuck in allowing ample space ahead to deal with the combined numpties.
Scenario 2: As demonstrated on my ride to Valencia. Lorry ahead i'm gaining on is swerving literally between hard shoulder and lane 2. Vehicle in lane 2 overtaking all. Falling asleep? Watching youtube? Drunk?
Retreat to safe distance, assess, hazards on, flash full beam to raise attention of lorry, 3 mins later no change. No other traffic.
I can't follow this hazard inevitably. So next time I think safe to do so with no vehicles behind, full beam and gun it past. Quick glance into cab proves it was the mobile phone distraction case but not ruling out the also drunk possibility.
2. Indicating when coming back in from lanes 2 and 3? Do you naturally do it regardless? Special occasions?
When I sat my IAM car driving test at age 18 on the Isle of Wight and admittedly we only have one short stretch of dual carridgeway I was taught indicating to come back in after overtake is generally not required as what would other road users expect, especially when most overtaking on the IOW is done on country roads only when safe to do so. Does the overtaken vehicle really need to know my intentions of not intending to carry on on the wrong side of the road?? Appreciate motorways can be different.
The only time I really indicate back in is when I have a tailgater that I can't get away from and I want to make it clear I'm doing the best I can to let him through and in someway resist him the temptation to undertake before I can get into a safe position ahead and behind me in lane 1 or 2.
I followed a fleet of Spanish GS12's on the motorway a couple of weeks ago at night and having them all indicate back in was to me nothing more than unnecessary loss of night vision and distraction. Maybe it's a fleet riding thing, I normally ride alone.
Maybe the rather large reach for the indicators on the GS8 has just made me somewhat lazy. I do indicate back in when there is any chance that the signal will be seen and it is of some use.
3. Undertaking on 3 lane motorways
Come on you must have? I'll put my hand up.
Again I spend a lot of time in Spain where this seems to be a little more accepted on occasion and especially on certain roads.
When? Numpty in lane 2 or 3 no other traffic around for miles. I think GPS and lane assist function may have a role here. It's great being in the correct lane but 5 miles early?
How do you deal with this? Are you a flasher? Beeper? Tailgater? Pull of at next opportunity and go for coffee? Hold back and wait hoping numpty just might look in the mirror in the next 15 minutes?
I give everyone the chance, I hold back, assess their road position and what they might be thinking or experiencing. But after about 3 minutes of no action with my indicator on signalling my intention and following at safe distance I'm done. If they are lane 3, mirror and shoulder checks complete and all is clear I heading for lane 1 to pass at speed but still ready for them to make a last minute decision to regain the position they should've been. I'm safe and getting away from them but I know I've broken the law by doing this.
4. Being cut up.
They love this in Spain. Miles of motorway nothing ahead or behind until someone overtakes you and decides to cut in 30 feet ahead when they've passed. Priceless. By default in a car I try never to come back in as minimum until I have clear view of them in my rear mirror and they are continuing to get smaller, if there's nothing behind me (tailgater) I'll go for miles before I regain ahead of them. Why pull in so early? Especially in the rain! There is no reason, as I don't think there is anything you can do as the overtaken other than immediately increase distance ahead of you and look for all the escape routes when they have to brake or take avoiding action themselves.
Hope you may sympathise a little with the above novice observations or have your own experienced comments to add. I'd like to hear any more of your own pet hates that may cause you to cross the line of the law.
If you haven't been there Valencians at traffic lights seem to depart about 5 seconds before the light goes green! It's unlike any other Spanish city I've ridden in. Therefore I suggest don't be at the front of queue especially lanes 2 and 3. Lane 1 but still geared and ready to go for the nearest escape if required is my advice.
Regards
Fez
Numpty
Scottish usage:
a) Someone who (sometimes unwittingly) by speech or action demonstrates a lack of knowledge or misconception of a particular subject or situation to the amusement of others.
b) A good humoured admonition, a term of endearment
c) A reckless, absent minded or unwise person
a) "No. That wisnae wit she meant, ya big numpty!"
b) i.e. "Silly billy", "You big dafty"
c) "That numpty's driving with no lights on!"