View Full Version : Commuting eye opener
Hi all I've not posted for a while.
Ex husband took my lovely vauxhall insignia, so I've had to use the bike for commuting the last few months and what an eye opener!
I've turned into a hardened biker wumin! I now don't worry a jot in the heavy rain,wind and dark. I've become slightly more aggressive in my filtering [in a good way!], and now mastered packing up the bike with lunch and uniforms etc.
Two things I need to ask though....why don't fellow bikers commuting give me the 'nod' or wave? And why does 'white van man' hate when I pass him and try to out run me? [aye right!]
Lo:smt041ve to all!
Dx
The Guru
27-10-12, 03:50 PM
Im going to suggest that the reason for lack of nods is that they're too busy watching out for all of the lunatic car/van/bus drivers.
nodding.. to busy watch for the nutters to nod and there are a lot of people turning to bikes for the sole purpose of commuting so aren't bikers.
white van driver is pure and simple jealousy but not for the same reason as the posh car lot who just want to kill you as they really do hate bikers and white van man because they would rather be out on the bike.
....why don't fellow bikers commuting give me the 'nod' or wave?
Always try to nod but as others have said, paying more attention to what crazy white van man is doing so tend to miss bikes going the other way ;)
STRAMASHER
28-10-12, 11:33 AM
I rarely see another bike on my commute. :(
Occasionally on the way home. Just another thing in the way. Interrupting my flow, maaaan! :)
(but I will wave/nod/ stick out a leg ....unless its a scooter, **** with panniers, idiot who does not look in his mirrors, **** who speeds up his filtering instead of letting us past, the guy who won't cross the white line to let you get safe at the front of the lights and you are left battling the tin cans from the 2nd row of the grid.....)
Crabby bas, I know, but it was cold and wet this morning and looks like still being so later. :(
Happy frozen bits & Merry soggy drawers,Dawn. :)
-Ralph-
28-10-12, 12:36 PM
Commuters generally dont nod or wave, the novelty factor of bikers being friendly to each other and all happy to be out on thier bikes other soon disappears in day in day out bad weather. Even out of town on trunk roads where theres less to look out for, youll be lucky to get a nod or wave during rush hour.
LOL @ Bibio! What makes a real biker then mate? You cant really define whos a biker and who isnt. If you call yourself a biker and you ride a motorbike then you are one! Id say its the other way round if I were forced to stick a defintion on it. Commuters are the hardcore bikers, sunday warriors are sunday warriors.
The Guru
28-10-12, 02:50 PM
... **** with panniers...
That'll be me then... and a top box :smt019
:cheers:Nice to know I'm not the only one one two wheels commuting this time of year! It's gotta be worth the " soggy drawers"! Haha!
Thanks for your comments guys
Same as above, trying not to get knocked off takes up most of my concentration, especially early in the morning where I am a little tired/grumpy.
5th year of full winter riding for me, good luck :)
missyburd
29-10-12, 10:13 AM
Commuters generally dont nod or wave, the novelty factor of bikers being friendly to each other and all happy to be out on thier bikes other soon disappears in day in day out bad weather. Even out of town on trunk roads where theres less to look out for, youll be lucky to get a nod or wave during rush hour.
See I don't get this, I seem to nod to bikers without thinking, tis like a reflex reaction. I have to stop myself doing it when out and about in cars! But I've noticed the same, folk don't seem to do it while commuting, and it's definitely a safety thing. If I forget to nod it's because I'm concentrating on the eejits in front of me/evil patches of soggy leaves and manhole covers :rolleyes:
-Ralph-
29-10-12, 12:32 PM
and it's definitely a safety thing
Not anywhere that I've lived. Now I'm in the middle of nowhere where there are no more hazards than there are at the weekend.
Here it's a 'can't be bothered to nod to every flippin bike every day thing'.
Commuting every day at the same time, same route, you could nod to the same bike going the other way 260 times a year!
I'm also of the school of nodding on auto or the Euro method. And I don't subscribe to the "paying too much attention to the nutters to nod" school. I've noticed this even on clear roads. Ok, sometimes its not the right place or time so don't kill yourself, but to me it seems some of the biker cameraderie is lost. Whilst riding in Europe it was only the british bikers that didn't give a nod or a wave. Maybe some don't believe in the biker spirit thing, but the way it was sold to me by my instructor made me feel I was joining a fraternity of special people sharing a similar experience and goodwill.
Basically if I can I will, if I am filtering or trying to make my way through heavy traffic etc etc I won't nod as I am concentrating on who's trying to kill me next!
To be honest, if I don't nod today, al probably catch you tomorrow at the same time on the same route!
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