Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

Riding home from work in the middle of the night over tlast few nights have seen me come into contact with the roadworks heading south on the M3 between J2 and 3.

They take it down to 1 lane at night. On Tuesday night I was riding circa 55mph in the specs zone when I spotted in the pitch black a long trail of pebbles/stones along the road which lasted around 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile. Bike went straight into them and immediatley went into a wobble/weave at both ends. Quite scray and kicked up dust too ,I managed to keep the power on and get out of them to one side. Looked similar to what surrounds the tracks on railways.

Last night I was in the single lane at 0200 and it was lane 1 this time. This has been recently laid that day and was new tarmac, glistening, shiny and like a mirror. There were lumps of tar and stones all over the place, and I had to slow to around 30mph to stay upright for around 1 to 2 miles. It was horrid and I felt really uncomfortable. Then, I get a car catch me up and flahs his lights, getting impatient at me. I emphasise what I am doing by moving the bike around the obstacles and exaggerating it's unsettledness, but he is touching my back plate practicalled. This got my blood boiling.

What is wrong with people, and what is it with shoddy roadworks? I am riding down the back roads tonight on the way home.

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

Crikey, thanks for the warning. Didn't see them on Sunday.

Stay safe xx

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

Roads in general are bad every where lately and new road surfaces seem to be nothing but a thin layer of marmite with loads of loose gravel sprinkled on the top which are scary to ride on let alone with an impatient and unthoughtful cager up your ar$e so well done for making it home safe :)

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

When that happens I find it very effective to slow down and stop, they aren't going to actually drive into you.

Then kick the sidestand out and start getting off the bike, my goodness that gets them scared. Because with all this kit on they can't see how un-threatening I actually look, and they have this perception that all bikers are mean 'n' nasty..... the prospect of a bike confronting them makes them crap themselves.

Not advocating a confrontation of course! :-) But for little guys like me, it's sometimes nice to take advantage of the fact that people are automatically scared of you by virtue of your choice of transport!

That bit of the M3 has been a nightmare for a good year or so now. It's a full-time 50 limit now, even when the roadworks aren't there. Trying to come out of town and merge with the M25 is horrific.

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

Or take a leaf out of Badger's book, stop, get off, make them wind down the window and bellow expletives at them for 5 minutes. All in front of 50 odd other bikers, think that Porsche driver had to go change his pants. =;

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

The state of the roads is dreadful.

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

some cagers are just arseh0les, I've learnt to get out of their way as quick as I can if possible.....and count to ten...a lot!!

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

or have speedplay roll up beside them and point out that he has all the cage drivers antics on video, while a irishman shouts expletives at them

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

Just ease over and let the plonker past, you don't know how drunk/unlicenced/inexperienced, uninsured they are. It's just not worth it. If it's really bad pull up at the next phone box and ring his number in. At that time of the morning there's a half reasonable chance he'll get picked up. Imagine just how satisfying it would be to see him on the hard shoulder a few miles up the road....

Re: Horrible Riding Experience (Roadworks)
 

Problem was we were down to 1 lane on a motorway, the rest coned off with roadworks. VERY unerving, especially riding over the **** and rubble left in the carriageway.