Don't you just love it when you are right?

[Dave20046]

...it does loads for my confidence. Went out on the bike last night (second time after a 6 month crash related break) and had two interactions with cars that could have been a lot worse.
First one I was following a metro down an unlit 50mph twisty (actually coincidentally the stretch I smashed my bike on), lots of blinds and it was solid whitelined so wasn't confident enough to pass even though he was doing a constant 30mph. Got to the long,lit, straight 40mph clear stretch at the bottom and moved out to the outside to do him when I thought "wait this guy is so poor do I trust overtaking him"...low and behold, no slowing or anything he swung a right exactly where the temptation to overtake him would have been.

[ophic]

well perceived. And the 2nd?

[Dave20046]

Cheers, although I know it was one of those moment where if he hadn't have done that I would have kicked myself for being hesitant.

The second was going down quite a narrow village road parked cars on the right completely blind of what's going on on the left until you're on top of it because of buildings (no pavement). If I didn't know the road and the idiots in the area I probably would have took it 25-30mph but did 15-20mph as soon as I broke the bend of the corner to see the road ahead a car shot out of a restaurant carpark on the left. I slowed to a stop shaking my head and he gave me the 'sorry I almost broke you neck' wave and tootled on his way.

Lucky on the first.

Originally Posted by Dave20046

The second was going down quite a narrow village road parked cars on the right completely blind of what's going on on the left until you're on top of it because of buildings (no pavement). If I didn't know the road and the idiots in the area I probably would have took it 25-30mph but did 15-20mph as soon as I broke the bend of the corner to see the road ahead a car shot out of a restaurant carpark on the left. I slowed to a stop shaking my head and he gave me the 'sorry I almost broke you neck' wave and tootled on his way.

Obviously I don't know the situation/road layout, but is there no opportunity to sit on the wrong side of the road (obviously when there's no opposing traffic). I often do that to get a better view & allow more time to react.

I had a similar incident not long ago, coming through a town. Bin lorry parked on the left (not in use by workers), 30mph zone. I went wide, maybe 1/4 into the wrong side of the road. As I did, I glanced to the left of the truck & saw a car pull up at the junction. Anchors on, slowed to ~5mph, then stopped safely as the car pulled out infront of me.

The car behind stood on their horn as I hit the brakes. So once I stopped I dismounted & gestured.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by Baph

I had a similar incident not long ago, coming through a town. Bin lorry parked on the left (not in use by workers), 30mph zone. I went wide, maybe 1/4 into the wrong side of the road. As I did, I glanced to the left of the truck & saw a car pull up at the junction. Anchors on, slowed to ~5mph, then stopped safely as the car pulled out infront of me.

The car behind stood on their horn as I hit the brakes. So once I stopped I dismounted & gestured.

hehe idiots who honk impatiently reaally pee me off

Obviously I don't know the situation/road layout, but is there no opportunity to sit on the wrong side of the road (obviously when there's no opposing traffic). I often do that to get a better view & allow more time to react.

The parked cars were almost completely covering the other side of the road but I pushed as right most as possible, which helped!

[Dave20046]

I've still got to get used to cornering, higher speeds and the limits of the bike but I really enjoyed my chilled ride out last night. It's really good though (in a way) it's just like riding for the first time again.
Although I am wondering if 15wt oil has made the front end a bit too hard. Maybe I'm not as fat as I thought

[ophic]

Been on the other side of this situation, in a car. Where I live there's a T junction which has a lot of parked car on the right hand side, blocking your view to pull out. You can ease out a bit but go too far and any vehicle coming along the main carriageway would be forced into the other lane.

So there's only one technique that works. Ease out as far as possible, then look and punch it. So as I did this I see the lights of a scooter just coming out of the blind area. So I punched it harder, the wheels spun and i didn't go anywhere. Anyway no major drama other than an irritated scrote on a scooter who proceeded to follow me 6 inches from my bumper for the next mile or so.

Other than not losing traction, not sure what else I could do to avoid that situation.

Originally Posted by Dave20046

Cheers, although I know it was one of those moment where if he hadn't have done that I would have kicked myself for being hesitant.

The second was going down quite a narrow village road parked cars on the right completely blind of what's going on on the left until you're on top of it because of buildings (no pavement). If I didn't know the road and the idiots in the area I probably would have took it 25-30mph but did 15-20mph as soon as I broke the bend of the corner to see the road ahead a car shot out of a restaurant carpark on the left. I slowed to a stop shaking my head and he gave me the 'sorry I almost broke you neck' wave and tootled on his way.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by ophic

Been on the other side of this situation, in a car. Where I live there's a T junction which has a lot of parked car on the right hand side, blocking your view to pull out. You can ease out a bit but go too far and any vehicle coming along the main carriageway would be forced into the other lane.

So there's only one technique that works. Ease out as far as possible, then look and punch it. So as I did this I see the lights of a scooter just coming out of the blind area. So I punched it harder, the wheels spun and i didn't go anywhere. Anyway no major drama other than an irritated scrote on a scooter who proceeded to follow me 6 inches from my bumper for the next mile or so.

Other than not losing traction, not sure what else I could do to avoid that situation.

That's what I considered when I refrained from gesturing, that he actually had no way of seeing me. The reason I shook my head is because I wondered how he didn't manage to see my headlight (it was dark) and got the feeling he may have had a drink. You never know though.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by Dave20046

Although I am wondering if 15wt oil has made the front end a bit too hard. Maybe I'm not as fat as I thought

Have you still got stock springs in Dave?

As you for your newfound observational skilz......old man wid wispy beard say....treat every other thing on road like it will kill you.
Your pretty confident already if you can get back to the same place as a nasty smash. Im Indoors has never returned to the spot that took away half of his nine lives, even though he lives about 3 miles away. He always takes a detour.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by dizzyblonde

Have you still got stock springs in Dave?

As you for your newfound observational skilz......old man wid wispy beard say....treat every other thing on road like it will kill you.
Your pretty confident already if you can get back to the same place as a nasty smash. Im Indoors has never returned to the spot that took away half of his nine lives, even though he lives about 3 miles away. He always takes a detour.

No the forks have hagon progressives in there, things get a bit bumpy over potholes (sheffield is renowned for it's bag of wank roads) was just a little worried of going round a corner ,hitting a pothole and losing traction or being spat off.
Haha newfound observational skills , yep that wispy bearded man put it far more eligantly than my instructor.

well it is only about a mile from my house and I've been past loads in cars, coincidentally when I realised just how slow the metro was going (possibly a teeny bit late) I thought he was going to do exactly the same thing on me!

Bikes also popping on throttle off/engine braking and running a tad inconsistantly but it's probably those pesky restrictors