Do you do it in the dark - or only with the lights on?

Filtering. Well what else did you think I was talking about?

I hate filtering in the dark. Coming back from Scouseland today - A41 from Birkenhead through Eastham to the M53 is a damn busy but wide single carriageway road, two lanes in each direction, 40 mph limit, straight as an arrow for miles, lots of traffic light controlled junctions. Slightly uphill to the M53 - it's great visibility heading the other way to Liverpool, from Eastham you can see Cammell Laird shipyard, it must be 5 - 6 miles.

So many lights, car headlights, streetlights, traffic lights, confusing roadsigns. I decided not to filter up to the head of the queues. I was the only bike around, so not like London where drivers have to learn to cope with lots of PTWs. Didn't want to be car sandwich.

Sane or chicken?

Sane. Definately sane!

[jamesterror]

Ah! What I was thinking earlier after a slight session with a friendly cager... I don't drive in London, nor would I do it as I'm a chicken, but in relation to your answer no.

I'm sure cage drivers become more ignorant at night, a story today worth typing out, they wouldn't let me past, but whether you can be seen at night as clearly, I don't drive even though I have my license and have never drove at night in a car, and probably would say don't do it because of the nature of car/bike/lorry lights. Although you maybe able to tell the difference, others may not.

[Sid Squid]

Day or night, rain or shine - it's always time for me and my bike to be at the front.

Originally Posted by Ed

so not like London where drivers have to learn to cope with lots of PTWs. Didn't want to be car sandwich.

Yeh as much as a hazard that London is, people here tend to remember there's bikes everywhere, so I feel more comfy filtering here.

Once I'm outta London, then I do get much more pranged about filtering. I bet in some places people may drive for quite a bit before they even encounter a 2 wheeled vehicle, and forget all about them.

Not that I wouldn't trade the advantage of filtering in London to the advantages elsewhere. This place is a jungle.

Filtering is a hazard at the best of times.Looking at it from a cage drivers perspective,when you check your wing/door mirror it is very hard to establish if you are looking at one headlight of a car that may be sticking out a bit further or the single headlight of a motorbike.One of the problems being that motorbikes tend to filter without indicators or hazards on.
Having been taken out in daylight I give night time filtering a big NO-NO

[dizzyblonde]

Never been keen on filtering. I do it during the day, as its necessary. I'll only do it at night if my judgment says so.
I remember coming back from Hovis' funeral in the dark followed by Quedos and Pmapp, if I hadn't have filtered through the miles and miles of traffic on the M5 and M6 we'd have still been sat there, it was bad enough Q getting home at near midnight, but we didn't stop just battled through. It was a pretty scary experience but its now another feather in the bike skills cap and it doesn't bother me as much after that journey.

The YOOF of me says chicken! but the adult in me says Sane very sane, if you dont feel comfy doing it then dont its a prime example of better safe than sorry.

Personally I filter all weather all times of the year morning and night, I ride assuming I cant be seen (despite hi-viz, lights, yellow bike, loud zaust) Rather than pile my way through assuming they all must be able to see me (as I witness others do from time to time). I assume they cant see me so I know I need to move/react/predict the cars changing lanes etc. I'd defo say filtering is a trained skill, despite doing it daily I never take it lightly.

I make an effort to thank those who move over as well, any others seeing this may then be more inclined to do the same. Anyone who I'm certain hasnt seen me and is quite far over usually gets a blip of throttle as I pass thier window and hopefully that reminds them to check their mirrors more often.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Day or night, rain or shine - it's always time for me and my bike to be at the front.

+1

[squirrel_hunter]

I'm with Sid Squid on this one, day or night - rain or shine I'm happy to filter. At night I usually stick the full beam on to help my visibility if I'm filtering through lanes of a motorway or dual carriageway.

However to answer Ed’s... neither. As it's not a question of sane or chicken, it simply comes down to doing what you feel is right as all you need to do is ride for yourself.