So nearly an RTA!

I managed to avoid a bike/van head-on collision today by the narrowest of margins.

The thing is.... I was in the van!


Happened in town so within a 30limit luckily. I'm minding my own business heading down a very steep narrow brae. There's a l/h corner with a tall hedge to the inside and about an 18" pavement, the other side has a wall with railings and no paved part. In total its about wide enough for a lorry to get down, but thats it. At this point it becomes a one-way section for about a 50yds. As i apporach I slowed to about 15mph, it's pretty blind. I got half way into it when a bike appears coming uphill, rider has no lid on. We spot each other, I mount the narrow kerb and he slapps on the anchors then wiggles past me on the left up to a parking spot.

I'm thinking 'What a nutter!!!' I hope he realises how lucky he was. It's the route the fire brigade use, and if it was them not me, he wouldn't be alive.

The reason for no lid: He was exiting an alleyway halfway down the one-way bit, rolling it out backwards where he was parked and needed to get the bike out to load-up. He was in a B&B. Even although, thats no excuse. He should have at least gone down the one-way and stopped at the bottom.

I had a bike cross a motorway bridge on the M8 on Friday with no lid on, I was on the M8 in the cage going underneath the bridge. Not sure what class of road or indeed track crossed the bridge. Very quick glimpse but it was a moto cross'er and looked like a young teenager riding. Suppose I did the same thing when I was that age eh!

Just kids having fun! High spirits.

Originally Posted by haggis

Happened in town so within a 30limit luckily. I'm minding my own business heading down a very steep narrow brae. There's a l/h corner with a tall hedge to the inside and about an 18" pavement, the other side has a wall with railings and no paved part. In total its about wide enough for a lorry to get down, but thats it. At this point it becomes a one-way section for about a 50yds. As i apporach I slowed to about 15mph, it's pretty blind. I got half way into it when a bike appears coming uphill, rider has no lid on. We spot each other, I mount the narrow kerb and he slapps on the anchors then wiggles past me on the left up to a parking spot.

"Stormyhill" by any chance?

Glad no one was hurt, Sometimes they just dont think of the consequences when they go out on their bike like that. He is lucky it was you though like you said otherwise he may not have been as lucky

Originally Posted by portreekid

"Stormyhill" by any chance?

The one and only Stormyhill.

Actually since then, i've spotted him and his mates a few times riding about - full helmet protection i'm pleased to say. One has a silver SV1000! I forgive his loony mate for giving me heart failure, since he clearly has friends with good taste.


It must be the week for crazy tourists tho. Yesterday Amanda and me took great pleasure in reporting a bunch of brainless Chinese folk in four (presumably hired) cars. All driving at 40mph nose to tail with about 6" between bumpers doing daft overtakes of each other on blind corners, into oncoming traffic etc. Meanwhile, all 3 passengers in one car sat on their doors with windows fully down giving everyone the finger. Apparently they were seen elsewhere doing similar stuff. Hope they caught them.

Same back at ya's!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by haggis

Yesterday Amanda and me took great pleasure in reporting a bunch of brainless Chinese folk in four (presumably hired) cars. All driving at 40mph nose to tail with about 6" between bumpers doing daft overtakes of each other on blind corners, into oncoming traffic etc. Meanwhile, all 3 passengers in one car sat on their doors with windows fully down giving everyone the finger. Apparently they were seen elsewhere doing similar stuff. Hope they caught them.

And they say that people dont emulate what they see on TV / Movies ...... Clearly they do.