Some folks just can't be told...

I'm completely shocked by what I've seen tonight, and even though my gut tells me I shouldn't, I can't help but feel sorry for the guy (he is human after all). Excuse me if this post comes across as sarcastic in any way, but that's just me & the way my mind deals with things. Also, excuse the long raving story, but no-ones at home right now, and I figure it'll help settle my mind. Anyway, to the point...

I leave work, and decide that I'll "go for a play on the A5" and did just that. After a long while on the A5, after Betws-y-coed there's a lake before you come across Bethesda. At this point, I'm stuck behind a long row of cars, so I start looking for places to pull in & wait, let the traffic get away from me so I can have a nice play in the twisties coming down towards Bethesda. For those who know the area, I actually pulled into the layby on the left just before you drop down the hill, but just after the carpark.

For some completely unknown reason, I wait there a while, following my plan, then see a 125 ride past, and figure "what the hell, beats waiting around" so pull out & join him in the twisties.

By the time I catch him up, he's stuck behind a car, and I can now see that he's riding what looked to be a Yamaha TW125. I also see no L-plates, so assume either he's passed his full licence, or he's just riding without L's. Being the way I am, I assume the latter. He's also wearing a big puffer jacket, jeans, and trainers. Due to this, and the fact that I hate people sitting close to me, or in my blind spot, I back way off & give him heaps of room. More space than I give myself in the wet (4x stopping distance etc), and make sure I can see his visor in his mirrors at all times.

So we come to the bottom of the hill, where there's a few (very few) places to overtake, but nothing I'd ever of dreamt of doing when I was on the CG. This guy decides to go past the car, but in the worst possible way I can imagine. He crossed a solid white line, and overtook the car on a blind crest

Along with my 'a spade is a spade' philosophy, and me hoping in vain that it might do some good, I knocked the SV down a peg & gave it a full blast to propel me safely round the car and up along side this maniac. After giving the "patting the air down and slicing the neck" type hand signals, basically telling him to slow it down or he's a gonner, again, I back WAY off. Now giving him even more space than I was before, especially as I know there's another twisty section coming up.

He decides to ignore my warnings, and keeps the throttle on, pretty much riding on the edge of those rubber bands he calls tyres. I've seriously had enough now, and just back right off & let him get away from me.

Next thing I know, I come around a right hander, just by the caravan park, and hit the brakes because he's laying next to a wall. The bike appears to of gone through the wall, leaving him by the road.

Found him laying, unconcious, so very hesitantly lifted his visor, and luckily, he was still breathing and had a pulse. As he was put in the back of the ambulance, I left my details with the policeman that attended, and thankfully the car driver had stopped to help as well, and left his details. The rest of my ride home was a very slow, soft one

Like I said at the start of this, I'm still pretty much in shock after it all, but this helps to get it off my chest, let you folks know, and in a way, get's me to write it all down not too long after the event, just in case I have to later make a more formal statement.

I'll post again if/when I hear anything as I told the copper to ask the guy to let me know how he fairs, if he's able to, but here's to hoping he's ok, and has learnt his lesson!

Ride safe people.

as had been said many times, you ride like a **** you die like one.. Hope he's ok tho, maybe he'll learn now

Hey, you did what you could.
I know that stretch of road fairly well from memory, it's a good one for sure, but hard to really enjoy without a caravan, sheep or just plain slow traffic bringing things down a bit.

Personally I think you were most sensible in giving him space and backing off rather than going ahead to get away from him (though as you say, there's few enough decent passing placed along there). He'd probably only try to nail it further to catch up to you.

Some people only learn through pain - perhaps he will.

Blimey, I used to have a TW and they're pretty chuckaboutable and good in the wet with the knobblies on, so he must have been riding like a lunatic.

Glad you're OK tho, didn't get mangled in the process and were there to help out a biker in need (even if he was a nutter).

Sending you a virtual double brandy....

End of the day, you can only ride your ride. Like you cant live anyone elses life, you cant ride their ride.

And its worth remembering that as well intentioned as you may be, people will get extremely defensive when being criticised [my experiences being car drivers] and will then get agressive defending themselves. Also gesticulating may come across as intimidating, no matter how well intentioned people are.

Sorry you had to see that baph, but you cant take it upon yourself to tell people how to ride imo.

given how badly he was riding before the accident and the fact that you kept well back and were obviously not 'racing' him, i really don't think you could have made him ride any worse. In all likelihood there was nothing you could have done to stop the accident, but thankfully you did what you could afterwards.

Sorry you had to see that anyway...

[JediGoat]

You did what you thought was right - which is all we can ever do. Don't beat yourself up over it though, the same or worse could have happened had you been 100 miles away.

Let's hope he makes a speedy recovery.

Jo

Originally Posted by K

Hey, you did what you could.
I know that stretch of road fairly well from memory, it's a good one for sure, but hard to really enjoy without a sheep or ........

Some people only learn through pain - perhaps he will.

something you want tp tell us K?

"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."

- Will Rogers

Originally Posted by Razor

"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."

- Will Rogers

very good!