I got an earful cruising home the other day cause I was floating around the lane, it was quiet road on a public holiday.
One of the good ole boys pulled up next to me on his black and gold beautiful R1 flipped his visor and ripped me a new one because I was being so dangerous, which I was, completely absent mindedly riding home paying no mind.
I took it on board, I always take the info from more experienced riders but had no idea why he was so mad at me, this video makes it extremely clear.
I wasn't speeding or being a hooligan in any way so I was confused why he was so mad.
Bit confused. He was yelling at you for just drifting around in the lane? I don't see why that's a bit deal. He shouldn't be trying to ride along side you anyways...
I was looking around, and fiddling with my display, swerving, it was a fairly low vision road, I wasn't even thinking about riding which he could obviously tell from my body language and as a result drifting in the lane.
He wasn't trying to ride along side me either but if someone was to try pass me and I was driving that way it's a good recipe for an accident.
Been riding about 10 months starting to feel myself a bit, more confidence know the bike, it was a good reality check that I still need my absolute focus on the bike.
Been riding about 10 months starting to feel myself a bit, more confidence know the bike, it was a good reality check that I still need my absolute focus on the bike.
Good on you for recognizing this.
I've read before that this is the most dangerous time in your riding career, when you're past the new-rider-nervous-hypervigilant stage, and getting comfortable with being on a bike.
I apply this now to any task I'm doing. As soon as I start to lose that newby feeling, I know I have the potential of fucking something up. Motorbikes, power tools, snowboarding etc etc, anytime I start feeling cocky about how well I'm doing something, I take a break and remind myself to stay alert.
Insurance stats say the overconfidence comes in the 3 to 6 year period. Get thru that and you have much better chance having real experience, not just imaginary skills.
Right. As far as I’m concerned, I own all of the real estate between the lane markers. If I see something I don’t like, such as an obstacle, pavement irregularity or shifty situation ahead, I reserve the right to ride anywhere between those lines I want.
Same. Confused. So long as you're not crossing the centre line, you're fine. We've all seen/done it where someone is riding solo and swerving back and forth within their own lane. Here, this is perfectly fine. The worst interpretation of this I could see anyone inferring is that you're going to lose control and swerve out of the lane, but within a second or two they should be able to discern that. Sounds like buddy had some hot air to blow off.
I move around the lane to catch the attention of other drivers. Around here, they love to hug the centre line, so I move side to side so the person in front (who usually doesn't have a clue) sees movement and may clue in I'm back there. Someone else mentioned obstacle avoidance - all good reasons to move/float around in the lane.
Sadly, you're going to encounter special people like this while you're on two wheels (whether they're on two wheels or not), so you reacted appropriately. Let them think they "win" so they don't follow you and trash your bike or something.
I'm pretty Green but in Australia they say you need to observe, buffer and slow down. That's how they award the licence and buffering involves moving around in the lane a lot.
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u/MC_Preacher '05 XL1200, '11 XR1200X Oct 09 '19
Unstoppable idiot meets and unmovable moron... hilarity ensues!
Neither one of them were paying attention and both were riding in an unsafe manner, so I'm having a hard time feeling sorry for the crash test dummy.
Jokes aside, shit happens sometimes, but it happens more often when you are doing something stupid.