Showing posts with label cages. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cages. Show all posts

Wednesday, 17 April 2013

ABS....Vs......the iWalker

A couple of mornings ago - on the daily commute into work I had a moment........not a nice moment.....and it was one where I was thanking the Shiver for its' ABS......

Traffic was very heavy......so much so that every CBD intersection was full - packed......bumper to bumper.....at this point Traffic lights were incidental....mindless cagers just crowded out intersections and hey - if they got stuck in the middle between two red lights....who cares! They have a nice mobile lounge chair to sit in........hmmmmm....

So as any commuter rider will attest - heavy traffic is a dangerous proposition....cagers, with their small minds, can get impatient and hesitant - at the same time - making them even less predictable than usual.......not something you want to be involved with.....engage GTFO.......

I was nearly at the office and was approaching the street with the entrance to the car park......I was filtering through traffic and switched to the outside of the left lane - in between the gutter and the traffic - to make my left turn < 10m ahead......mind you this is a legal use of the road shoulder........

As I came up to the corner - albeit a little on the throttle - I encountered an iWalker who popped out of the stationary traffic..........BAM! - or should I say.....Baahhhhh


This guys had his iPhone glued to his face......his AWESOME oversized DJ headphones over his ears - looking super-fly as he wandered through traffic.......good job fella!

My eyes had already spotted movement from my right and my right hand reacted before my brain processed the situation - I set up the brakes and squeezed......and squeezed.....a little rear brake to stabilize.....and squeeze....

With the aid of ABS the front pulsated slightly as did the rear - the bike pulled up hard and remained stable......by this time I was pretty much stationary.....balancing the bike using rear brake...keeping the chain and chassis under tension.....rocking, rocking, rocking....

The iWalker looked at me with bewilderment.....I was adamant not to put a foot down.....he scuttled off through the traffic.....live to iWalk another day.....

\Thanks ABS
--BitSar

Friday, 30 November 2012

Anti-SMIDSY campaign

Unfortunately I had a great SMIDSY this morning...............I can't believe how some people react when they've committed the SMIDSY sin......

I was waiting to turn right through a busy CBD intersection, I had a large queue of cars behind me also wanting to turn right.......

The on-coming traffic was very heavy, so much so that the intersection was barely clear........

The lights turn from green to amber......I creep forward, stand the bike up and balance her through rear brake, throttle and clutch manipulation......rocking, rocking, rocking.....

I see a woman in a Silver Astra hatchback entering the intersection.......no intention of stopping......I'm still balancing and edging forward VERY slowly as I rock the bike......I catch her eye to eye.......she SMILES!? and waves......the lights turn from amber to red......the bonnet lifts......she's on the gas...........slams on through intersection.....running the red.......

Shaking my head and thinking what hope do we have I continue my LEGAL turn through the intersection......live to fight, and ride, another day.......

What really gets me about this is the driver attitude........She clearly saw me and had time to smile and wave.....as if to say "I know, I'm sorry I'm performing a potentially deadly manoeuvre..........I'm sorry you might not get home tonight to see the Missus.......but I've REALLY got to make this light.....you understand, right?"

Wrong.......

The silver lining to my rant?..........................Over the last couple of years a prominent Law firm, Maurice Blackburn, have been campaigning against the SMIDSY killer........

Each year I buy a couple of T-Shirts for myself and fellow riding buddies.....all proceeds go to supporting riders and their families with Pro-Bono legal fees etc.......

Maurice Blackburn are also doing a fantastic job with some very simple, effective and meaningful ad instalments in response the recent almost fraudulent TAC campaign.......



C'mon guys........stop the SMIDSY





\BitSar

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

No right (only wrong) turn

Part of this blog is unfortunately reserved for rages at cagers............this post falls into that category...

On the commute this morning - I was waiting at a 4-way intersection to turn right. I was the first vehicle in the queue.

A truck approaches in the oncoming lane and is indicating to turn right......fine, no problem......HOWEVER! I notice behind him a woman in a POS Suzuki 4X4 is up his ass and planning on pushing through the intersection......

Now, I have a dilemma......

The lights turn from green to amber, the truck advances, I creep forward...........knowing full well that I have a queue of cagers behind me and a dormant threat of a 4X4 ready to punch through the intersection......

Sure enough - the lights turn from amber to red (I've waited as long as I can) and said 4X4 hammers through the intersection ........luckily I have anticipated this and swung out left, then right - under her.......the cage behind me is not so lucky.......they come nose to nose (no impact) in the middle of a busy CBD intersection ........horns blasting in accusation...........

Bugger it......quick shift into 2nd.....GTFO.......have a good life guys............

\Bangs head on wall..........

Monday, 1 October 2012

First

I'm new to this - I don't know if I'll like it.......................


FIRST
The first post - this is Genesis 

printf("Hello world \n");

...........only kidding........

HISTORY:
First rode a MOTO at age of 6, it was a PW50 - it was amazing
Cycling for > 15 years - MTB and Road - still ride road to this day

BIKES:
Learner = Honda VTR250
Teacher = Kawasaki Er6n Factory Full
Current = Aprilia Shiver 750

INF:
I am a commuter, weekend scratcher and try to complete a multi-day tour at least once per year. 

I ride minimum 6 days per week - rain or shine.........I wouldn't have it any other way.
As a commuter I am greatly dependant on my bike - treat her right and she treats me right - I love my Ape.

BLOG:
Herein you shall find my rants at Cagers, day to day riding observations, thoughts on roadcraft, the plod and inconsiderate road usage etc....

However - my key is to record (mostly for my own indulgence) the rides that make me smile...........the ones that you relive a day later sipping on a beer while you recount that set of twisties which opened up to fast sweepers just when the tires were nice and sticky......

That is riding - and that is why I love it......

\BitSar


My Ape:






Previous Bikes: