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

Protest Rally

Melbourne CBD was briefly transformed into Motorcycle Central this afternoon when like minded riders congregated to express their displeasure with the finger pointing SMIDSY attitude rife amongst many motorists.

As all riders know........Sorry Mate I Didn't See You.........is a red rag to a bull.........for any cagers reading this.....don't do it......if you do......don't say SMIDSY.........just a heads up.......

The Victorian State Government along with TAC are eluding to legislation which will make it mandatory for all motorcyclists to be legally required to wear hi-viz clothing and display a forward facing number plate.....these two laws, according to the decision makers, will prevent SMIDSY's and keep riders safe........hhhmmmmm.,.........okay then?

There was a large turnout - everyone was very well behaved.......they stood quietly.....listened intently......and parked politely.......after everything was said and done a Protest Rally departed A'Beckett Street for laps of Melbourne CBD in attempt to be seen and heard by the public.......yes......riders are out there on the roads.......please look for us.....no more SMIDSY.......

Yea - it's Saturday

Saturday is the default ride day for many riders.........just because I commute doesn't mean I don't like a weekend blat too........

Originally the plan was to head down the Mornington Peninsula for a Arthur's Seat/Redhill/Costal run......luckily one of my mates recalled that today was the cycling event "Around the Bay in a Day".................now I am an avid cyclist......but the thought of contending with hundreds of weekend warrior, gumby pushbikes was enough to put us off and to change plans.......

Another mate suggested we hit the hills - Kinglake is always fun.......see where we end up eh? We took off in the general North-Eastern direction.......

WHAT A CRACKER RIDE.........one of my ride buddies has a particular knack for finding great "B" roads in rural Victoria, and today, he did not disappoint.

Having found some nice twisties and slightly technical road into Kinglake we stop for a coffee and decided the next destination should be Yea..................hell - let's go.......

Yea via Kinglake west was a fantastic ride - especially when coupled with ample use of throttle and open fast sweepers.......

The bikes all lined up in the shade in Yea..........

A creepy sculpture I found made from Diff gears, Saw blades and Barbed-Wire.........hmmmmm Yea?

We had another coffee and decided it was time to head for home.......one mate lives out West from where we were....another is back near Melbourne CBD, as am I......we part ways.........Cheers mate, quick toot of the horn and we hit the road.....

The ride back to Melbourne was definitely not a let down.............we found a nice "semi-direct" route from Yea to Melbourne via Toolangi and Healesvile - cracker roads in this stretch......

Thanks for a pearler of ride Gentleman.............where next? =D

\BitSar

Splitting (with a) difference

I had a sting in my tail while riding home last night.........you know that mood you get in sometimes? You just want to put the hammer down.........and.....I did.

Traffic was pretty heavy by the time I got away from the office - no problem.......just carve it up with the Split......I was having a ball, moving through the 60km/h traffic @~0.80c.....not being too much of a larrikin - just having fun.

As I approached point B on the Map - for some reason my "Spidey Senses" kicked in and told me to back off......I did - and lucky too!

The traffic had slowed and I was in filtering mode rather than full-blown splitting.......as I moved through point B above I filtered slowly and smoothly past two Police patrol cars - one in each lane travelling abreast.

I saw them as I approached and my instant thought was the Akra's......no baffles......quick shift into 3rd gear.....constant throttle.....no load on engine, less compression........chug, chug, chug - past........phew....

I continued to filter on through whilst checking the mirrors......no "Blues and Twos".......in the clear.....

The traffic starts moving again and I signal right and slipped into the flow......I wait till point C - feeling like I'm in the clear then GTFO..........hammer time all the way home from there =D

Fun times indeed...........

\I like Sport mode (especially more so with the aid of the FatDuc)

Squid

I made a few more adjustments to the FatDuc this afternoon...........of course I wanted to test out the feel of the slightly leaner fuelling......

I had the Fly lid with me and the bike key - I was not ATGATT - but the urge was there.

My daily shoe is my Redback boots which are pretty robust - other than that I had a hoodie and pair of cargo's on.........but meh - just around the block eh?

Let it be known - I have NEVER ridden squid before, nor do I endorse it........but man! It felt freaking good!

I don't know why - I really can't explain it - But the feeling of being on the bike in total comfort without restricted mobility was amazing!

Not something I intend on practising on a regular basis.....I am definitely an advocate of ATGATT but hell.....being Squid felt gooooooood


\ashamed

BitSar


/* PS - the leaner fuelling has all but eliminated the backfire on the over-run and has improved throttle response*/

First warm morning - Get a ride in before work..........Surely!

And don't call me Shirley..................

Woke up nice and early today - one of those natural wake ups @ ~5:30am, bright eyed, mind alert body ready to go..............excellent.

Completed the morning pushbike ride of ~20kms......nothing too extreme just a sprint to get the blood pumping.

It was 7:00am, I had showered and eaten and didn't have a meeting at the office until 9:15 so what the hell - morning ride!

Traffic was pretty abysmal to be honest - bloody Burnley and Domain tunnel closure in Melbourne so ALL the industrial and commuting traffic was on auxillary roads - but hey just more "Mobile Twisties" to carve up for the split eh?

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: