Author Topic: Bikers. (Read 10973 times)

xavier fremboe · « **on:** June 11, 2008, 05:54:52 PM »

On my way down to the Hill Country three weeks ago, I came upon two different strings of bikers. Both about 14 bikes in the line. They consistently rode about 5 mph under, and would widen up to take up both lanes when the road would open up for passing lanes. I can understand that they would want to be in the left lane to allow more opportunities for evasive maneuvers, but there was almost a fight when one of my less patient four-wheeled compatriots passed me on the right and got about halfway through the second string before the lane ended.

What are the etiquette rules involved here? Where is it appropriate to pass?

nico · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2008, 06:01:11 PM »

How could there have been a fight? He was in a car and they were riding bikes, which can be knocked off balance a lot easier, than a car laugh

I don't go out of my way to piss off anybody on the road, but I refuse to be intimidated by some jerk who's vehicle weighs a fraction of mine because he thinks he owns the road.

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2008, 06:02:55 PM »

pagans still up arouind laurel much? or they all in jail?

xavier fremboe · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2008, 06:06:36 PM »

Quote from: nico on June 11, 2008, 05:01:11 PM

How could there have been a fight? He was in a car and they were riding bikes, which can be knocked off balance a lot easier, than a car laugh

I don't go out of my way to piss off anybody on the road, but I refuse to be intimidated by some jerk who's vehicle weighs a fraction of mine because he thinks he owns the road.

He was stuck in amongst them for about 15 miles. First stoplight they hit, the expressed their displeasure.

nico · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2008, 06:08:10 PM »

pagans? Ok, clue me in. . .

I was mainly thinking of a situation my dad had in college. He was a part of a car club that participated in autocrosses and often went out to dinner afterwards (think ~10 cars). One time, a few guys on bikes thought they'd screw with one of the female members by forcing her onto the shoulder. My dad and a couple other guys showed the bikers that it works both ways (and bikes don't always do very well on gravel).

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2008, 06:39:43 PM »

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagans_MC

nico · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2008, 06:46:11 PM »

honestly, I'm 25 and have lived here for my whole life, and I've never heard of them.

The Annoyed Man · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2008, 08:43:53 PM »

As a general rule, don't cut into a string of bikes. That said: they should've slowed a bit to allow others to pass, if they didn't want to go the speed limit...

Firethorn · « **Reply #8 on:** June 12, 2008, 06:49:33 AM »

Per the story, they were going plenty slow enough to be passed, the problem was that they occupied the passing lane as well when available.

That I have an issue with.

charby · « **Reply #9 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:04:14 AM »

We have a local group of yuppie bikers that pull that crap all the time. They ride side by side, not staggered, take up both lanes, speed up and slow down, etc.

Manedwolf · « **Reply #10 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:10:55 AM »

I've not seen any inconsiderate highway bikers here.

Just the morons with the 110+dB pipes that rev through downtown right past sidewalk cafes on purpose. They're so loud they actually hurt your ears and make them ring. angry

I think the police are finally cracking down, though.

Balog · « **Reply #11 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:15:20 AM »

Quote from: Manedwolf on June 12, 2008, 06:10:55 AM

I've not seen any inconsiderate highway bikers here.

Just the morons with the 110+dB pipes that rev through downtown right past sidewalk cafes on purpose. They're so loud they actually hurt your ears and make them ring. angry

I think the police are finally cracking down, though.

I gotta wonder what the appeal is of that? "Hey look at me, I'm going deaf!" I just don't get it. They are very annoying, tho Maned.

Firethorn · « **Reply #12 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:19:39 AM »

Quote from: Balog on June 12, 2008, 06:15:20 AM

I gotta wonder what the appeal is of that? "Hey look at me, I'm going deaf!" I just don't get it. They are very annoying, tho Maned.

I've seen them wearing ear plugs. Yep, riding a bike with custom 'loudeners' and the driver's wearing shades and earplugs, no helmet.

HankB · « **Reply #13 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:35:22 AM »

This weekend Austin is going to "host" the annual Republic of Texas biker rally. Hmmmm . . . triple digit temperatures and black leathers . . . what a combination! grin

Basically it means a bunch of motorcyclists with loud bikes will cruise around Austin and the surrounding area, get drunk, a few will get splattered on the road, and then leave. No big deal for most folks, happens every year.

Of course, they always talk about how much money this brings into the area, benefitting everyone in town . . . they keep repeating this, but never tell me where I should go to get my share.

(Some bar selling more beer does me about as much good as Bill Gates selling more copies of Windows Vista.)

Tallpine · « **Reply #14 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:39:40 AM »

One time I was trying to get gas for my truck at a little country station. A biker rally was going through and they just kept passing the hose one to another while I waited and waited and waited ... angry

So I got out my 2' pipe and started checking the load chain binders grin

never_retreat · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:50:55 AM »

They do that crap around here also. Driving under the speed limit, hog both lanes every time the road goes to two, lug the gears to make it make even more noise. Just about anything they can do to be annoying.
I came real close to love tapping a few of them a couple of months ago. After about 10 miles of 30 in a 50 I started to show my displeasure. I got closer and closer, I figured they would take the hint. Oh no one guy in his wisdom decides to brake check my f250. Let me say that I didn't even touch my brakes. He took of like a bandit when he saw that I wasn't going to play his game.

And yes I have ridden a bike in the past. So no sob story's about how I don't know how it is on a bike.

MillCreek · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2008, 07:55:26 AM »

Is the original poster referring to motorcyclists or bicyclists? It sounds more like motocyclists than bicyclists on a group ride or race.

mgdavis · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2008, 08:12:18 AM »

Motorcyclists.

Some people are tools, no matter what they ride/drive. I think they get off on the sense of empowerment that they get from making a nuisance of them selves. Besides, everybody knows that Harleys so slow they can't hardly get out of their own way. grin

nico · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2008, 08:16:54 AM »

Harley Davidson - converting large amounts of gas into large amounts of noise since 1903^tm

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 12, 2008, 08:47:08 AM »

I have straight pipes on my Harley.

It's kept blue-hairs away from me on several occasions, and that's just fine with me, since they can't be bothered to normally look when making lane changes into my lane...

The Annoyed Man · « **Reply #20 on:** June 12, 2008, 08:56:52 AM »

I have to admit, I have NEVER seen a group just out for a ride act the way you describe. Of course around here, they're more likely to run you over than slow you down...

xavier fremboe · « **Reply #21 on:** June 12, 2008, 09:05:01 AM »

Quote from: MillCreek on June 12, 2008, 06:55:26 AM

Is the original poster referring to motorcyclists or bicyclists? It sounds more like motocyclists than bicyclists on a group ride or race.

Motorcyclists.

The Annoyed Man · « **Reply #22 on:** June 12, 2008, 09:19:21 AM »

On the subject of loud pipes.
I have a co-worker friend who has other friends that all ride rice.To a man they all whine that the Harley riders can get away w/straight pipes & they get hassled over their "performance" mufflers.

Manedwolf · « **Reply #23 on:** June 12, 2008, 09:22:46 AM »

Quote from: onions! on June 12, 2008, 08:19:21 AM

On the subject of loud pipes.
I have a co-worker friend who has other friends that all ride rice.To a man they all whine that the Harley riders can get away w/straight pipes & they get hassled over their "performance" mufflers.

Well, there's a double standard, yes. To say nothing of the fact that glasspack mufflers on cars are banned where ear-damaging bikes are allowed.

The ones that annoy me seem to make a habit of deliberately gunning it in on quiet residential streets or downtown in front of outside restaurants, like children banging on a pot for attention. It ruins meals, causes babies to scream in terror, is loud enough to make your ears ring, and is just a nuisance all around. There's absolutely no reason for it at all.

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #24 on:** June 12, 2008, 09:26:55 AM »

Don't forget, it causes horses to rear up and panic, too. rolleyes

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Author Topic: Bikers. (Read 10973 times)