Gray Hair: Use Extra Caution - Page 2

Pure Pork · 11-20-2008

"Since I'm going to turn left at the approaching intersection I start to accelerate in case the older gentleman ahead of me decides to do the same. After riding behind him in plain sight for a couple miles, I pull forward and as I do he drifts into my lane and forces me into the center turning lane(between the two sets of yellow center lanes). I lay on the horn right beside his door and he doesn't acknowledge me. I pull ahead and keep my eye on him in the mirror and he acts like nothing happened."

Are you sure he didn't see you, or just ignored you? We had a guy who was in his Eighties that rear-ended a friends son sitting at a stoplight on his sportbike, then pulled around him to get into the grocery store. Cops found him in the store shopping, he replied "what's the big deal? I have insurance."

Over 40 years of riding on all kinds of bikes, I have experienced quite a few people trying to run me off the road that weren't distracted by anything obvious, other than a supposed hatred of motorcyclists.

*trikebubble* · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

I was going to pretend I was all insulted because I'm East of the Rockies, but I figure we're already so far apart that I'm WEST of you if you go around the earth the other way!

Hey now. "West" is a sacred word around these parts..........and not to be thrown around lightly by the likes of people "back east"........

infonavigator · 11-20-2008

No matter who is at the wheel you don't know what their driving capabilities are. What you do know is there is a large, heavy projectile you need to avoid to survive the ride. An old guy in a Crown Vic, a family in a mini-van or a young woman in a Honda Civic.....either one doing that maneuver outweighs you and your bike. Drivers Ed tells us "Driving is a privilege, not a right." Forget that "right-of-way" you think you have. That works in court, not on pavement.

I hope everyone rides safely. No, the gray hair thing doesn't bother me. What would bother me is if you bet your life on that stereotype.....and lost.

jeffs99vulcan · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Hey now. "West" is a sacred word around these parts..........and not to be thrown around lightly by the likes of people "back east"........

I lived in Halifax for four years... THEY are the down-Easters!!! I'm not even sure WHAT I am, right here in the middle!!! Oh that's right, CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE! No wait, that's Toronto...

(I was once corrected while I live out there... I was told it's OUT West, and DOWN East! Do you concur?!)

*trikebubble* · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

I lived in Halifax for four years... THEY are the down-Easters!!! I'm not even sure WHAT I am, right here in the middle!!! Oh that's right, CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE! No wait, that's Toronto...

(I was once corrected while I live out there... I was told it's OUT West, and DOWN East! Do you concur?!)

"us"...and "them"..........that's how we see it.........

Or "have's" and "have not's" these days.............

jeffs99vulcan · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikebubble

"us"...and "them"..........that's how we see it.........

Bewteen you and Quebec, my arms are getting tired from holding the country together!!!

*trikebubble* · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

Bewteen you and Quebec, my arms are getting tired from holding the country together!!!

But you live in Ontario..........I thought your arms would be tired holding them out for a handout from us Western'rs...............

jeffs99vulcan · 11-20-2008

Ya know Zero, I know you were concerned about stereotyping the blue-hairs, so I started trying to remember my worst incident ever... and I did.

We were in a charity ride, the Ride for Dad for Prostate Cancer research. The first half of the ride is an escorted parade-type, the second half a poker run, so you start to get separated. There were 6 of us in it together though, and were cruising along in a pack at 50mph on the outskirts of a town, and were about pass a gas station at speed.

A car pulls out, and I mean pulls out RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, I was in the lead. On the binders, as hard as humanly and mechanically possible... the back wheel locked up and the front wheel barked, but I held it, it was a textbook emergency stop and I was amazed and proud at the same time, and I ended up on the gravel shoulder, running even with his passenger side back door by the time we were at the same speed.

While I pulled back on to the road an slowly got back up to speed, trying to figure out if I broke out into a sweat or pee'd my pants, while my tongue was so swollen I thought I was going to choke, two of the guys I was with gunned it and pulled up beside him, then in front. Two more pulled in tight behind him, the last stayed with me. While I'm the first to admit that may not be the smartest reaction, they did it it make him aware... They said if it had been a young guy they'd have probably forced him over...

Anyway, they said he was about 90. No clue. None. They could tell he had no clue what he'd done, that there was anyone in front of him, that they had boxed him in, that they rode beside his door yelling at him for a few seconds. Nothing. They said he was SO clueless, they just backed off, nothing else to do...

So I'm not stereotyping, just telling my own worst story and who it involved... draw your own conclusion!

jeffs99vulcan · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikebubble

But you live in Ontario..........I thought your arms would be tired holding them out for a handout from us Western'rs...............

OOOH... and it starts, does it?!

We have the right to revoke your polite Canuck status you know... and you're teetering!!!

*trikebubble* · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

OOOH... and it starts, does it?!

We have the right to revoke your polite Canuck status you know... and you're teetering!!!

I'm sorry............polite enough for you?

jeffs99vulcan · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikebubble

I'm sorry............polite enough for you?

Told you, you're too nice!!! That was too easy!!!

*trikebubble* · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

Told you, you're too nice!!! That was too easy!!!

Keep laughing. I just put a stop payment on our equalization cheque we sent to Ontario................

Seadog1967 · 11-20-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6ZeroZeroR

EDIT II: I believe a good solution to this would be mandatory testing when a person reaches the age of 65. Then tested every 7 years onward.

Umm 65 huh!!!! I think you should up that some. I'm 62 and still rolling 18 wheels. Yes I agree there should be testing later in life. (driving that is) but I think everyone is different at different ages. I do think though that the younger people seem to think that 65 is the golden mark of people not being capable of doing things anymore. Maybe we shouldn't issue a driving license to anyone under say 21. LOL Same with cell phones. Ya gotta be over 21. umm what else can we re-regulate. LOL

jeffs99vulcan · 11-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Keep laughing. I just put a stop payment on our equalization cheque we sent to Ontario................

SHARESIES!!! What would your mother say if she heard you talking like that???

(P.S. I'm not so sure it was good government or responsible fiscal management that found you sitting on top of the world's largest raw fuel deposits!!! What say we use it to... what? Oh... you sold it already? ALL of it?)

Big Ed · 11-21-2008

jeffs99vulcan,

Are you in Ottawa, or near Ottawa?

I used to live near Cornwall, just across the river to the south

Ed

jeffs99vulcan · 11-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Ed

jeffs99vulcan,

Are you in Ottawa, or near Ottawa?

I used to live near Cornwall, just across the river to the south

Ed

Nepean really, but technically Ottawa now, after amalgamation.

I was born in Cornwall though! Only stayed there a year, then lived in Kanata all my life until my wife and I bought our first house in Nepean, then our second (that we're still in), still in Nepean (Barrhaven)... I still visit Cornwall every now and then, it's a REALLY nice ride and fun to cross the border!

brother · 11-21-2008

I find a cell phone pluged into someone's head is just as bad as someone driving past there able years. Gray hair has nothing to do with it.

Big Ed · 11-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffs99vulcan

Nepean really, but technically Ottawa now, after amalgamation.

I was born in Cornwall though! Only stayed there a year, then lived in Kanata all my life until my wife and I bought our first house in Nepean, then our second (that we're still in), still in Nepean (Barrhaven)... I still visit Cornwall every now and then, it's a REALLY nice ride and fun to cross the border!

Ah!

I am from Massena. I have been wanting to take the family to Ottawa when I am up visiting my mom, but my two oldest are step-kids. Their "sperm donor" (he is no father) would have to OK them leaving the country, and he refuses.

6ZeroZeroR · 11-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lobocop

This Mod found his post funny

That 's good b/c it was meant to be humorous.

6ZeroZeroR · 11-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pure Pork

Over 40 years of riding on all kinds of bikes, I have experienced quite a few people trying to run me off the road that weren't distracted by anything obvious, other than a supposed hatred of motorcyclists.

That did cross my mind but had I gone with that mentality I would have been called paranoid. I learned LONG time ago that there's no such thing as a "nice l'il ol' 'person'...". As many of us get older we become more firm in our convictions. That doesn't translate to "nice" or "tolerant" to me. I could care less about a person's age, gender, occupation, disability, political views,or beliefs. It's actions that I "judge" and react to. Bikers are a different breed. We are the targets of the collective misery.

11-20-2008	#23 (permalink)
infonavigator Motorcycle Enthusiast Forum Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Scottsmoor FL Posts: 91	No matter who is at the wheel you don't know what their driving capabilities are. What you do know is there is a large, heavy projectile you need to avoid to survive the ride. An old guy in a Crown Vic, a family in a mini-van or a young woman in a Honda Civic.....either one doing that maneuver outweighs you and your bike. Drivers Ed tells us "Driving is a privilege, not a right." Forget that "right-of-way" you think you have. That works in court, not on pavement. I hope everyone rides safely. No, the gray hair thing doesn't bother me. What would bother me is if you bet your life on that stereotype.....and lost. __________________ 2006 Vulcan 900 Classic

11-20-2008	#28 (permalink)
jeffs99vulcan Keeper of Donkey Forum Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 13,787	Ya know Zero, I know you were concerned about stereotyping the blue-hairs, so I started trying to remember my worst incident ever... and I did. We were in a charity ride, the Ride for Dad for Prostate Cancer research. The first half of the ride is an escorted parade-type, the second half a poker run, so you start to get separated. There were 6 of us in it together though, and were cruising along in a pack at 50mph on the outskirts of a town, and were about pass a gas station at speed. A car pulls out, and I mean pulls out RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, I was in the lead. On the binders, as hard as humanly and mechanically possible... the back wheel locked up and the front wheel barked, but I held it, it was a textbook emergency stop and I was amazed and proud at the same time, and I ended up on the gravel shoulder, running even with his passenger side back door by the time we were at the same speed. While I pulled back on to the road an slowly got back up to speed, trying to figure out if I broke out into a sweat or pee'd my pants, while my tongue was so swollen I thought I was going to choke, two of the guys I was with gunned it and pulled up beside him, then in front. Two more pulled in tight behind him, the last stayed with me. While I'm the first to admit that may not be the smartest reaction, they did it it make him aware... They said if it had been a young guy they'd have probably forced him over... Anyway, they said he was about 90. No clue. None. They could tell he had no clue what he'd done, that there was anyone in front of him, that they had boxed him in, that they rode beside his door yelling at him for a few seconds. Nothing. They said he was SO clueless, they just backed off, nothing else to do... So I'm not stereotyping, just telling my own worst story and who it involved... draw your own conclusion! __________________ Jeff - Ottawa, Ontario '99 Vulcan 800 Classic I WAS THERE! Day of Donkey August 8, 2009 Kansas March '09 M-o-M

11-21-2008	#35 (permalink)
Big Ed Can't find time to ride BTK Expert Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Roxboro, NC Posts: 526	jeffs99vulcan, Are you in Ottawa, or near Ottawa? I used to live near Cornwall, just across the river to the south Ed __________________ Isaiah 53:5

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11-20-2008	#21 (permalink)
Pure Pork A Beast Rider Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Central Illinois, Galesburg, below I-80, cornfields not skyscrapers Posts: 19	"Since I'm going to turn left at the approaching intersection I start to accelerate in case the older gentleman ahead of me decides to do the same. After riding behind him in plain sight for a couple miles, I pull forward and as I do he drifts into my lane and forces me into the center turning lane(between the two sets of yellow center lanes). I lay on the horn right beside his door and he doesn't acknowledge me. I pull ahead and keep my eye on him in the mirror and he acts like nothing happened." Are you sure he didn't see you, or just ignored you? We had a guy who was in his Eighties that rear-ended a friends son sitting at a stoplight on his sportbike, then pulled around him to get into the grocery store. Cops found him in the store shopping, he replied "what's the big deal? I have insurance." Over 40 years of riding on all kinds of bikes, I have experienced quite a few people trying to run me off the road that weren't distracted by anything obvious, other than a supposed hatred of motorcyclists.

11-21-2008	#37 (permalink)
brother Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,134	I find a cell phone pluged into someone's head is just as bad as someone driving past there able years. Gray hair has nothing to do with it.

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