Tuesday 14 September 2010

Motorcycles

I learned yesterday that, in start-and-stop or slow moving traffic, a motorcycle can be a cyclists best friend.
A motorcycle rider caught up to me yesterday morning on St Mary's shortly after the three lanes merged to two. I managed to keep pace with him all the way to the diamond lanes and while he was guarding his lane, he was also guarding me. This was probably the most serene ride I have had on that stretch of road; the only thing I really had to watch for was potholes. I have no idea if that fellow knew what a favour he was doing me, but I'm going to have to try to find another motorcycle today.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it was mutually beneficial - as long as you were paying attention to each other, you didn't need to worry as much about cars running up behind you or cutting in from the left, and he didn't need to worry about someone suddenly cutting him off from the right.

Most of my encounters with bicyclists have been pleasant and/or beneficial, but I've also had a couple of fingers flashed my way (almost always at red lights).

Gord said...

No thanks. A lot of motorcycles are so loud they actually hurt my ears when they go by me on my bicycle. If they can't always be quieter, the wretched things should be banned.

Sox said...

This motorcycle was a quiet one. I hardly heard it coming. But I agree. Some are horrible.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you guys, I don't agree with the "loud pipes save lives" sentiment.

I saw a great shirt a little while ago - it said, "If loud pipes save lives, imagine what learning to ride that thing could do".