Riding vs Flying -- How many here ride?

On 1 Jul 2006 05:35:24 -0700, "Jay Honeck" wrote:

snip

It used to be that most pilots I knew rode motorcycles, but that seems
to be less of a correlation lately. Wot say the group -- do you
currently ride a motorcycle? Did you in the past?

Yes & yes.

Trying to explain to someone why you need to ride (or need to fly) is
semi-pointless.

If they've been there, you don't need to explain it. If they haven't,
you can't explain it.

First tandem skydiving lesson I ever took, the instructor was
surprised that I appeared to me calm, cool, and collected all the way
down.

I explained that falling toward the surface of the earth @ 120mph from
a mile up is pretty tame compared to travelling horizontally across it
@ 140mph on 2 wheels.

Currently ride a 40 hp "thumper". I can still be stupid, but I can't
be really stupid.

TC

"Skywise" wrote in message

Believe me, I was starting to go down that road myself. I was
starting to take off people's mirrors and kick their doors
whenever I was slighted on the road. Would you rather I go
back to doing that instead of driving the way I do now? hmmmm?

I would "rather" nothing at all. You can drive as you want, but you're
generating your own antagonists as you do. Are the only available options
selfish anarchy or unbridled road rage? That's just juvenile
rationalization for picking one bad choice over another. The adult choice
is to pay attention, avoid the circumstances that lead to accidents, and
show a little patience and maturity. You're not the only one with
experience here. I virtually lived on my bikes for about eight years,
year-round locally (winter and summer) and six cross-country trips, and I
never had an accident, never had a run-in with a car or truck driver, and
never had to resort to kicking doors or bashing mirrors, either. Your
"I-only-drive-this-way-because-car-drivers-force-me-to" rationale carries no
weight in this corner.

Morgans wrote:

Here in NC, your are liable to get a bullet in your ass, or run off the
road, doing that crap. I might be one of the ones to run you off, as you
are pulling forward.

Interesting. As one who moved to NC last year (from CA, after 30+ years
there), I find the traffic here pretty relaxed in comparison. The
percentage of combative types is way lower (though they do exist). I do
think that the overall driver skill level is lower here - and I do see
a lot of really stupid accidents in NC (like totally avoidable by
anyone on the ball). One thing I find highly amusing is that, whenever
a few snowflakes fall in the winter, they close the schools and just
about averybody disappears.

I had a direct comparison recently - spent a few days in the LA basin
on business. It was definitely life in the fast lane again (complete
with road rage encounters).

BTW - to answer the original questions, yes and yes. I started flying
in 1967 and bought my first bike in 1970 (would have done so sooner but
for parental opposition, not to mention lack of funding). Have been
doing both more or less continuously since.

David Johnson

Here in NC, your are liable to get a bullet in your ass, or run off the
road, doing that crap. I might be one of the ones to run you off, as you
are pulling forward.

Interesting. As one who moved to NC last year (from CA, after 30+ years
there), I find the traffic here pretty relaxed in comparison.

Yep. It is true; everything is a bit slower in the south.

The
percentage of combative types is way lower (though they do exist).

It isn't the combative type that I am talking about. It isn't me that has a
gun in the car, ready to use. Have no doubt, the redneck folk DO have guns
loaded, in the car, and occasionally do threaten with them, or use them.

I do
think that the overall driver skill level is lower here - and I do see
a lot of really stupid accidents in NC (like totally avoidable by
anyone on the ball). One thing I find highly amusing is that, whenever
a few snowflakes fall in the winter, they close the schools and just
about averybody disappears.

Let me tell you why that is.

I also used to drive school bus, as a substitute driver. There are a lot of
gravel roads in the mountain, that never get sunshine on them, because they
are cut out of the side of a steep hill. Any snow sticks on them very
quickly. Most often, they are slanted for easy drainage, towards the
outside of the corner, to a drop-off. At the edge of the road, there is
almost always no shoulder, and a hundred foot (or more) drop-off, with NO
guard-rail. None. Put some very wet snow on this road, drive on it to pack
it down, get colder because the cold front just came through that brought
this snow, and what do you have? ICE! A sheet of it, and since it is on
the north side of the hill, the sun isn't going to melt it!

How many school busses (or young unexperienced drivers) do you think the
superentendent of the school would accept going off the embankment? Zero is
the correct answer, of course.

Also, the snow is different, where I live in NC. I grew up on the shores of
Lake Erie, so snow was no stranger to me, into my mid 20's. 3 to 6 inches,
no problem. Usually kind of dry, fair traction. Temp, far enough below
freezing, that it has a fairly low moisture content, usually.

Here, the snow usually follows freezing rain, and falling temperatures. You
end up with a quarter inch of ice, then some snow on top, for good measure.

I got stopped at a stop sign on a hill, with a very slight incline. VERY
slight, perhaps 1 inch to the foot. I almost could not get going again,
even knowing how to drive on the snow. That was after I was here about 3 or
4 years. I went home that day, knowing that the snow IS (or CAN be)
different, here. Once again, the school transportation people need to
consider that this snow *might* be the snow event that is one of these
special "slippery as snot" snows.

Do the drivers in the south take their caution too far? Without a doubt.
The penalty for being wrong may be severe. Also, you have to consider that
the biggest risk is not *you* getting stuck, but some other yahoo driving
like an idiot sliding into you. Lots of people just stay home. It will be
gone later in the day, or usually the next day, but at the most 3 days, so
there is no need to be impatient and get out on the battlefield. Besides,
you allready went to the store to get bread and milk, so what else do you
need? g (That is really true. The shelves empty at the first prediction
of snow. God help you, if you really were going to be out of bread or
milk!)

I had a direct comparison recently - spent a few days in the LA basin
on business. It was definitely life in the fast lane again (complete
with road rage encounters).

The larger cities have some road rage, but less than other region's big
cities. You have to be more careful in the smaller cities, 'cuz that is
where the rednecks are going to be hanging out. They attitude is, "it ain't
nothin' for me to whip a man's a^s, or shoot his a^s." Really.

So remember everyone; take it easy out there. Remember, life is too fast,
to worry about going fast "all" of the time! Slow down and enjoy!
--
Jim in NC

"John Gaquin" wrote in
:


"Skywise" wrote in message

Believe me, I was starting to go down that road myself. I was
starting to take off people's mirrors and kick their doors
whenever I was slighted on the road. Would you rather I go
back to doing that instead of driving the way I do now? hmmmm?

I would "rather" nothing at all. You can drive as you want, but you're
generating your own antagonists as you do.

I have had no problems since I adopted my current driving style.


Are the only available options
selfish anarchy or unbridled road rage? That's just juvenile
rationalization for picking one bad choice over another.

Is it? You seem to be in the same vein as Morgans, and not
listening to what I am saying. I do what I do because of
what others do on the road. When I started riding, I played
it 'safe'. I also had a lot of close calls. I had people
who would actually try to run me off the road for what
reason, I have no idea. But since I've adopted my current
driving style, I no longer have these problems.


The adult choice
is to pay attention, avoid the circumstances that lead to accidents,

Which is EXACTLY what my current driving style accomplishes.
I remove myself from those situations which experience has
taught me are dangerous ones to be in.


and
show a little patience and maturity.

Patience? For idiots who by their inability to drive are
endangering my life? You want me to have patience?!?! HA!

Maturity? Well, let's see here. I could either blow my
top and start beating the **** out of people when they
nearly kill me on the road. or....

I could just drive in a way that removes me from nearly
all chance of encountering such situations. This is the
choice I made.

Which is the more mature option?



You're not the only one with
experience here. I virtually lived on my bikes for about eight years,

19+ years riding, 18+ of which on the streets and freeways
of Los Angelese and Orange counties. For about half those
years my bike was my primary transportation for work.

I'll bet your experiences are different than mine, unless
all your riding has been in the same area I've been riding.



year-round locally (winter and summer) and six cross-country trips, and
I never had an accident, never had a run-in with a car or truck driver,
and never had to resort to kicking doors or bashing mirrors, either.
Your "I-only-drive-this-way-because-car-drivers-force-me-to" rationale
carries no weight in this corner.

Then get out of MY corner.

You see. I act like this because I DON'T WANT OT ****ING DIE BECAUSE
OF SOME **** HEAD THAT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE.

Get it?

I've been a very happy rider since I changed my driving style. I
have so few 'incidents' any more because of it, that when something
does happen I just shrug it off and drive away.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?

"Skywise" wrote

Really? I can go down to my local Home Depot and by acetone
by the gallon.

I was using that as a speaking point, that many things are illegal in CA,
because they "are suspected of causing cancer in humans." (at 5,000% the
normal concentration, and injected into the bloodstream, of course g)

I didn't know what was allowed or not allowed in La La land, so I just used
something that I'm sure has a great big warning.
--
Jim in NC

"John Gaquin" wrote

The adult choice is to pay attention, avoid the circumstances that lead to
accidents, and show a little patience and maturity. You're not the only
one with experience here. I virtually lived on my bikes for about eight
years, year-round locally (winter and summer) and six cross-country trips,
and I never had an accident, never had a run-in with a car or truck
driver, and never had to resort to kicking doors or bashing mirrors,
either. Your "I-only-drive-this-way-because-car-drivers-force-me-to"
rationale carries no weight in this corner.

HURRAH!!!

Thanks, John. I'm glad that at least a few of us have sensible driving
habits.
--
Jim in NC

Matt W wrote:

Baloney. It is simply a good idea that hasn't yet come to fruition in
many places in the US. Encouraging motorcycle riding by allowing lane
splitting is at least as good an idea as having bus and car pool lanes.

I'm not surprised that Matt feels this way. It fits.
--
Jim in NC

"Newps" wrote

Actually that's not the case. My kids ridicule kids with tattoos. They
see the idiot teenage motorcycle drivers and know that's why they won't be
on one. The rules make sense and they can see that. It's not even a
battle.

Good for them, if that's what they think.
--
Jim in NC

Matt Whiting wrote in news:Zd%pg.154$Pa.21963
@news1.epix.net:

Snipola
I was talking about riding in stopped traffic.

I think you have hit on something here.

I have a hunch that when I first mentioned white lining, that
many ASSUMED I meant I was one of those motorcyclists that
fly between moving cars 30 mph faster than the flow of traffic.

But my posted example was of white lining at stoplights, when
traffic is stopped.

There's a big difference between the two situations.

At stop lights, the only reason for other drivers to be upset
is that they're jealous that I happen to be getting ahead of
them in traffic. Fact is, and I've tested this a few times,
I don't gain much time by white lining. But I do gain something
for my safety.

Brian
--
http://www.skywise711.com - Lasers, Seismology, Astronomy, Skepticism
Seismic FAQ: http://www.skywise711.com/SeismicFAQ/SeismicFAQ.html
Quake "predictions": http://www.skywise711.com/quakes/EQDB/index.html
Sed quis custodiet ipsos Custodes?