Pick your battles

[itsthemechanic]

So last night, I’m riding home from my favourite late night caf, about 12 miles away. It’s a clear, starry night, and after a balmy day that saw highs of 16-17C the temps have dropped to about 2C, a shade above freezing…

So, I bimble home along the empty country lane, never really going much above 90-100 km/h (50-60mph). No need for any late-night heroics today. The tarmac has no grip, there is a risk of frost, and besides the faster I ride, the more I’ll just freeze. And I don’t like freezing. It’s late, I’m tired, and I just don’t give a toss.

About halfway home I glimpse some headlights in my mirrors… and seconds later I’m overtaken by some Vauxhall (“Opel”) boy racer car pushing 140.

The thought of chasing him down and giving him a free late-night course on the subject of “Power to Weight ratio 101: Why it matters to you” crosses my mind, but I’m too cold, too tired, and too experienced at motorcycling in crummy conditions to give the idea much merit, and it is quickly dismissed.

I could have, yeah. I could have totally. But I don’t have to prove anything to this punk. That’s the beauty of riding an overpowered 1100cc crotch rocket. Having so much goddamn power that you don’t really have to prove anything to anyone all the time anymore.

Because, with that kind of oomph, you can just feel bad-arse sitting at 50.
You can still feel perfectly menacing.
Kinda like a tiger, sitting in the sun, licking his balls.

Thinks I, and turn up mah heated grips

[Chenster]

hahaha you got SMOKED by an Opel

[itsthemechanic]

I knew that one was coming! -_-

[RobC]

itsthemechanic (18/03/2009)

So last night, I’m riding home from my favourite late night caf, about 12 miles away. It’s a clear, starry night, and after a balmy day that saw highs of 16-17C the temps have dropped to about 2C, a shade above freezing…

So, I bimble home along the empty country lane, never really going much above 90-100 km/h (50-60mph). No need for any late-night heroics today. The tarmac has no grip, there is a risk of frost, and besides the faster I ride, the more I’ll just freeze. And I don’t like freezing. It’s late, I’m tired, and I just don’t give a toss.

About halfway home I glimpse some headlights in my mirrors… and seconds later I’m overtaken by some Vauxhall (“Opel”) boy racer car pushing 140.

The thought of chasing him down and giving him a free late-night course on the subject of “Power to Weight ratio 101: Why it matters to you” crosses my mind, but I’m too cold, too tired, and too experienced at motorcycling in crummy conditions to give the idea much merit, and it is quickly dismissed.

I could have, yeah. I could have totally. But I don’t have to prove anything to this punk. That’s the beauty of riding an overpowered 1100cc crotch rocket. Having so much goddamn power that you don’t really have to prove anything to anyone all the time anymore.

Because, with that kind of oomph, you can just feel bad-arse sitting at 50.
You can still feel perfectly menacing.
Kinda like a tiger, sitting in the sun, licking his balls.

Thinks I, and turn up mah heated grips

Well said, a lesser (younger and or less seasoned) rider may have given chase - which may have ended in tears. Getting hot under the collar can sometimes mean you end up in hot water (or an ambulance) !!!

[Mel]

Good story, good attitude. When you see boy racers proving themselves, I always think, they’ll be wrapped round the next tree!

One day, i saw it happen, got cut up badly at a roundabout,as the lanes beforehand were changing. It was a close call due to some very fast, bad driving of the other car. As we slowed down for the roundabout, the other car didnt and lost it, through a bush, hit a sign, car on its side due to the camber of the bank. I slowed down, and contemplated helping, but though…nah! There were plenty of other people around to do that, and i didn’t want to break a nail, hope he learnt from it!

[RobC]

Mel (18/03/2009)

I always think, they’ll be wrapped round the next tree!

One day, i saw it happen, got cut up badly at a roundabout,as the lanes beforehand were changing. It was a close call due to some very fast, bad driving of the other car. As we slowed down for the roundabout, the other car didnt and lost it, through a bush, hit a sign, car on its side due to the camber of the bank. I slowed down, and contemplated helping, but though…nah! There were plenty of other people around to do that, and i didn’t want to break a nail, hope he learnt from it!

Mel - Was that while you were working? If so, it’s one way to show a learner driver how not to drive!

[Mel]

Yes, i was on a lesson at the time, it was a great demo, of how not to do junctions. After the OMG moment, we both saw the funny side in a sadistic kinda way, of seeing this little saxo on its side, with some jumped up little tosser, who nearly rammed us, looking at huge insurance, and probably a headache!! Hehehe…sorry shouldn’t laugh, but even now, its makes me smile! He could have hit me on the bike though

[itsthemechanic]

I’m confused Mel… what’s your job… driving instructor?

[RobC]

With any luck both the to$$er in the Saxo and your student will learn from that.

Being on a bike in that situation isn’t worth thinking about…

[Mel]

itsthemechanic (18/03/2009)

I’m confused Mel… what’s your job… driving instructor?

yep, but silly boys will be silly boys, and they were not my old pupils…

[Joby]

When I was learning to drive we used to go through the centre of town and the instructor would reach over and beep the horn at pretty girls. Then they would look at me because I was driving. That was in Holland of course.

[Hornet_250]

us boys aren’t all silly you no

[photographichero]

itsthemechanic (18/03/2009)

So last night, I’m riding home from my favourite late night caf, about 12 miles away. It’s a clear, starry night, and after a balmy day that saw highs of 16-17C the temps have dropped to about 2C, a shade above freezing…

So, I bimble home along the empty country lane, never really going much above 90-100 km/h (50-60mph). No need for any late-night heroics today. The tarmac has no grip, there is a risk of frost, and besides the faster I ride, the more I’ll just freeze. And I don’t like freezing. It’s late, I’m tired, and I just don’t give a toss.

About halfway home I glimpse some headlights in my mirrors… and seconds later I’m overtaken by some Vauxhall (“Opel”) boy racer car pushing 140.

The thought of chasing him down and giving him a free late-night course on the subject of “Power to Weight ratio 101: Why it matters to you” crosses my mind, but I’m too cold, too tired, and too experienced at motorcycling in crummy conditions to give the idea much merit, and it is quickly dismissed.

I could have, yeah. I could have totally. But I don’t have to prove anything to this punk. That’s the beauty of riding an overpowered 1100cc crotch rocket. Having so much goddamn power that you don’t really have to prove anything to anyone all the time anymore.

Because, with that kind of oomph, you can just feel bad-arse sitting at 50.
You can still feel perfectly menacing.
Kinda like a tiger, sitting in the sun, licking his balls.

Thinks I, and turn up mah heated grips

well written post I enjoyed it.

[sam_d]

photographichero (18/03/2009)

itsthemechanic (18/03/2009)

So last night, I’m riding home from my favourite late night caf, about 12 miles away. It’s a clear, starry night, and after a balmy day that saw highs of 16-17C the temps have dropped to about 2C, a shade above freezing…

So, I bimble home along the empty country lane, never really going much above 90-100 km/h (50-60mph). No need for any late-night heroics today. The tarmac has no grip, there is a risk of frost, and besides the faster I ride, the more I’ll just freeze. And I don’t like freezing. It’s late, I’m tired, and I just don’t give a toss.

About halfway home I glimpse some headlights in my mirrors… and seconds later I’m overtaken by some Vauxhall (“Opel”) boy racer car pushing 140.

The thought of chasing him down and giving him a free late-night course on the subject of “Power to Weight ratio 101: Why it matters to you” crosses my mind, but I’m too cold, too tired, and too experienced at motorcycling in crummy conditions to give the idea much merit, and it is quickly dismissed.

I could have, yeah. I could have totally. But I don’t have to prove anything to this punk. That’s the beauty of riding an overpowered 1100cc crotch rocket. Having so much goddamn power that you don’t really have to prove anything to anyone all the time anymore.

Because, with that kind of oomph, you can just feel bad-arse sitting at 50.
You can still feel perfectly menacing.
Kinda like a tiger, sitting in the sun, licking his balls.

Thinks I, and turn up mah heated grips

well written post I enjoyed it.

+1

[phantomgixer]

God! what a boring pointless post!!!

Are you going to tell us how you were going to push that turtle out but decided to read a newspaper and let nature takes its course!

[jonlukgil]

Perhaps Mel’s story was caused by the driver being transfixed by the sight of such a vision on a bike that he failed to see the roundabout coming up…

[PompeyTim]

Hornet 250 (18/03/2009)

us boys aren’t all silly you no

Hornet I think you’re in denial mate, of course we are, it’s genetic!!

[Hornet_250]

PompeyTim (18/03/2009)

Hornet 250 (18/03/2009)

us boys aren’t all silly you no

Hornet I think you’re in denial mate, of course we are, it’s genetic!!

ok maybe we are but we cant help it lol :D:D

[Ratty46]

sometimes brain overrules heart…

you really wanted to show him ‘proper’ acceleration didnt ya:D

i dont blame ya, had it been a summer night i know i would have, and have done…sometimes tho you know its just not owrth it…and let it go.

nice post:)

[Hornet_250]

**id say you thought with your head and not hand **