Uk trip and southern rudeness?

trebs · Post by **trebs** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:26 pm

I'm just back from a very short and bloody hot UK trip, I came back half a day early because I was just hacked off with sweating my nuts off in Southern traffic.
It was good to give the Storm a run like that though, introduced her to driving on the other side of the road and doing roundabouts the other way.
Was good riding.
Fuel comsumption was as expected, giving it some stick on the M20 and M11 didn't help, nor did the chugging round the London Orbital Carpark.
The return Calais to Gent sprint was also most satistfying as I new there was a fridge of cold beer waiting for me.

However, have bikers in the UK forgotten about acknowledging other bikers?
Or is it just the damn Southern rudeness that I vaguely remember?
Hardly a nod , wink, raised finger.. What is the world coming to? !

sparky750 · Post by **sparky750** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:29 pm

i noticed that when i was down there a while back ignorant southern shandy drinkers

Max · Post by **Max** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:32 pm

have bikers in the UK forgotten about acknowledging other bikers?

yes they have and its really sad how ignorant some of them are.

trebs · Post by **trebs** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 9:49 pm

The sad thing is.. I'm from the south. I know people hate the old "back in my day" line, but it's true. When I lived there, 12 years ago, people did wave. Things have certainly changed.

Spacemonkey · Post by **Spacemonkey** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:11 pm

Tis true-we're too busy watching out for butt nuggets in Mondeos about to pull out on us to be nice to other bikers. Not only that, but if you nod at every biker around london, your head would fall off...

plivesey · Post by **plivesey** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 10:35 pm

Down here in old Royal Berkshire we still nod and wave at other bikers.

Mopeds are a completely different matter though, in general no manners. Almost got killed by one yesterday. My fault for walking along the pavement it would appear.

trebs · Post by **trebs** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:19 pm

I visted my old bike shop while I was over, snotnosed kid arrived on his L-plated wonder. I had a good look over it while he was in the shop. As he came out I commented "wow, mopeds have come a long way since my Honda PC50" I just got "It aint a moped, itsa f***ing scootah, innit!"

he then roared off in disgust. Quite a roar for a MOPED.

Post by **sirch345** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:19 pm

trebs wrote: As he came out I commented "wow, mopeds have come a long way since my Honda PC50"

Hey Trebs I wish you wouldn't do things like that your're making me feel old now, as I also remember the Honda PC50, that was my first bike (moped) I bought. I thought it was the dogs bits at the time, absolutely brilliant

well it was after the push bike

and well over a 100miles to the gallon, mind you if I remember right the points never lasted very long, the spring steel type, spring use to snap far to often,
Chris.

gurnE · Post by **gurnE** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 2:32 pm

Round here bikers only acknowledge their own kind generally

Sportsbike riders are always returning my nods, but chrome tractor boys don't seem to bother!

And everyone ignores scooter riders

sparky750 · Post by **sparky750** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:48 pm

the way i see it if they're on 2 wheels good on em be it chrome lickers sports bikes or scooters i know people say they hate moped/scooter kids but they could be the bikers of the future up until a few years back the only people coming in to biking where BAB's hopeflly when they grow up a bit scooter boys will be on decent bikes. Soo why not acknowlage them after all it costs nothing and maybe they'll see what a good comunity we've got here. Just my opinion

trebs · Post by **trebs** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:02 pm

Sparky, Valid point, but...
When I was that moped boy, on my PC50, I didn't get the nod. Didn't stop me going through the motions of gaining a full ticket and getting onto a bike.
I'd guess that 8/10 of the moped riders back then never even went on to ride a bigger machine. Several factors got in the way when rolling 17.
The top two factors were Parents and Ford Escort Mk1's.
I doubt the story is much different now. Natural wastage will filter out those who can't be bothered with going through the system of gaining a license.

Mind you, that is not helped by today's system of bike education. From what I gather it's a long and expensive process. I can really see how that puts people off. Does it honestly make safer riders? I dunno.

However, I do honestly think that all car drivers should be obliged to ride a moped as part of their training. What better way to get a view on how us 2-wheelers face every day of our riding lives. VERY valuable roadcraft is learnt from a spell (and the odd spill) on 2 wheels.

sparky750 · Post by **sparky750** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:15 pm

couldnt agree more all car drivers should have to spend a spell on a bike but i still say hi to everyone on 2 wheels opposite to george orwel "2 WHEELS GOOD FOUR WHEELS BAD"

trebs · Post by **trebs** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:25 pm

Come to think of it... going a flat-out 31.235mph on my PC50, and then letting go with one hand so I could wave back... It was never going to happen. Vital speed would have scrubbed off !

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 7:53 pm

Not all bikers down south are ignorant. I always nod. But then again i come from up north and only live here because of work and make the bet of a sh1t area.

tractorbiker · Post by **tractorbiker** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:10 pm

Hey Egg - thanks for sticking up for us sour-faced, shandy-drinking, square-tyred southerners!
Some of us do try...

'Course, it were different when I were a lad. I remember when this were all fields, and you could leave yer back door open, etc. And if I put my chest on the tank, and feet on the rear-pegs of my FS1E I could get an indicated 55mph (downhill).