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Checking six. 11/17/2006

I was on my usual run in to work this morning. I’ve been sent on temporary detachment from the tower to a site, and it’s a 35 kilometer run one way. The journey is spent almost all the way on highway, and the roads are good, and the tarmac fresh. Ideal high speed run material. Which is what I usually find myself doing, since for some strange reason, I’ve been waking up late the past week.

I usually run along the highway at something like 130 to 145 km/h. A nice, slow, loafing, speed for me. Fast enough to keep you alert, slow enough to be relaxing. The posted speed limit is 110 km/h. As I mentioned in conversation to someone a few days ago, I do break the speed limit every day. But, I don’t do it in a dangerous manner, or inconvenience other road users with my riding.

So why is that this morning, an idiot in an MPV, with his family and kids in the back, felt obliged to sit 6 inches from my arse, at 90 miles an hour? I was riding along, minding my own business, when I could feel the pressure push from a vehicle behind me. I glanced in my mirrors, and saw them filled with MPV grille. This twat was right behind me, very, very close indeed.

I whacked open the throttle, and zoomed up the highway. When I had created some distance between him and me, I returned to my normal speed. Not even 3 kilometers down the road, he was right up my arse again. I did the same thing. He caught up again. He obviously wasn’t getting the point that we were both speeding, and that I could leave him for dust anytime I so chose.

I moved over to the left, and he went past. He weaved between cars, overtaking on the left. And then suddenly moved over into the middle lane, where I was, and slowed up. This guy was being a wanker of the highest order. I moved over to the fast lane, and twisted the throttle to W.F.O. The bike responded, and we made like the U.S.S. Enterprise when Picard says “engage”.

As I went past, I saw him braking like there was no tomorrow to make the exit for the rest stop. Some people need driving lessons…

Comments»

1. spiller - 11/17/2006

some people need to use their brains..

2. Dangerous Variable - 11/17/2006

You should have showed him your middle finger. F*** the presence of the kids, because he should do the explaining to his kids (if he knows what you did that for) for his stupidity and his insolent behavior on the road!

3. Mad - 11/17/2006

Nothing worse than a tailgater. Tailgate a car and he’s risking bashing another car, tailgate a biker and he’s risking killing a biker; maybe you should have removed one of his wing mirrors as an illustration of how annoyed bikers get by this kind of behaviour…

4. IB - 11/17/2006

Malaysian drivers… what can one say. Probably the only way he can display what he thinks is machismo in his miserable life.

5. thesnark - 11/17/2006

Spiller : That is, of course, that said driver actually has brains to use.

DV : Yeah, I could have. But, again, for some very strange reason, I seem to find myself mellowing out over the past week, because I’ve been in a bloody good mood.

Mad : There was a time when I used to ride around with a handful of ball bearings in my jacket pocket. Ride past at warp speed, and toss them behind me at about windsheild height.

IB : Maybe what he needs to do is get a motorcycle. Riding never fails to make me grin like I’ve been pumping the neighbour’s dog.

6. Gary Charpentier - 11/18/2006

I was beginning to worry about you for awhile there, mate. Glad you’re back to normal… no, that’s not the right word.

Let’s call it “Snark nominal”.

Good stuff!

Ride well,
=gc=