I don’t like Mondays. 4/9/2007
Mondays sometimes suck, and with good reason. I’m not refering to Garfield the Cat, and his “I hate Mondays” routine. I’m talking about the waking up, and wanting to destroy the world kind. I rolled out this morning on Bikebike, late. There was a bit of an altercation involving toothpaste, chocolate milk and a blanket, which was resolved with the judicious application of force. This resulted in me running out, jumping on Bikebike, and shooting off with the bare minimum of engine warm-up time.
I came out to the “T” junction connecting to the main road, and took the slip road left. I headed up the acceleration lane, and signalled to merge with the traffic. I checked my mirror, and did a quick over the shoulder. The car behind was a ways away, and there was more than enough room for me to merge, safely. I did so, although I wasn’t all that quick about it. I didn’t want to give the engine too much right wrist, because she was still cold, and camshaft and crankshaft bearings aren’t cheap.
As I went to the right, I looked, and this bloody matchbox on wheels had come right up to me, and was occupying the space I wanted. He accelerated, and was trying to push me back to the side of the road. And he was being really aggressive about it. I held my ground, and he promptly squeezed between me and the car on the right, trying to get ahead. This was dangerous driving, not to mention the fact that it was bordering on pre-meditated murder.
If he brushed me, I would be bouncing off the tarmac, and smashing my collar bone on the curb. I looked into the car, and it was some middle aged guy, with his wife next to him. The car was the ubiquitous little Kancil, a car I particularly happen to despise, because I’ve noticed that a majority of males driving said car have real ego problems on the road, probably because they get bullied by other road users. It isn’t my fault that your car is small, and has an under powered engine. I ride a small bike daily. Small in comparison to the other bikes in the stable, and grossly under powered when compared to an open class superbike, but it will still put your matchbox to shame.
Which is something these drivers still don’t realise. How many times does it take for you to have your windows sucked out by a bike before you realise that you are basically driving what amounts to a small, minimalist car, designed only for short runs in the city? And that just because it has alloy wheels and a racing stripe, does not mean it is going to go any faster than about 140 km/h?
I came up to this idiot, and gave him the stare of death. His wife looked at me, and said something to her husband. He pointedly stared straight ahead, not wanting to see the pure hatred I was staring through his window. I slipped in front of him, and flipped him the bird. And gave him a “come on” gesture. I accellerated, and as we went down the hill, I took both hands off the bars, and stood up. I turned, looked at him, and gave him another bird. He came a little closer, and was obviously contemplating running me over. I laughed inside my helmet, dropped into the seat, and gunned it.
As Bikebike responded, I thought about what idiots ego makes of us all. And realised I was being as much of an idiot as he was. I am comfortable enough in my skill with motorcycles that I don’t feel the need to show it off, anytime, anywhere. Some of the guys in the club have been bugging me to show them stunts, or how to go fast, or how I take corners so smoothly it seems to be one single seamless action from upright to heeled way, way over, in a deceptively slow manner, that someone following behind actually realises is lightning fast, and with zero loss of corner speed. And I’ve always refused. My ego doesn’t need stroking like that. And yet, here I was, on a public road, playing tag with an idiot in a car. Who, if he decided to test the impact strength of his car against my bike, meant that I would lose, and in probably the worst way possible. My ego was getting the best of my sense of logic.
I backed off, and Mr Idiot Matchbox caught up with me. I looked over at him, and he looked at me. He raised a hand in apology. I nodded my head, and headed off. As I walked into the office, I was still in rather a disgruntled mood. I sat down in my chair, looking at my desk. I wasn’t in the best of frame of mind after fighting through the chaos that is morning rush hour. Until the receptionist brought these in for me and placed them on my desk.
Coffee and doughnuts makes everything all right. And in case anyone is thinking of asking, no, my name isn’t Colin. It’s Percival.
- Posted in : On the road
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
Your name is really Percival, or you are just playing tricks on people like me?
Try bagel next time…
Ziniac : My name *might* Percival. Or I might be playing tricks.
Jas : Good idea, I think I’ll go down to the bagel place for lunch today.
A chocolate coating on them nuts (damn… tat sounds so wrong) would make the day even better… ^_^
coffee and donuts - yum! or add a little bit of bacardi into that coffee *cough cough*
cmos : I think you just spoilt my appetite for the day
buaya69 : I think you mean Bailey’s Irish Cream. Rum in my coffee would just turn it into turpentine.
Percival my ass.. your name is HARRY lar….
Jam Donuts are clearly the winner in this discussion, except for the fact that nobody has mentioned them, until now. The kind with jam through the middle, not just on the top. And, Hot chocolate on a cold day. You’ll sleep right through work…unless, of course, you didn’t want to.
bikerwannabe : We go riding this Saturday weekend. No excuses. Intensecure coming along?
killermk : Not a big fan of jam doughnuts, I prefer them plain, with lots of sugar for the rush. And you have not lived till you’ve tried the fried doughnuts from Hock Choon’s. If you ever get out here we’ll go get some.
Yeah, could be up for a cruise. Got to finish running the thing in sometime! Keep me posted.
The best kind of doughnut is the rubber kind, complete with choking smoke followed by hideous expense.
Your name is IDIOT. Think of your little ones before doing that!
Grant : I’ll get in touch.
Jac : I know. I know.
Percival: Bit of a problem there… battery\’s flat from not riding for 2 months…. plus, I don\’t think the red cadillac can keep up with bikebike and yellow banana..
bikerwannabe : I can swing by your place late tonight and drop off my battery charger.
yes please..
you know then don’t you dare again
/me wonders if my little red toy can keep up, if I wanna come along…
Jac : Who are you? My mother? Only 3 people in this world get to tell me off like that, and you certainly aren’t one of them.
Jeyadev : Sure you can.
in that case, /me just needs the time and place.
Seems like ego has been creeping to the forefront of societal exchange even on the anonymous level, more and more over the years. Everyone feeling like they have to prove something, no matter how insignificant it really is. And I get caught up in it too sometimes.
H
Harry: ride is on… if I can get the battery charger tonight.
all idiots deserved to be told off my dear Mr Snark, you proved to be one in all.
Jac : Please read the post carefully. The person driving the car was doing it in a dangerous manner, trying to force me off the road. He was trying to kill me. What do I do in that situation, allow him to? So why am I an idiot for showing him how I felt about his driving? I was an idiot for allowing my feelings to show, I admit that. But, at no point, was I endangering any other road user. Unlike the car driver, who, with his disregard for road rules and manners, and driving in a way which was likely to cause an accident. I was in my lane, with my right of way, and this person decides that he needs to get past me, in a very dangerous way. I pay more in road tax the motorcycle that I was riding than he does for his Kancil. Who has more right to the road? The answer is both of us do, but in accordance with road rules. Since I was in front of him, his trying to squeeze past me and force me off to the side is road bullying. And I *WILL* react to that.
If you have never ridden a motorcycle or scooter on a regular basis, or done it for work, then you have no basis for calling me an idiot. Because, every day, some random car driver(s) tries to kill me. And I don’t disobey road rules. I stop at lights, I yield, I check mirrors and signal before changing lanes, I ensure that my bike has fully functional lights and systems. I pay attention when I ride, because failure to do so means death. I ride responsibly, to the best of my ability, and I throw away the rule book *ONLY* when the immediate danger is to myself, and to no one else on the road. Car drivers, on the other hand, don’t pay attention to anything other than themselves. Every day, I see drivers talking on the mobile phone, eating, drinking, putting on make up, making out, reading the papers. Doing everything you could possibly think off, *EXCEPT* paying attention to the road.
From your comments, you seem to have a perception that riders are less than worthy of your respect. You have perhaps failed to notice that accidents involving cars and motorcycles tend to be the fault of the car driver. If you don’t believe me, go check for the police statistics. Motorcycles feature high on the list, because by design, motorcycles are vulnerable, and many riders locally do not wear proper safety gear. That’s their stupidity, not anyone else’s. I always ride with my gear on, as far as is possible, except when I’m running down to the 7-11 for a loaf of bread. But some car drivers are egotistical, impatient and refuse to give way to other road users. I had such an encounter on Friday night, when a young lad tried to show his anger at me, even though he was in the wrong. 20 years ago, I would have broken his face, and probably several other parts of his body. Those of you who have met me in real life will know how very easily I can do this. That night, I walked away, after telling him off. And I was driving the truck to boot. I hadn’t braked, I would have ripped the right side of his car off. And I wasn’t speeding either.
So Jac, before calling me an idiot, look at your riding or driving habits, if you do either, before calling me an idiot. Or, perhaps if you are brave enough, come call me an idiot to my face, and tell me why. And if your reason is valid, I’ll buy you a drink, and perhaps try to prove to you why I am, or am not, so.
Well explained Mr Snark!
Cheers to you a pussywilly drink for raised temperature! …
However I still think only idiots show such feelings when on the road.
I would assume safety definitely off the mind then …
I dunno Jac. If an idiot calls you an idiot does that make you Stephen Hawkings?
I’m inclined to think so.
Perhaps if more people horned at and verbally abused errant drivers in this country, people might actually follow the damn road rules and actually be courteous.
Most Malaysian drivers have no courtesy and I hate it when these idiots accelerate to close u down when u signal. What the hell!? Signalling means, ‘please let me in’ … I am glad u stood your ground dude. I am all for aggresively making a point esp if u have been corteous to begin with …