05-19-2025, 07:04 PM
So, how many of you have come across a rider who behaves so poorly that you just want to distance yourself from him?
This happened to me yesterday. After I said my goodbyes to my new friends at the finish location following the DGR, it was close enough to the coast that I decided to ride back up Pacific Coast Highway to the road that would lead me home. As I enjoyed my serene ride and enjoyed the ocean view, now by myself and not pressured with the herd of other DGR riders, I noticed two bikes coming up from behind.
One of the riders was clearly also on the DGR, and was probably headed home in my direction as well. The other was a young guy on an R1 with a rather loud exhaust. He was sporting a white t-shirt and jeans, with his only protective gear being a helmet and gloves. The DGR rider pulled up behind and to my left in the lane, while the R1 guy rode out a ways in the next lane over.
Being late afternoon, with several large beach parking lots starting to empty out, a few cars at a time were pulling out of the lots onto the highway. Every now and then, a car would pull out onto the road ahead of our group of three riders, but none so close that we'd have to brake hard or take evasive action. However, each one of them seemed to so offend the R1 rider that he'd pull up along side said car, rev his bike to the limiter and glare menacingly at them. Then, at the next traffic light, he'd look back at us with his arms stretched out, motioning something to the effect of "Can you believe that guy?" At which point, the other DGR rider and I would look at each other and shake our heads a bit, motioning "Wow, was that really necessary?"
After it happened three times, it became clear that attracting someone to get mad at was the R1 rider's pass time. And at that point, the other DGR rider and I slowed and changed lanes, allowing a row of cars to get in front of us, separating us from R1 Guy and any inference that we might be riding with him. And letting us get back to our serene, stress-free ride.
This happened to me yesterday. After I said my goodbyes to my new friends at the finish location following the DGR, it was close enough to the coast that I decided to ride back up Pacific Coast Highway to the road that would lead me home. As I enjoyed my serene ride and enjoyed the ocean view, now by myself and not pressured with the herd of other DGR riders, I noticed two bikes coming up from behind.
One of the riders was clearly also on the DGR, and was probably headed home in my direction as well. The other was a young guy on an R1 with a rather loud exhaust. He was sporting a white t-shirt and jeans, with his only protective gear being a helmet and gloves. The DGR rider pulled up behind and to my left in the lane, while the R1 guy rode out a ways in the next lane over.
Being late afternoon, with several large beach parking lots starting to empty out, a few cars at a time were pulling out of the lots onto the highway. Every now and then, a car would pull out onto the road ahead of our group of three riders, but none so close that we'd have to brake hard or take evasive action. However, each one of them seemed to so offend the R1 rider that he'd pull up along side said car, rev his bike to the limiter and glare menacingly at them. Then, at the next traffic light, he'd look back at us with his arms stretched out, motioning something to the effect of "Can you believe that guy?" At which point, the other DGR rider and I would look at each other and shake our heads a bit, motioning "Wow, was that really necessary?"
After it happened three times, it became clear that attracting someone to get mad at was the R1 rider's pass time. And at that point, the other DGR rider and I slowed and changed lanes, allowing a row of cars to get in front of us, separating us from R1 Guy and any inference that we might be riding with him. And letting us get back to our serene, stress-free ride.
You know what? I actually would like a pickle.