Stay Alert

[Insolentsquid_imp]

As my old bike trainer used to say..."ride like every other bugger on the road is out to kill you" and some days it feels like he's spot on.

My close(st) shave came on my beloved first bike, a battered but lively VF500 on a roundabout.

I was on the roundabout intending to go straight across, and to my left, waiting to enter the roundabout was an elderly gent and his wife on a Sunday afternoon drive, and yes, he had a flat cloth cap on (Brit stereotype).

In best defensive riding mode, I made eye contact with him to be sure he'd seen me, and just as I'm straightening up, yes, he pulls out in front of me.

You've heard the expression 'time slowed down' and it really did.

I cranked the bike hard over, and distinctly remember my brain coolly working out that I was going to hit the driver's door (and serve the daft old git right if I ended up in his lap), then I cranked the bike even further over, and again my brain's moving the point of impact, past the 'A' pillar, onto the front wing (at which point it's telling me to stand up just before impact so as to have a chance of going over and skipping down the road beyond)

I'd like to say I missed him by a whisker, but I can't as I distinctly remember some part of my bike made contact with some part of his car, and then I was past, still upright.

He drove on, and I pulled over.

The irrational, non-calculating part of my brain is now screaming "get after him and ....show him the error of his ways..ahem". But I was just so glad to be still in one piece that I just sat there with a stupid grin on my face.

Interesting. I won an advanced riding course on a poker run. Couple of years ago. I'm very glad I took it, but that's not the point. The instructor told me, 'Forget the eye contact as there's no real guarantee they've seen you. Watch the front wheels.'

Interesting. I won an advanced riding course on a poker run. Couple of years ago. I'm very glad I took it, but that's not the point. The einstructor told me, 'Forget the eye contact as there's no real guarantee they've seen you. Watch the front wheels.'

Ah, yes, now when I say that I was riding in defensive mode, I make no claims to be an advanced rider - never was, and by current performance, never will be; but, sometimes I ride in defensive mode, sometimes I ride in 'rebel without a cause' mode 'responsible police rider' mode, or 'Top Gun' mode..and I sure aint Marlon Brando, Or CHips material, and I don't think I have sh@@@ed Kelly McGillis (I'm sure I would have remembered)

..but one can live one's fantasy... If only when on two wheels....!