Watch the Traffic

[MarkG]

Coming home the freeway was moving right along at 70 to 75mph, depending on the time of day the 65mph speed limit is collectively ignored. Next thing I know a pickup two cars ahead and three lanes over lost control and was spinning over all five lanes. Why this guy never rolled after three or four spins is beyond me. By pure luck nobody was next to the pickup and there was enough room for everybody to stop and avoid each other safely. It did not appear there was anything mechanically wrong like a flat tire or something when the pickup limped to the side of the road. I started thinking in another few seconds I would have been right where the pickup did the first spin crossing three lanes of traffic. With the riding season just starting keep an eye out for everything going on around you not just what might be directly in front.

[waterman]

I was in Denver a few weeks ago for work. An old pickup was next to me and loved to play speed to the next stop light. He hit the brakes on one light and his front tires were wobbling to bad he took both lanes to control it. Idiots are everywhere.

By the way, I thought your riding season was 24/7/365.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by waterman

I was in Denver a few weeks ago for work. An old pickup was next to me and loved to play speed to the next stop light. He hit the brakes on one light and his front tires were wobbling to bad he took both lanes to control it. Idiots are everywhere.

By the way, I thought your riding season was 24/7/365.

I think Mark said that for the benefit of the rest of the group.

[id-man]

Bee flew in? Kill everybody in a 50 yard radius but don't let me get stung by a bee - FUCK BEES.

[id-man]

That's cool I wasn't sure it would let me say that.
But one more thing - fuck spiders too! LOL

[cactusjack]

Mark will know what I'm talking about here...

I was riding home one afternoon a couple of years ago on the 202. There is always a bottleneck east of the 101 because the right lane disappears at Dobson and then again at Alma School because most drivers are freaking idiots and wait until the last second to merge.

Anyway, I was coming up on traffic at a dead stop and it can be a "pucker moment", so I was watching my rear views to make sure the guy behind me was slowing down. I heard a screeching noise and in my mirror, I see a Suburban about 200 feet behind me smoking his tires before he starts to do 360's. He had his head up his ass and didn't realize traffic was coming to a dead halt. I was surprised that he didn't roll over or hit anyone else. I pulled forward between two lanes of cars because he was heading right for me. He ended up stopped in the next lane about 20 feet behind where I was.

[dshelly]

I don't envy you guys in large metropolitan areas one bit. Worst thing here is an occasional deer that runs across the road.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by dshelly

I don't envy you guys in large metropolitan areas one bit. Worst thing here is an occasional deer that runs across the road.

Rush "hour" here goes from about 6-9 am and from 3-6:30 or so in the evenings. If there is a serious or fatal crash on one of the freeways all bets are off. I work from 7-4 to try to beat the worst of it. Traffic is worse from fall to spring when ASU is in session and the snowbirds are here. From now until October it gets a lot better.

I have had so many close calls over the years I stick to surface streets when riding the bike to work.

[tonik]

I was passing through St. Louis just as rush hour started a couple of years ago otw to the Ozarks. In the left lane where I like to be on busy wide freeways just flowing with traffic. About 6 cars up in the lane to my right I see a puff of blue smoke from the left rear of a car. Instantly knew what was next and rolled off and started braking. His tire blew...rubber everywhere, I ducked down while it pelted the windshield and bike. Now I am on the brakes hard and he goes sideways. You know what is next, just like a highside he slows down enough that the tires catch again and he shoots left and hits the center wall. Dead stop across my lane. I stopped with plenty of room and drove over next to the wall...cagers behind me all stopped just fine.

But that was when I decided then next bike and every bike I ever own will have ABS.

[landman]

what is this rush hour you speak of ?