You are right, the likelihood of one of these ignorant riders killing anyone but themselves is low; unfortunately when a near miss occurs and you are involved, the psychological trauma stays with you for a long time.
For me two examples of these fools occurred on the 401; two very separate and different occasions. Both happened at night.
I look at my mirrors at least every five seconds whether riding or driving. I am west-bound on Hwy 401 just west of Keele where for people that know the area there is an s-curve with a dip. I'm travelling a little above the speed limit and there are a few cars behind me. I see two riders approaching behind me at high rate of speed so now I start to focus on them; speed difference is quite large. Lead rider is about 6-8 bike lengths ahead; we are approaching the s-curve. All of a sudden lead rider does a wheelie and enters curve on rear wheel; passing me on rear wheel. If I had not been watching I would not have known where he was. What if I changed lane?
Second incident I wanted to change lane to right, signalled right, checked mirrors and blind spot. I typically take my time with lane changes so second observation is required (allowing signal to flash 3-6 times). Just as I check my blind spot to right for the second time and I am ready to lane change right, I see a rider on a SS passing me on the right; so I abort lane change. I was travelling at 130 km/h in my car; rider by my estimate travelling 160-180 km/h. I missed seeing him because of curves and elevation changes behind me as well as there was cross-over from the express lanes behind me. And for those that are thinking of saying I should have been looking better, I could not have done better. There was an open lane to my left, I am signalling lane change right, why not pass on my left?
I you are a so called good rider and you are riding much faster then traffic, how about looking at your environment and making the best decision for your own safety. I don't want your death on my conscience.
For me two examples of these fools occurred on the 401; two very separate and different occasions. Both happened at night.
I look at my mirrors at least every five seconds whether riding or driving. I am west-bound on Hwy 401 just west of Keele where for people that know the area there is an s-curve with a dip. I'm travelling a little above the speed limit and there are a few cars behind me. I see two riders approaching behind me at high rate of speed so now I start to focus on them; speed difference is quite large. Lead rider is about 6-8 bike lengths ahead; we are approaching the s-curve. All of a sudden lead rider does a wheelie and enters curve on rear wheel; passing me on rear wheel. If I had not been watching I would not have known where he was. What if I changed lane?
Second incident I wanted to change lane to right, signalled right, checked mirrors and blind spot. I typically take my time with lane changes so second observation is required (allowing signal to flash 3-6 times). Just as I check my blind spot to right for the second time and I am ready to lane change right, I see a rider on a SS passing me on the right; so I abort lane change. I was travelling at 130 km/h in my car; rider by my estimate travelling 160-180 km/h. I missed seeing him because of curves and elevation changes behind me as well as there was cross-over from the express lanes behind me. And for those that are thinking of saying I should have been looking better, I could not have done better. There was an open lane to my left, I am signalling lane change right, why not pass on my left?
I you are a so called good rider and you are riding much faster then traffic, how about looking at your environment and making the best decision for your own safety. I don't want your death on my conscience.
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