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Teasing March
Blog Date - 28 March 2017
March. March promises so much and then takes it away from you.
The days start to actually draw out, we move from teatime being dark to being light. The weather teases us with a handful of dry clear days that last into the early evening along with still air that while not warm no longer bites into your flesh. We find such delights as tarmac that is actually dry and can be ridden hard. We can crank the bike over and use parts of the tyre that have only seen salt and rain not tarmac since October. It feels hopeful, optimistic, perhaps even spring like as the daffodils sprout bright yellow beside the once dull grey roads.
A bright clear afternoon in March '17.
Of course this is a false hope. March brings rain in abundance (what month doesn't in the UK?). Not only will the rain dampen our spirits the risk of snow and ice is still with us. It feels as though the worst is over but no, March can close roads and wreak havoc just as readily as January and February. Just when you feel the time is right to remove that extra jumper and take the heavy blanket off the bed we'll find there's a cold snap which will leave us shivering.
March 2013. Don't trust March. (Blooming Snow!)
If you're not from the UK you probably won't know the UK's tax and accounting year starts and finishes in April. This means any council department that has not spent all this year's budget is keen to ensure every penny is gone in March otherwise someone will accuse them of being overfunded. With the marginally improving weather and the end of the fiscal year this means road works spring up on every street and alley causing traffic chaos amidst the variable weather. Not only are we clueless as to what clothing we should wear we are now battling with temporary traffic lights and endless rows of traffic cones beside partially dug workings that remain completely unattended by workers.
Finally March's intermittent warm dry days spew forth a plethora of motorcyclists unwrapping their beasts from under old bedsheets and dragging them out from the back of the garage where they've been hiding since November brought the first of the frosts. The lucky ones will have their oil and tyres checked but not all of them I'm sure. Sharon and I have spent the winter enjoying the quiet country roads in spite of the cold, wet and miserable conditions. Now, finally, blissfully at last on these warm dry March days that we've been looking forward too so much we find our quiet roads are filled with suicidal crotch rocket jockeys.
So come on - where were you lot when it was raining?
It's enough to make me thankful when the rain inevitably returns.
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Reader's Comments
CrazyFrog said :-
Yes, sadly the Power Rangers are back out in force.
Personally, I've nothing against anybody buying a large sports bike and dressing up like their GP heroes (rather than emulating last year's Guy Fawkes, like I do!), but I'd be much happier if they learned to obey the law when riding on the roads, or confined their stupidity to track days where it's less likely they'll hurt other people.
28/03/2017 12:35:29 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
That's why I try not to go out at weekends.
I broke my rule on Saturday however and was scared stiff by somebody popping up beside my right elbow. I'd just checked the mirror a few seconds earlier and there was a car about 50 metres behind me and double white lines (Warwick Road a couple of miles south of Knowle) so this character must have overtaken the car on the doubles then tried to squeeze in beside me as there was a car coming the other way. Which would probably have wiped him out had he made his "manoeuvre" a couple of seconds earlier or later.
He was followed by a bunch of his mates - all on very loud super-moto type bikes - who continued overtaking on blind bends mostly again with double white lines.
28/03/2017 13:28:40 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I'm glad it's not just me. I live not far from a motorway and not far from Rivington Barn, a well known biker's gathering place. I can tell spring is on the way by the distinctive 4 cylinder howls emanating from the roads.
I agree CrazyFrog - I've no problem with any kind of motorcycle or motorcyclist as long as they keep their more "enthusiastic" riding for the track. As for the insane overtaking habits of some riders Ian, it makes my stomach churn to imagine myself happily bimbling along in the opposite direction only to find my side of the road is occupied by oncoming traffic. It happened to me once before apparently. I don't remember the event but I still have the scars.
28/03/2017 14:27:22 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
A few years ago I was out in deepest Shropshire on the big Tiger. As I rounded a left hand bend (complete with double whites) a bike hove into view coming towards me - on my side of the road, trying to overtake a car. Being on the bike I was able to squeeze in just enough to let him* past. Had I been in the Discovery he would have been dead without question and I would have been traumatised.
*I assume male as very few women of my acquaintance, whether riders or not, use vehicles with such total lack of intelligence.
28/03/2017 15:04:41 UTC
CrazyFrog said :-
I always corner with the possibility in the back of my mind, that there may be a tractor / broken down car / horse and rider (delete as appropriate) just far enough round the bend to be out of my sight.
There's no allowing for vehicles on the wrong side of the road though is there?
28/03/2017 15:24:52 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
You do have to take into account there may be something parked around the next corner although in some circumstances you'd have to be going pretty slow to be sure you could stop in time. Just try it.
However with moving vehicles on the wrong side of the road you'd have to be in reverse to avoid them hitting you. Scary.
Ian - it is a sign of the changing times that I note that tailgaters, crazy drivers, mobile phone users, aggressive drivers and bad drivers are equally likely to be female or male these days. It is something Sharon and I have discussed.
28/03/2017 15:42:44 UTC
Chris Bell said :-
Ian Sody, I know it's not really right but my, Quietest are usually the worst friend was really nearly knocked off by an overtaking LC350er in leathers etc(going the same direction) when we stopped in Bakewell he was spoken to by my "quiet" friend, then the LCer walked the hundred yards to retrieve his keys which some how flew there.This was the late 80's so nothing changes.
28/03/2017 15:44:11 UTC
Chris Bell said :-
Do you mind me asking was it a bike or car you collided with?
Yesterday I had to avoid a female heading towards me in her Fiat 500 on my side of the road in a straight line,she looked up too late, luckily for her no one was behind me for her to plough into.
28/03/2017 16:33:10 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Chris Bell - it was another motorcyclist I collided with. That was back in 2002. According to the accident report he apexed a corner onto my side. I can neither confirm or deny this as I have zero recollection.
28/03/2017 17:40:57 UTC
Chris Bell said :-
Bloody Hell, I don't think I could ride again after that. Like Ian I too try avoid Sundays for that reason.I live on an A road where loads of bikes pass by.What a state of affairs.
28/03/2017 22:37:12 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Trying to avoid Sundays is not really an option for Sharon and I. Basically that's the only day we're sure to both be free to ride together.
If you broke your leg while stumbling down some steps you wouldn't avoid steps for the rest of your life. Getting back on the bike is kind of the same. I put my mother through hell with my crash but she was the first one to encourage me to get back on the bike.
29/03/2017 09:28:23 UTC
CrazyFrog said :-
We're all aware of the risks, and to an extent it adds a certain zest to the experience.
I'm also sure that we are all still learning, and in my case there's still lots to learn I suspect. Again, that's part of the attraction for me. The challenge of riding safely and smoothly in today's traffic conditions is appealing, and at least once or twice every week, I have a 'sh!t, I could have handled that situation better' moment.
It's a treat for me to get away onto some quiet country roads, but even then, you just can't afford to relax....
29/03/2017 10:12:05 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
The trouble is, those quiet country roads are becoming harder and harder to find......
Ren: I agree that in general poor behaviour isn't completely gender-biased. But if you go to any gathering of "bikers" and look at the riders of the noisy bikes with tiny number plates, wearing gaudy leathers with back humps etc and popping wheelies as they exit the car park, you will definitely see a majority of one gender.
I do distinguish between incompetence and carelessness on the one hand (which we are all guilty of on occasion to some extent), and aggression and stupid risk-taking on the other.
29/03/2017 10:32:32 UTC
Stuart said :-
I was unfortunate enough a few years back to have a head on with a Ford Granada. I was in my VW pick up at the time.
It turned out the other driver was a farmer who had got up early to milk his cows then had to drive to Kent and fell asleep at the wheel on the way home.
We met at about 80mph and ended up on the same ward in hospital.
29/03/2017 22:02:20 UTC
Chris Bell said :-
Ren,I Fractured my pelvis just before going to the Isle of Man some years ago basically writing off my 650 Honda 4 into the bargain,but all I really did in those days was ride, so getting back on was easier.
Considering our talk about being "that family" re James etc, I suppose I could be that biker tomorrow, ie you ,and should stop riding on that basis, but won't.
I can't avoid others on bends, but when I ride something larger than the Cg and find myself losing it (and I do)I think about something/someone at home,that usually calms me down.
I avoid climbing the bookcase (to put a small RC Heli on)in the FRONT ROOM now as I fell backwards and broke my arm, seriously . Every one thought I was kidding as I lay on the floor twisted on the floor.
Avoiding Sundays ,that luxury will come.
29/03/2017 23:54:46 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Oh Chris - imagine that - being retired! I'm 45 and Sharon is 47. While the government seem to think we must work until we're 70 (probably 85 by the time we're 70) I personally feel ready for retirement and I know Sharon does too.
I do have enough money to retire - so long as I only live another 5 weeks.
We all take risks. It's a danger to cross the road and it's a danger to navigate stairs too. We all make choices on the risks we take. Some smoke, some don't, some ride motorcycles, some don't and so on. We all have stories about how one smoker died at 47 from lung cancer and another where Mavis smoked 40 a day until she was 96.
We could try to wrap ourselves in cotton wool but then we'd end up dying of boredom.
30/03/2017 10:00:53 UTC
Chris Bell said :-
All I can say Ren is, I said I would retire at 50 due to the way BT were treating me and other engineers,they paid, and I left (long story) so you never know. 5 weeks stretches to 6 and so on ( I do miss the skip at work though, and not to put into ).
05/04/2017 23:24:30 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I work for myself and my boss is the tightest meanest Scrooge you'll ever meet so I don't hold out much hope for my redundancy package! Sharon works for the council. Once upon a time they had good packages but those days are long behind us now.
The plan is this Chris Bell. The website - Bikes And Travels - becomes a mega internationally renowned source of motorcycling information. Firstly Sharon and I receive lots and lots of free stuff for us to review. Then lots and lots of big motorcycling marques give us lots and lots of money to advertise with us. Then a few years later along comes a big international investment company and buys us out for 2.3 billion pounds. Then we retire.
So far we've received a cheap helmet and some gloves. I may have to rethink this plan's timescale...
06/04/2017 12:38:14 UTC
Chris Bell said :-
At least you have a plan, maybe you you could get something going on You Tube, beauty tips perhaps, oh no that would be Sharon,actually lots of bike stuff on Yt is just aggressive bikers usually over reacting too. Any way I suggested that James contacted a guitar company when he was 13, to see if he could get involved with them,he now endorses Vintage and FretKing Guitars and some other equipment manufacturers, ie Roland etc. So again you never Know ,Good luck.
06/04/2017 14:35:41 UTC
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