A Short Note On Motorcycling Technique

It's a fairly well known fact amongst readers of these musings that Millbrooker Towers harbours a biker or two. Well, technically just the one because I'm not allowed to be in charge of a motorised vehicle any more; the police get upset if white cane users start driving or riding around on the public highway.

The Depitty, though, continues to enjoy the freedom of the road on his yellow thingy.Now, every once in a while, a biker has a split second decision or two to make. That's the way you stay safe and also the way you keep a hold on your licence.

So imagine, if you will, that you're astride a large and powerful machine. Perhaps it might be a bright yellow SV650.

You're doing a fair old lick (a tad above the legal limit) along a dual carriageway; you glance at your clocks and realise that you're travelling along at something in excess of 85mph. Not hugely dangerous on a clear road, in good conditions and with a fairly experienced pilot in the saddle - but decidedly well above what you should be doing according to the law of the land.

Before you know it, you're alongside a rozzer wagon that you find yourself in the midst of overtaking. Even though it is already doing 85mph and is in pursuit of a speeding car in front.

Here's the that split second choice that you now have to make.

Do you:

(A) Glance in the direction of the copper on your left, glance quickly at your speedometer, make an "oops, how-stupid-of-me" gesture, ease off the throttle and pull in behind thus allowing Mr Thin-Blue-Line to continue on his way without having seen your number plate and (hopefully) thinking you'd just lost concentration for a moment?

or do you

(B) Open the throttle a bit more and hope for the best, thus ensuring a bit of an unequal chase followed by some awkward questions and an expensive court appearance?

Now who would possibly think that (B) could be the right answer? Now, no names and no pack drill, but there are only two bikers at Millbrooker Towers and one of them isn't allowed to ride any more. The other one is still allowed to ride - but his licence isn't as unblemished as it once was.