Pretty close, too

Anything you like about motorbikes
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4045
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1498 times

Pretty close, too

Post by The Spin Doctor »

On Monday 6 September, I was enjoying the wonderful weather by riding the Tregaron - Beulah mountain road in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains.

The route crosses the 'Devils Stair Case', a spectacular set of hairpins that are around 1 in 4 or 25% if you prefer. They're tough going up, and probably even tougher going down.

Fortunately, we weren't on a steep section when we met this lorry driver!




I'd already seen the approaching car and truck from higher up the hill, and had slowed down and prepared to move over to the nearside...

...it would have been nice if he'd reciprocated!
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
User avatar
Skub
Posts: 11869
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 5:32 pm
Location: Norn Iron
Has thanked: 9692 times
Been thanked: 9707 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by Skub »

Might is right. Who'll argue with the big boys!
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4045
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1498 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by The Spin Doctor »

Skub wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 4:49 pm Might is right. Who'll argue with the big boys!
I wasn't! I'd already spied a nice flat-looking bit of grass on the left! We ended up right on the edge of it.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
User avatar
rodbargee
Posts: 1012
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:30 pm
Location: N Yorks
Has thanked: 352 times
Been thanked: 969 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by rodbargee »

Bet you could get a reg off that.
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4045
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1498 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by The Spin Doctor »

rodbargee wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 10:15 pm Bet you could get a reg off that.
Probably... I suspect the truck is fairly distinctive too - I doubt they have that many.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
User avatar
Taipan
Posts: 13270
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2020 1:48 pm
Location: Essex Riviera!
Has thanked: 15620 times
Been thanked: 9855 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by Taipan »

The Spin Doctor wrote: Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:40 pm On Monday 6 September, I was enjoying the wonderful weather by riding the Tregaron - Beulah mountain road in the heart of the Cambrian Mountains.

The route crosses the 'Devils Stair Case', a spectacular set of hairpins that are around 1 in 4 or 25% if you prefer. They're tough going up, and probably even tougher going down.

Fortunately, we weren't on a steep section when we met this lorry driver!




I'd already seen the approaching car and truck from higher up the hill, and had slowed down and prepared to move over to the nearside...

...it would have been nice if he'd reciprocated!
Not sure he had anywhere else to go? You'd pulled over and let him through, so through he went?
User avatar
DefTrap
Posts: 4339
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2020 8:23 am
Has thanked: 2270 times
Been thanked: 2088 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by DefTrap »

Bit of a bellend - you can see where the verge has been used by big vehicles for pull-overs all the way along there.
Typically I find lorry drivers are ok, they spend so much of their time on the road I think they feel it's not worth their effort to be rude.
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4045
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1498 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by The Spin Doctor »

Taipan wrote: Fri Sep 10, 2021 12:11 pm Not sure he had anywhere else to go? You'd pulled over and let him through, so through he went?
If I hadn't, he'd have run me off the road! He wasn't stopping. He certainly didn't slow down, and passed within a foot of my elbow at 30-odd mph!
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
Scootabout
Posts: 568
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2020 10:41 pm
Has thanked: 469 times
Been thanked: 308 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by Scootabout »

Artic with no trailer. They often seem to get gung-ho with the dramatic power-to-weight ratio improvement.
User avatar
Trinity765
Posts: 2281
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2020 2:27 pm
Location: Brighton
Has thanked: 2420 times
Been thanked: 2318 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by Trinity765 »

Part of my ride brief for Wales is "Watch out for the loggers as they do not give way". I've had many experiences in Wales with the logging trucks - they are on a mission and don't want to be slowing down for anything and I'm sure they see us as pests along with cyclist no doubt.
Lockdown refugee
User avatar
Dodgy69
Posts: 5302
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:36 pm
Location: Shrewsbury
Has thanked: 1719 times
Been thanked: 2013 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by Dodgy69 »

Back lane racers... those pesky delivery drivers can be in a bit of a rush, not to mention the oversize tractor and trailer. 👎
Yamaha rocket 3
User avatar
Trinity765
Posts: 2281
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2020 2:27 pm
Location: Brighton
Has thanked: 2420 times
Been thanked: 2318 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by Trinity765 »

I was in Wales the week they opened the boarder after lockdown 2020. I'd booked somewhere to stay in Shropshire in the hope that Wales would open up and it did - so lunchtime on the day the boarder opened I was at Abergavenny bus station. I was spotted by a welsh police rider that I've done some training with who shouted from his car "What the f**** are you doing here?" :lol: :obscene-birdiedoublered:

That particular trip was memorable as the only road users had been delivery drivers for months and they had got used to ruling the road - I had some fun with some transit van drivers. One was keeping up on a twisty with solid white lines which baffled me until I realised he was straight lining all the bends and going over the white lines. A lot of the welsh drivers straight line bends, solid white lines or not, which you don't really get down south - mainly due to the lack of bends.
Lockdown refugee
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4045
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1498 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by The Spin Doctor »

Trinity765 wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:02 am I was in Wales the week they opened the boarder after lockdown 2020. I'd booked somewhere to stay in Shropshire in the hope that Wales would open up and it did - so lunchtime on the day the boarder opened I was at Abergavenny bus station. I was spotted by a welsh police rider that I've done some training with who shouted from his car "What the f**** are you doing here?" :lol: :obscene-birdiedoublered:

That particular trip was memorable as the only road users had been delivery drivers for months and they had got used to ruling the road - I had some fun with some transit van drivers. One was keeping up on a twisty with solid white lines which baffled me until I realised he was straight lining all the bends and going over the white lines. A lot of the welsh drivers straight line bends, solid white lines or not, which you don't really get down south - mainly due to the lack of bends.
The speed of the traffic on Welsh roads is something I'm aware off, and happened to mention to my passenger on our little jaunt.

The post-COVID Transit experience happened just about everywhere - even c London!
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills
slowsider
Posts: 3189
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:45 pm
Location: RoI
Has thanked: 1304 times
Been thanked: 1188 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by slowsider »

Trinity765 wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:07 am Part of my ride brief for Wales is "Watch out for the loggers as they do not give way". I've had many experiences in Wales with the logging trucks - they are on a mission and don't want to be slowing down for anything and I'm sure they see us as pests along with cyclist no doubt.
It's them and milk-tanker drivers around here. :o
David
Posts: 2092
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:50 am
Location: Top 'o the Worle
Has thanked: 216 times
Been thanked: 668 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by David »

Trinity765 wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:07 am Part of my ride brief for Wales is "Watch out for the loggers as they do not give way". I've had many experiences in Wales with the logging trucks - they are on a mission and don't want to be slowing down for anything and I'm sure they see us as pests along with cyclist no doubt.
Loggers are a bit pushy...was that the Cwmystwyth valley?
David
Posts: 2092
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:50 am
Location: Top 'o the Worle
Has thanked: 216 times
Been thanked: 668 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by David »

Sorry, I was looking at the vid with the tractor unit...that was Spin Doctor's film..


Lets put that down to age!
David
Posts: 2092
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2020 8:50 am
Location: Top 'o the Worle
Has thanked: 216 times
Been thanked: 668 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by David »

Trinity765 wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:02 am I was in Wales the week they opened the boarder after lockdown 2020. I'd booked somewhere to stay in Shropshire in the hope that Wales would open up and it did - so lunchtime on the day the boarder opened I was at Abergavenny bus station. I was spotted by a welsh police rider that I've done some training with who shouted from his car "What the f**** are you doing here?" :lol: :obscene-birdiedoublered:

That particular trip was memorable as the only road users had been delivery drivers for months and they had got used to ruling the road - I had some fun with some transit van drivers. One was keeping up on a twisty with solid white lines which baffled me until I realised he was straight lining all the bends and going over the white lines. A lot of the welsh drivers straight line bends, solid white lines or not, which you don't really get down south - mainly due to the lack of bends.
I have to confess that I straighten bends out, given a good sight line. I did it with a Dutch biker lady in the car and she was astonished....thats the Dutch for you...no rule breaking!
User avatar
Trinity765
Posts: 2281
Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2020 2:27 pm
Location: Brighton
Has thanked: 2420 times
Been thanked: 2318 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by Trinity765 »

David wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:43 pm
Trinity765 wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 5:07 am Part of my ride brief for Wales is "Watch out for the loggers as they do not give way". I've had many experiences in Wales with the logging trucks - they are on a mission and don't want to be slowing down for anything and I'm sure they see us as pests along with cyclist no doubt.
Loggers are a bit pushy...was that the Cwmystwyth valley?
I've got a feeling it was around Abergwesyn or maybe Lake Vyrnwy - but can't remember. I'm out with the friend I first toured Wales with at the weekend - he'll remember - I'll ask.
Lockdown refugee
The Spin Doctor
Posts: 4045
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2020 6:17 pm
Has thanked: 2636 times
Been thanked: 1498 times

Re: Pretty close, too

Post by The Spin Doctor »

David wrote: Wed Sep 15, 2021 1:44 pm Sorry, I was looking at the vid with the tractor unit...that was Spin Doctor's film..


Lets put that down to age!
It was actually on the diversion that's operating on the Tregaron / Abergwesyn mountain road - a mile or two before rejoining the 'main' road just E of the Devils Staircase.
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." Henry David Thoreau
www.ko-fi.com/survivalskills www.survivalskillsridertraining.co.uk www.facebook.com/survivalskills