jonny jeez
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chislehurst, Kent, UK
Sometimes we are offered mere moments to decide what sort of person we are talking to, standing next to, or watching from across the road.
During those moments the smallest detail will amplify and rightly or wrongly lead to an inevitable conclusion.
Today, for the first time in what feels like ages, I choose to scooter into work...Today, I was in disguise.
Halfway up the Old Kent Road I came upon a cyclist, not a surprise you might say, given that there were upwards of 100 riders near me at any one time.
However this chap stood out.
When I showed a lack of rear observation, in pulling into his lane from between stationary cars, he thanked me with a wink and a "cheers" for at least showing some effort, but he saw me a way back and was already on the brakes, it was fine, one of us was in control.
He took his place behind the eager riders at the lights, while others relentlessly bunched up creating something of a log jam and took an effort to lift his bike to one side, allowing motorbikes to shuffle in and providing passage away on the green. His consideration was appreciated by a number of Bikers.
As we approached a pinch point between cars, I stopped...my large sticky out mirrors were too much for this gap...Mr Cyclist looks at me and says "mind if I take it?" to which I reply "help yourself fella"...we were communicating...No...He was communicating, I was seeing him not as an object intent on fighting his way past me but as an articulate, intelligent gregarious human being who had as much respect for me as he did for his fellow riders.
On Westminster bridge, when the black Corsa hideously cut in front of the Yamaha, causing the motorcyclist to grab all his front brake, nose diving and swerving aggressively, you saw it coming, you had already moved to the kerb as the Yamaha cruised onwards into the hazard.
You were fast, assured, predictable, confident, articulate and more importantly, a comfortable rider to be around.
If you are a rider with a red top, blond ponytail a single pannier on the left and a set of ridiculous mirrors on your drops, then you sir are an awesome rider. Tomorrow when I ride in, I want to ride just like you...I can even forgive you the daft mirrors.
My impression is formed, there's no denying it...you are one smart cookie.
But what's this
You are doing something odd. As a punishment...and perhaps in sympathy to the Yamaha rider who was desperate to get in front of the Corsa and give him a piece of his mind, you are squeezing into a gap that you shouldn't have, you are stumbling off of your clips, bouncing about a bit and then....
PARP!!!
You let off your Zound
I didn't even see you had a Zound, Should the fact that you did have altered my initial impression?...No, of course not, remember "You sir are an aweso...hang on...look at all those people looking at you tutting!" they are all looking to see what that noise was...
"No!", I cry, waving at them mentally "trust me, this chaps one smar...."
whats that, why is that chap waving his wrist like that at you, "you dont understand it was a momentary lack of judgement...Honest, I want to ride just li...."
Actually, I think I'll just scoot past you now, perhaps I don't want to be in your gang after all...ooo look a squirrel
During those moments the smallest detail will amplify and rightly or wrongly lead to an inevitable conclusion.
Today, for the first time in what feels like ages, I choose to scooter into work...Today, I was in disguise.
Halfway up the Old Kent Road I came upon a cyclist, not a surprise you might say, given that there were upwards of 100 riders near me at any one time.
However this chap stood out.
When I showed a lack of rear observation, in pulling into his lane from between stationary cars, he thanked me with a wink and a "cheers" for at least showing some effort, but he saw me a way back and was already on the brakes, it was fine, one of us was in control.
He took his place behind the eager riders at the lights, while others relentlessly bunched up creating something of a log jam and took an effort to lift his bike to one side, allowing motorbikes to shuffle in and providing passage away on the green. His consideration was appreciated by a number of Bikers.
As we approached a pinch point between cars, I stopped...my large sticky out mirrors were too much for this gap...Mr Cyclist looks at me and says "mind if I take it?" to which I reply "help yourself fella"...we were communicating...No...He was communicating, I was seeing him not as an object intent on fighting his way past me but as an articulate, intelligent gregarious human being who had as much respect for me as he did for his fellow riders.
On Westminster bridge, when the black Corsa hideously cut in front of the Yamaha, causing the motorcyclist to grab all his front brake, nose diving and swerving aggressively, you saw it coming, you had already moved to the kerb as the Yamaha cruised onwards into the hazard.
You were fast, assured, predictable, confident, articulate and more importantly, a comfortable rider to be around.
If you are a rider with a red top, blond ponytail a single pannier on the left and a set of ridiculous mirrors on your drops, then you sir are an awesome rider. Tomorrow when I ride in, I want to ride just like you...I can even forgive you the daft mirrors.
My impression is formed, there's no denying it...you are one smart cookie.
But what's this
You are doing something odd. As a punishment...and perhaps in sympathy to the Yamaha rider who was desperate to get in front of the Corsa and give him a piece of his mind, you are squeezing into a gap that you shouldn't have, you are stumbling off of your clips, bouncing about a bit and then....
PARP!!!
You let off your Zound
I didn't even see you had a Zound, Should the fact that you did have altered my initial impression?...No, of course not, remember "You sir are an aweso...hang on...look at all those people looking at you tutting!" they are all looking to see what that noise was...
"No!", I cry, waving at them mentally "trust me, this chaps one smar...."
whats that, why is that chap waving his wrist like that at you, "you dont understand it was a momentary lack of judgement...Honest, I want to ride just li...."
Actually, I think I'll just scoot past you now, perhaps I don't want to be in your gang after all...ooo look a squirrel
.
