2 Fast 4 U or NOT

[PacWestGS]

I've always said that the difference between the fastest and slowest person on a given stretch of road is only a few minutes. Well, a couple of months ago I proved that to my long standing belief that it's true.

Granted I still go faster than most everybody out there, (because it's fun) but I do not get that upset when stuck behind other people.

Case in point: My wife and I had to take different cars to an appointment 30-miles away; a mix of rural roads and highways, four-lane boulevards and two-lane roads with signal lights, and Interstate for another 10-miles. All of this during the morning rush hour. I was driving the Bimmer and she in her SUV. We left the house at almost the same time, me out first. I drove like a man possessed; taking every shortcut and path around stopped traffic ahead. Down alleyways, side streets and so forth. When I got to the freeway, I zigged and zagged my way through all the slower cars and trucks. (This is something I do everyday going to work, which is where I was going after our appointment). My wife on the other hand, drives the speed limit (or what others are doing), doesn’t know any of the shortcuts and would never weave her way through traffic. She went the regular way and waited behind all the other people. She drives in the slow lane on the freeway.

She arrived at our destination 4-minutes and 37-seconds after I did.

For all the possible hate, discontent and pissed off drivers I passed that day. I got there less than five-minutes ahead of her.

I’ve slowed down again lately when driving, but I still RIDE faster than everyone around me. It’s a safety thing – Ya’ Know…

What are your thoughts?

Does driving fast to get somewhere really get you there faster or just add more stress when you catch that red-light or get stuck behind someone driving under the posted limit?

Is it worth the extra couple of minutes?

:dunno

[Burnszilla]

So, riding fast would give you less time on the road and therefore a lesser chance of having an accident?

[PacWestGS]

So, riding fast would give you less time on the road and therefore a lesser chance of having an accident?

No, riding faster lets me focus on the threats ahead and control the situation. I worry less about what's in the vibey mirrors.

[dbrick]

Riding above the prevailing speed allows you to control the rate of closure with other vehicles, as well as control how long you linger (or not) in close-by positions of vulnerability. You're in charge; they're not.

[Motor31]

The threat to motorcyclists is rarely from the rear. The majority of crashes are in the front, where you might be rushing to meet the problem.

[Stuff2C]

Must be why I RIDE SOLO most of the time. It doesn't matter when I get there...as long as I do.

[PacWestGS]

The threat to motorcyclists is rarely from the rear. The majority of crashes are in the front, where you might be rushing to meet the problem.

True and false, fewer motorcyclist are rear ended I believe because they are going faster and passing, not being passed. If all motorcyclist rode at a speed equal to or slower than traffic, I believe that rate would go up significantly. Most collisions that are from the rear are either from the bike stopping, slowing or stopped. That rate may be equal to other forms of transportation.

Granted if the rider is travelling faster than other vehicles and cannot control his closure rate or ability to stop than he is at fault for causing the collision.

[GeneT]

Weaving in & out is not only dangerous it is stressful, anyone who believes you have better control is missing something. When one is over stressed or stressed out as some say they tend to do irrational things, usually these actions are not all of good judgment. When we old folks see riders and drivers that take these unnecessary chances we usually refer to them as crazy. Good luck.........

:dance

[PacWestGS]

{And just so's ya’ know - I'm aggressive but not dangerous - I haven't had a speeding ticket in 25-years (knock on wood) and I consider myself a courteous driver/rider. If I can’t safely make something happen I don’t force it}

[Djstephens]

I tend to move in a positive motion through traffic myself, to reduce my dependance on the mirrors as well. Though I normally stay in the far left lane, and seem to ease through traffic with little to no problem. However, we do have considerably less traffic here in North AL :clap

[glwestcott]

For me its not so much saving time as it is the grin factor as I exploit a hole that opened up or split the lanes when they are stopped or running slow. Love those little moments of spice. :D

[RandallIsland]

No mirrors. Too distracting. If I'm stopping or stopped, I'm tapping my break light and looking around. Awareness goes back to my bicycle days. Mirrors are unreliable. Look, don't glance.
Not to mention the reflection attracts too much of everything at night, especially if you are in quick-lights-off-mode-down-da-convenient side road. :type

[mrich12000]

:stick http://www.goyk.com/video.asp?path=1528
Funny and to the point :german
Merry Chrismas all
Mike Richard VE3CEH

[PacWestGS]

:stick http://www.goyk.com/video.asp?path=1528
Funny and to the point :german
Merry Chrismas all
Mike Richard VE3CEH


:ha The guy on the white Gixer needs to adjust his mirrors so he can clearly see behind him, then he would have moved out of the way and not been rear ended. :ha (Oops then he would never see anything but the ground under normal riding conditions. :doh

What a buch of a$$hats

[flash412]

Einstein's theory of relativity can be paraphrased, "The faster you go, the longer you live."
That works for me.

[wildwilly]

Like yourself, I observed, long ago, the insignificance in the time saved by riding and manuevering fast through traffic.

Several years ago, I adjusted my driving/riding habits to just move harmoniously with the flow of traffic. I ride with the intent to minimize the amount of manuevering and speed changes I have to make; thus, increasing tire and brake pad life, and decreasing the number of gear shifts ( that's a lot of wear and tear). My bikes see a lot of miles between tires and brake maintenance.

Of course, I'm an old fart.

[srb]

Four and a half minutes over that distance is substantial, you were averaging about 8mph faster. It's the people who zoom past me to get to that red traffic light first that bother me.

[kbasa]

4 minutes? That's all?

Slowpoke.



:ha

[rinty]

I read somewhere that it's not necessarily the fast drivers who cause accidents, but the drivers whose speed is significantly different from the prevailing flow speed.

During fast driving, I think the principal danger occurs when the driver's speed is significantly higher than that of vehicles being passed. I like to do sprints now and then, but when I'm passing I reduce the closure rate.

I recently had some fun following a new Corvette westbound out of Calgary on the Trans Canada. Traffic was light, and I was about 10 lengths behind. I'm sure he saw me as he slowly eased up to 200 km/hr, thinking he'd have some fun with this fancy German flashbike rider. He kept slowly pulling away, and I knew my bike was good for 240, but 200 for a few kilometres was all the fun I needed that day.

When I'm doing my daily city drive, I mostly go with the flow and let the aggressive drivers by. I'm just trying to preserve energy so I have more left over, to be able to work on my tougher files at work.

Rinty

[Paul_F]

For the last few years before retiring I took the slab each day for about 20 miles, to and from work. When I drove at 110 km, 10 km over the posted speed limit, everyone passed me and left me a decent driving space in front of me. Cars were not caught tailgating behind me as we had three lanes. When I drove at 120 km, 20 km over the limit, it seemed as if I was in race with so many other commuters. I repeated for a week at a time my speed experiment over many weeks to arrive at a consistent final result.

I saved on average 3 minutes and 17 seconds by travelling at 120 km/hr, 20 over the limit. The drive felt more stressful at the this speed. As well, a tank of gas lasted from Monday to Thursday. At the slower speed, not only was I less stressed, but a tank of gas gave me one additional day of driving.

However, when on the bike, I travel with the either the flow of traffic or a little over the flow.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

I recently sold my radar detector as I hadn't used it in a year. I have slowed down my driving/riding speeds and find that I am more relaxed than before. My truck gets 20 MPG rather than 16 MPG and the bike gets 3 MPG more too. I let all the other drivers 'win' the race to the next red light and usually I end up coasting through green. :nyah saving gas too.

On a long distance trip I go 5 over the speedlimit, or whatever traffic dictates to keep safe, and find you see the same vehicles over and over again. Often these cars pass you 2-3 times and you can see the drivers wonder how you got ahead of them again :violin . It's just how your average speed is vs theirs. Less pitstops = more miles driven. YMMV

[rgvilla]

I try and stay with the flow of traffic, which usuallly requires varying speed and riding style. I am always looking for outs, trying to anticipate what the driver ahead is going to do and keeping within their line of sight. If I'm in a blind spot I will speed up to pass or slow down to pull in behind. I am always watching my rear view when stopped for traffic or at a light and leaving myself an escape route of someone looks like they are going to rear end me. Real speed is always for the open, lonely road where I can see way ahead. I find myself totally immersed in the ride when doing this and seldom worry about saving a few minutes, (or losing them for that matter). Good defensive riding, or driving is not so much about aggressiveness as about getting to your destination in one piece. Of the two styles SFDOC talks about I'm more in tune with his wifes than his. My racing days are long past, and that was on a dirt track anyway, not real applicable to city/highway driving except that doing 100 into a turn isn't all that scary, at least it wasn't 35 years ago :p
Adjust to the conditions with survival as your goal.

[BradfordBenn]

Well I am a slow poke cause I want the extra time to see the items ahead of me.

Remember that as you are going faster you are lessening your closing time on objects ahead of you whether they be a disabled car, a deer, a kid running into the street after their ball... etc.

I also personally find that driving at the higher speeds just tires me out faster.

I also figure I want to enjoy the ride and will avoid rush hour and traffic. I also will take a longer route just to be moving.

[Voni]

All good reasoning, Bradford.

I was a lot faster when I was younger and less wise. I was lucky.

My skills are much better now but wisdom cautions. Too many crazys and animals and . . .

I have a LOT more sMiles to ride and I would go stark raving bananas if I couldn't.

Not to mention that the time saved is really not important.

But then again, it's the rush, not the time saved that sometimes still tempts me.

Voni
sMiling

[Motor31]

As speed increases hazard recognition time, reaction time, stopping time all diminish while stopping distance goes up and impact forces increase exponentially. Your choice. Is that 2 to 5 minutes really worth it?

[screwtop]

I pretty much keep pace with the prevailing flow. For me that's 75 to 80 here in the "Peoples Republic" of Maryland. The State boys seem to let you slide to about 78 or so (in a 70 posted zone). I like 75-80mph cause it's where the GS seems comfortable in 5th (I usually dont shift into 6th until 80-85).

On trips I may wick it up a bit to 85 or 90, only if conditions allow. I really don't worry about how much earlier or later I arrive at my destination, just that I arrive with no mishaps.

What really pisses me off is the cagers who just sem to think they are more important than anyone else and have to exceed the posted limits on the interstates by 25-30 mph. I aways take great pleasure in seeing them get nailed 5 miles down the road in one the many speed traps we have.