Biker Solidarity?

[Lagotete]

I am back from a very good week end in France visiting family but including two selfish days for my riding along the Normandy coast to Chartres, Le Mans and back to Calais. It was brilliant.
I thought I would share with you an anecdote which will make you smile before it will raise the big question about actual solidarity between bikers.

I stopped near Fecamp to read my map and find my way to the Normandie birdge for Honfleur. Opened the tank bag, whatched the map and put it back but forgot to zip it. A mile later, I was already at 60miles per hour when I saw my blackberry bounce on my knee. (this is where you can smile at the idiot!) [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Now I can't stop straight away so I ride 200m, 400m, 600m (?) before I can park the bike safely to walk back on the side of the road with my helmet in my hand. As anticipated, I can't find it at first but I am relieved that it is not broken into pieces on the tarmac. But I walk all the way to where I parked and can't see the black thing in the grass. Meanwhile I see 4 Harley biker pass without a node; then a yam R1 and possibly a couple of other sport bikes. Not a single one stops to ask to see what is the matter! Meanwhile a pensionner with a big mercedes stop with his hasard lights to try to help but goes when I explain that I need to walk along the road until I fing a needle in hay.

Then a Dutch couple stops in a Peugeot and ask if they van help. The guy is pleased that I can speak English but he wants to prove that he can also speak French. At one stage I beleive that he is trying to offer me to have sex with his girl friend but I don't think it is what he actually wanted to say.

20 mn later, I am sweating in my motorbike gears but i find my telephone almost intact on the other side of the road! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yahoo.gif[/img]

Now can someone tell me what is all charming waving at each other if no one can be bothered to stop to help a fellow biker? I personally do. OK, I am usually useless but I stop and have a chat if there is nothing else I can do.

Later that day, I say the 4 Harley f..cking bikers. I felt so frustrated that I was on the verge of being crual enough to let them know that their quest for route 66 in France was a waste of time. Route 66 is in the states. But I was not so angry that I would spoil their sureal quest. Instead I waved with only one middle finger [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/unsure.gif[/img]

[aircooled68]

Kin Ell fella you get around.... sounds like a nice trip i really enjoyed France last year and would like to go back
and spend a bit more time around Normandy




Dave


ps hope you now got the gay boy joke

[catsbum]

Well, theres a lot going on there Franck.

Firstly I have also seen my phone sitting just above the bars before waving goodbye over my shoulder, you not alone.

Don't think its fair to put all Harley bikers in the same sack. I was resetting my sat nav a little while back and a harley pulled up behind me walked up holding his phone asking if I needed help. Made me smile.

I will always stop or turn around if I see a biker stopped, usually by the time I get there they have helmet back on and going.

Lastly! I am envious of your French Journey, I have done Le Mans on a 1100F and the coast road back up and around. I love France and the roads are great!

Best Wishes

cats

[Lagotete]

<!--quoteo(post=170776:date=Tue 20th Jul 2010, 10:00 PM:name=aircooled68)-->QUOTE(aircooled68 @ Tue 20th Jul 2010, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Kin Ell fella you get around.... sounds like a nice trip i really enjoyed France last year and would like to go back
and spend a bit more time around Normandy
Dave
ps hope you now got the gay boy joke<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Don't you highjack this thread with your confusing gay joke!!
Do you agree with me that there is something wrong with the exceptional friendship between bikers wavings at each other which makes you feel really good but dispirited when you find out that it is not follwoed with actions when you are in need?

[ChrisG]

When my reg/rec failed and fried my battery on the A32 I was amazed at how many bikers (and one Volvo driven by a big beardy fellow that looked like a biker to me) stopped to check if I was ok. One of them was going too quick to stop and turned round at the next junction to come back, said he'd seen me on his way past some time earlier (I spent over 4.5 hours waiting for the RAC) and thought I'd stopped for a fag brake, but realised thatw asn't the case when he came back past.

[Lagotete]

<!--quoteo(post=170780:date=Tue 20th Jul 2010, 10:12 PM:name=ChrisG)-->QUOTE(ChrisG @ Tue 20th Jul 2010, 10:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->When my reg/rec failed and fried my battery on the A32 I was amazed at how many bikers (and one Volvo driven by a big beardy fellow that looked like a biker to me) stopped to check if I was ok. One of them was going too quick to stop and turned round at the next junction to come back, said he'd seen me on his way past some time earlier (I spent over 4.5 hours waiting for the RAC) and thought I'd stopped for a fag brake, but realised thatw asn't the case when he came back past.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
THERE IS HOPE THEN [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wub.gif[/img]

[newstu]

funny you should recall that tale in that part of the world Franck

many moons ago (circa 1991) i was a spotty yoof scratching my way back from Coutances to Hauteville (D44 if memory serves correctly) on my X7 when, in a fit of pique i tried a brave and foolhardy overtaking manouevre on a Renault 5 Gordini. I seized the engine and locked up the back end - spitting me off. I was unhurt and got up and starting to kick the bike and swear at it ( I was quickly learning the French way of doing things!) I wasnt surpised at the local lads who came past on mopeds but the amount of bigger bikes who came past with ne'er a backwards glance. Eventually a fella stopped in a DS estate (ex ambulance style) and proceeded to load the bike into the back and took me to my destination.

As an aside, it transpired that not only did the guy own a lovely Z1300 but we became good mates and he got me a job that winter farming mussels (hardest job i ever had!) - we still exchange Xmas cards!

[Lagotete]

Nice tale Newstu
I was once rescued by a guy from Island on the side of the A3. After a day in the Surrey trails with my TTR250, something went wrong with the engine. I waited their for my wife to come with my Citroen C5 in which I could load the bike if I removed the front wheel. A biker stopped and suggested that if I could not afford RAC I needed more friends (I had roadside recovery which was attached to my car only because it came with the warranty). Then this young guy from Island said that in his country you never let someone down (apart from if you are a banker, that is!). He took me in his car to my home so that we could take my car back and he could help me load the bike and go back to my place. Unbelievely friendly. It was almost too much to be honest ....as the modern cynics that we have become would say

PS: let me know next time you are in Walton

[slartybartfarst]

Solidarity.... Ummmm [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]

A couple of weeks back on a Sunday morning I was heading south on the A49 in Cheshire. Sat behind a car doing around the NSL. Car coming the other way flashes his lights. A mile or so further on sure enough I pass a speed camera van. Thing is between the car flashing and the van I passed a group of power rangers who would have just seem the van. And not one of them gave a heads up.

So that and nearly being rear ended by a berk on his Kwaka sportsbike a mile or two further on makes me wonder if some such bike riders think they're a breed apart. They certainly can act like it.

Slarty

[Daveb]

Last week I stopped for a guy on a Harley, he was sitting on it freewheeling it to the curbs side for a large piece of pavement. Turns out he ran out of fuel and his mate was only about 3 minutes away with a full jerry can.

[TonyDevil]

i've run out meself before and a biker in his cage stopped, gave me a 5ltr petrol can and drove off, wouldnt accept payment or anything
i now carry that 5ltr can of petrol in the boot of the car for just such an occasion....

pay it forward [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]

[stu]

'Bikers' are just humans momentarily on two wheels - why would they be any different to any other cross section of society. Would any of you stop to help someone in a cage? They might be a biker!!

I've stopped to help, and had people stop to help, on two and four wheels - was also refuelled, like Tony, at no cost, by a guy in a cage. Renews your faith in humanity.

[Studley Ramrod]

<!--quoteo(post=170865:date=Wed 21st Jul 2010, 05:37 PM:name=TonyDevil)-->QUOTE(TonyDevil @ Wed 21st Jul 2010, 05:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->i've run out meself before and a biker in his cage stopped, gave me a 5ltr petrol can and drove off, wouldnt accept payment or anything
i now carry that 5ltr can of petrol in the boot of the car for just such an occasion....

pay it forward [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I'll be running out of fuel about 2 miles from your house next sunday if that's ok then [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Cheers mate !

[TDMick]

<!--quoteo(post=170865:date=Wed 21st Jul 2010, 05:37 PM:name=TonyDevil)-->QUOTE(TonyDevil @ Wed 21st Jul 2010, 05:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro-->pay it forward<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--> [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wifgeni.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Lumping all bikers into helpful or not helpful categories seems rather pointless. I think they tend toward being sympathetic to other bikers. For those of us who have ridden long enough to be stranded at the side of the road, I think that builds a certain empathy for others in that spot. Out here, people stop so damn often for a photo, drink, J, or w/e, you can't possibly stop for every one or you'd never get anywhere. Now, if you were waving down for help and they drove past, I'd say that's reason to be annoyed.

[Lagotete]

<!--quoteo(post=170916:date=Wed 21st Jul 2010, 09:55 PM:name=LDRider)-->QUOTE(LDRider @ Wed 21st Jul 2010, 09:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Lumping all bikers into helpful or not helpful categories seems rather pointless. I think they tend toward being sympathetic to other bikers. For those of us who have ridden long enough to be stranded at the side of the road, I think that builds a certain empathy for others in that spot. Out here, people stop so damn often for a photo, drink, J, or w/e, you can't possibly stop for every one or you'd never get anywhere. Now, if you were waving down for help and they drove past, I'd say that's reason to be annoyed.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You make a lot of sense.

However my view is that there is a lot of superficial friendship going on these days. "Your are now friend" on Facebook; "congratulation you are now linked to John Smith" on LinkedIn; bikers wave happily at each other from one side of a dual carriage to another...but when the chiet hits the fan number of peope find no-one.
Thankfully, I have experienced a lot of genuine warmth and help on Carpe and Ouestleskeum. That goes to show that you need a strong link (same bike brand and model?) to form a true community.

I am really in philosophic mode today [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[newstu]

stopped to help a really big looking fella pushing a Fazer on the way into work a couple of weeks ago, "alright mate, you need any help at all?"

transpires that the bike had a flat battery and was being pushed to Skellerns, the local Yam dealers and the big chap pushing was a lady - double d'oh!!!

[Guest]

I'm with ya bro. I'd rather have a 80 yr old dude in a business suite driving a Mercedes stop and help than see 4 bikers blow past while I'm broke down any day. As for facebook and linkedin, well I'm on both at recommendation of friends/colleagues, but I don't do jack on either. Prefer real friends who can sit and have a cold one w/ me (or in your all's case, eat a cake - LOL). I should bake a cake one day for my friends - they probably ask wtf.

[Lagotete]

<!--quoteo(post=170921:date=Wed 21st Jul 2010, 10:32 PM:name=LDRider)-->QUOTE(LDRider @ Wed 21st Jul 2010, 10:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm with ya bro. I'd rather have a 80 yr old dude in a business suite driving a Mercedes stop and help than see 4 bikers blow past while I'm broke down any day. As for facebook and linkedin, well I'm on both at recommendation of friends/colleagues, but I don't do jack on either. Prefer real friends who can sit and have a cold one w/ me (or in your all's case, eat a cake - LOL). I should bake a cake one day for my friends - they probably ask wtf.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
LDRider
NEW BIKE TOMORROW?
Enjoy [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yahoo.gif[/img]

PS: you may remember I asked you about Route 66. I have read a book and I am now convinced that your suggestion to concentrate on the quality of the ride is more important than follow a legendary road. Geoff Hill (the writer) was interesting when going from India to Irleand on an Enfield but clearly has nothing interesting to say about route 66. Looks more like the journey for archeologue trying to find the last traces of route 66 in the good old day!

[Guest]

Yep, new bike tomorrow, at which time I ride north to Alaska on it. Crazy eh? LOL

Had you made the Route 66 trip in 1960, it would have been great. Now, I can think of a hundred better rides to do out west. And, they're worth doing!