Defensive riding...

[Husky23]

Just curious...

[Shizoku]

WOW!  I'd say experience teaches us to 'think alike'.  

Shiz

[FastCat]

I'm not sure it exactly fits, but I hadda choose option #2.  I try to keep my eyes on *everything* around me and anticipate as I go along.  I always anticipate 4-wheelers to take the most dangerous/inconsiderate path available to them and when I'm wrong I'm just pleasantly surprised.

[Husky23]

Yes, yes…for sure alert and attentiveness on, in, and near the roadway.

But I was taking the defensive riding question further; do you utilize other vehicles for actual physical protection and/or added visibility?

For instance as approaching possibly boulevard intersections do you place yourself in a position so that the cager traveling in the same direction (and possibly different lane) can be used as physical protection in the event another vehicle pulls out or does the famous left hand turn?

Or too, do you pick an attentive cager that fits fairly close to the profile riding in the current traffic conditions and use their additional headlight beams, or bright auto color, or size as additional attention for other traffic?

See what I’m getting at?

[TalkingHead]

Yes, and yes. But only sometimes. Sometimes I ride aggressively, some would say very aggressively. Some would call me a squid.

[Husky23]

Yes, and yes. But only sometimes. Sometimes I ride aggressively, some would say very aggressively. Some would call me a squid.

Well, I would classify myself as fairly aggressive too...depending upon traffic, eviornmental and road conditions as well.

N.VA traffic sux's, with, I'm sure it's national allotted amount oif cager & biker future Darwin award recipients...and while I tend to try and get in front of the pack...I will, guided by the natural instinct of self preservation, utilize 4 to 18 wheel traffic as defensive barriers to help protect me.

I realize this isn't altruistic, but then again I'm not here to try and defy human nature.

[TalkingHead]

Riding in Seattle is a daily mortality check for sure. I too utilize the big rigs when I'm on the freeway but I like to give them some distance. They don't stop very quickly. I think what I use other vehicles for the most is as rabbits. I like to find a speeder and keep in them in sight and then match their speed. It's worked 90% of the time in terms of avoiding tickets.

[dinolee]

Amen for the unwitting rabbit cagers.  Don't get enough of them during the commute hours on I-405 unfortunately.  I'd like to have a portable microwave emitter device to fry the cellphone users parked in the HOV though.  The best defense is a deadly offense.  

[jhampshire]

I'll let a cage take the hit for me any time.  Actually I do it when I'm caging too,especially in deer country.

[MilleArp]

  The best defense is a deadly offense.  

+1  

I'm what you call an AGGRESSIVE-DEFENSIVE rider.  I'm usually the fastest in traffic, but am 100% focused on riding and nothing else.  Always use my turn sigs, too, always.

[basco]

+1  

I'm what you call an AGGRESSIVE-DEFENSIVE rider.  I'm usually the fastest in traffic, but am 100% focused on riding and nothing else.  Always use my turn sigs, too, always.

+1. I'm also a agressive-defensive rider and fastest in traffic within reason.