Fellow riders who won't let you pass... what do you do?

[SVTNate]

Today I was riding a local mountain road, having fun.  I got stuck behind three big BMW's.

Not a big deal, hang back and surely they'll see that faster traffic wants to pass when safe.  Right?  Right?

The third BMW rider finally decided to give me room and wave me past, but the two up front were either totally oblivious to what was behind them, or didn't care.

It got to the point where it was me, and two supersports behind me, patiently waiting for the two BMW's up front to move over.

After miles of slow riding, I blasted past on a straight, which required me to cross the double yellow to give them plenty of room and be safe.

And yes, I gave them plenty of time to see me, flashed my lights a few times, tried anything I could to be seen and get the point across that I (and the supersports behind me) would really like to get past them.

I didn't give  a one-finger salute, or ride too close, or pass them in their lane.  I'm guessing those two BMW riders are somewhere this afternoon talking about the asshole on a Speed Triple who was in such a hurry.

Even the cages on this particular road usually move over for faster traffic, but these guys on bikes wouldn't let fellow motorcyclists pass.

What would you do?  Just sit back at a pace far slower than you wish to ride?  Wait for a safe time to pass?  Pass in their lane?  Pass in a corner, while flipping the bird, while throwing pennies at them?

When it's a Saturday, and there's lots of traffic, and there is nowhere to go ahead of you but into the ass of more traffic... yeah, I get it.  No reason to be passing people.  But it's Wednesday, and ahead of these BMW's are dozens of miles of empty twisty single-lane roads.  I always move over for faster traffic, no matter how fast I'm going myself... am I wrong in thinking these guys on the BMW's should have let myself and the two supersports past them?

[Giaka]

I have a time limit. I wait for a while then my politeness evaporates and I pass them. No big deal. Only HD riders seem to have an issue being passed.

[UFO]

There are only 3 options...

1)  Blow by them legally.
2)  Blow by them illegally (when safe).
3)  When all else fails (eg. crazy assed twisty road), pull over and take a break.

[Hunter]

There are only 3 options...

1)  Blow by them legally.
2)  Blow by them illegally (when safe).
3)  When all else fails (eg. crazy assed twisty road), pass on the inside of a curve.

[Cablebandit]

Yup, just pass when you can.  Why get your shorts in a knot over nothing?

[FiremanBob]

A polite toot of the horn will verify whether they are being oblivious or obnoxious. If the former, the pass is easy. If the latter, blow them off at the first chance.

Not much of an issue on the Blackbird.

[The Shepherd]

Pass them the first chance you get. Sitting behind anyone for a length of time gets me pissed off and then I'm more likely to do something stupid. Pass them then you're not getting hot, better you stay calm than not make friends with some ignorant riders.

[bluepoof]

Ugh, I generally have the opposite problem.  I'm always the slow person who is TOTALLY aware that someone wants to pass me and I wish they'd just cool it for like a minute until I can find a safe place to pull to the side.    I'm seriously tempted to print up a sticker to put on my back that says "yes, I see you, hold on a sec and I'll move over".

(Er.....not saying that the OP was a rude jackhole like the people I seem to encounter on the twisties around here.  I just wanted to vent from the opposite side)

If I were in BizarroWorld where I were in the OP's position (i.e. not the slowest person on the road ), I probably would have done the same thing (passing on the straight).

[Cablebandit]

I wonder if OP would react the same way if the 3 BMW's were cars?  Would you expect them to pull over as well?  After all, those three bikes have every right to be on that road.  The same right that you do.  They are riding their ride and under no obligation to let someone pass.   The need to pass is your problem, not theirs.

[bluepoof]

I wonder if OP would react the same way if the 3 BMW's were cars?  Would you expect them to pull over as well?  

Actually, I do totally expect cars to pull over.  I get the rageface when cars pass turnout after turnout.  It's just common courtesy and, in some places, it's illegal for a vehicle to let more than X vehicles line up behind them without pulling over (where X seems to be different by state or region).

[Windblown]

I usually hang back for a minute to give them time to know I'm there and then just go by. If during my "wait time" they yield and signal me by then I make sure to give them a wave as I pass whether it's a cager or fellow rider.

The only time it annoys me a little is when it's a long line of cruisers going below the speed limit. That usually requires filtering in between them as I make my way past and that means I'll be pushing the bounds of politeness if they are tightly bunched. Always felt that a large group going below the speed limit should require a parade permit and escort. LOL

[falconati]

I wonder if OP would react the same way if the 3 BMW's were cars?  Would you expect them to pull over as well?  After all, those three bikes have every right to be on that road.  The same right that you do.  They are riding their ride and under no obligation to let someone pass.   The need to pass is your problem, not theirs.

A combination of this response and UFO's.  I try to relax and pass at the first safe available option.  If they're aggressively defending their position (e.g. they won't allow a pass are changing lanes to block/altering speed/etc.), I'll make a judgement call on if it's safe to continue trying or just hang back/take a break/change my route.

[Mr.Black]

I usually hang back for a minute to give them time to know I'm there and then just go by. If during my "wait time" they yield and signal me by then I make sure to give them a wave as I pass whether it's a cager or fellow rider.

The only time it annoys me a little is when it's a long line of cruisers going below the speed limit. That usually requires filtering in between them as I make my way past and that means I'll be pushing the bounds of politeness if they are tightly bunched. Always felt that a large group going below the speed limit should require a parade permit and escort. LOL

In MA. I believe they do.

[ConPilot1]

I wonder if OP would react the same way if the 3 BMW's were cars?  Would you expect them to pull over as well?  After all, those three bikes have every right to be on that road.  The same right that you do.  They are riding their ride and under no obligation to let someone pass.   The need to pass is your problem, not theirs.

^this.

Yes just because you are riding a faster clip doesn't make them liable to "make way" for you.

Pass when you can.

[steelerider]

Pass safely, and respectfully when you can. I would have (and have before) done the same thing.
I passed a guy on a clear straightaway while on a group ride last year - he was a huge beast of a man on a GS, going slow, splitting the group and completely blocking the view of the road ahead.He gave me a mouthful at the next traffic light. I just flipped my visor down and shrugged it off. He was asked politely to ride at the back a few miles later by the ride leader. Whatev's.

[rgbeard]

I wonder if OP would react the same way if the 3 BMW's were cars?  Would you expect them to pull over as well?  After all, those three bikes have every right to be on that road.  The same right that you do.  They are riding their ride and under no obligation to let someone pass.   The need to pass is your problem, not theirs.

Here on twisty mountain roads, CalTrans builds turnouts, and vehicles moving slowly are OBLIGATED to take them by law, to allow traffic moving closer to the speed limit to pass.

I'd have probably done the same as what you did, without thinking twice.   Doubt I'd have started a thread about it.  

[Cablebandit]

Here on twisty mountain roads, CalTrans builds turnouts, and vehicles moving slowly are OBLIGATED to take them by law, to allow traffic moving closer to the speed limit to pass..  

Around here the pullouts are called ditches.  

[sfalexi]

I usually just pass legally when I can, or pull over somewhere and chill for a few minutes.  Local shop and get something to drink, scenery, whatever.  The only thing is, I know I'll end up catching up again, which kinda sucks.  But I make sure I'm never out on a strict timetable so I can relax and take a breather whenever I feel like it.  Not have to make sure I get to the end by such and such time.

That's just my way.

Alexi

[rgbeard]

I usually just pass legally when I can, or pull over somewhere and chill for a few minutes.  Local shop and get something to drink, scenery, whatever.  The only thing is, I know I'll end up catching up again, which kinda sucks.  But I make sure I'm never out on a strict timetable so I can relax and take a breather whenever I feel like it.  Not have to make sure I get to the end by such and such time.

That's just my way.

Alexi

I'm guessing you commute with your car, and not a bike?

[Kneescrubber]

The double yellow is merely a suggestion.