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

[Cablebandit]

The answer to your question is this: don't ride in contiguous groups of over 4-6 bikes. Ever.

 

[dietDrThunder]

To address the OP...don't sweat it. IMO it's not the guy's problem that you want to get by, it's yours. If you want to pass, then pass. It's his job to be safe and pay attention to what he's doing. He has enough stuff to worry about without being concerned that you might be wanting to get by.

There is one exception to this that I would like to see more of. If we're all riding on a twisty road, and a bike catches up to you and you notice, lay off the massive throttle application for a few corner exits, thereby facilitating an easy and safe on-the-gass corner exit pass by the overtaking rider. No need to move over, or otherwise alter what you're doing. Just give it a rest with the point-and-shoot for a few seconds and I'll be gone and out of your way. I think it's rude to park it in the corners and then fire it down the straights when you see that someone has caught up to you. If you do this, don't me mad when I come up the inside of you on the brakes into the next left-hander. If you'd just laid off it for a sec I wouldn't be doing that.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

There is one exception to this that I would like to see more of. If we're all riding on a twisty road, and a bike catches up to you and you notice, lay off the massive throttle application for a few corner exits, thereby facilitating an easy and safe on-the-gass corner exit pass by the overtaking rider.

And if you signal your intentions to the guy behind you, then he KNOWS that you're doing this on purpose and will be more confident in making the next available pass  

[sfalexi]

The answer to your question is this: don't ride in contiguous groups of 15 bikes. Ever.

I know.  I think about 6 bikes is about the "perfect" amount.  And most of the time it is about 6 bikes that show up to rides.  But every now and then, miraculously, EVERYONE decides to come out and ride.  Personally, I'd run the ride a little different at that point.  Find someone else who knows the area, give them a map and have a 20 minute difference in start and stop splitting up the group.  more than 6 sucks for everyone, including group riders.  More problems with getting through stop signs, more problems trying to merge or change lanes, etc.  But I don't know the areas I live in and choose to follow someone.  So I look for groups to ride with.

Alexi

[black hills]

not trying to be a dick (sometimes it just comes naturally) but what do you mean "let you pass" . If you want to pass, pass. shouldn't matter what the rider in front of you is doing

[Royal Tiger]

OK as a long time PA boy, that made me loller.   You're so right.

Turnouts?? What the hell is that?? Mandated by law?? Not around here.

Agree completely.  lol

[Royal Tiger]

I try not to get frustrated and pass when I can. If someone wants to pass me, I give them some of my lane and let them.

What I don't like is when I want to pass and the rider decides he's done with his Sunday lazy cruise and has to prove something. Typical HD guy and is girl on the back, going 35 thru some roads around here that are 45-50 posted, my wife and I come up behind them and wait for a safe place to pass. They are looking and pointing and taking their time, which isn't a problem at all. They are out enjoying the day just like we are. Then he notices us in the mirror and decides its time to speed up and do everything he can to not let us by. Rather than play that game, (which if my wife hadn't been with me on her Vulcan, would have been very short), we just turned at the next intersection and let them go on their way.

I had something similar.  I was en-route to meet someone up the main road which is very hilly, when I came up on a Harley with his girl on the back.  Not only didn't he have the decency to move over, but he would drift back and forth from edge of the lane to the berm, so I didn't try and scoot past.  If I wasn't stopping at the end of the hilly section, I would have blown by him, so I just let him be a douche.

[Rogue]

Don't blame it on someone else. It's called riding your own ride and being safe.
Sorry, I don't subscribe to the notion that slower riders should pull over.

Well Con, you are the perfect example of why people do this.

I call that Self-centered and Self-absorbed.

If you are slow, fine.  But the least you can do for your fellow riders is to motion them to pass...you don't have to pull over.  If you are in a cage, use a fucking turn off.  

It's the same thing when you're walking down a narrow pathway on a mountainside at the speed of Molasses.....you see someone come up behind you and wants to pass, do you ignore them because you are NOT obligated to do anything at all?  That's asinine behavior.

[Rogue]

And if you signal your intentions to the guy behind you, then he KNOWS that you're doing this on purpose and will be more confident in making the next available pass  

Exactly.  Common Courtesy.  

Sometimes you want to pass another rider but you're not sure whether he may get surprised or pissed because he doesn't see you coming.  Then all of a sudden you're the bad buy.  A signal to pass makes the situation safe for everyone.

[naustin]

not trying to be a dick (sometimes it just comes naturally) but what do you mean "let you pass" . If you want to pass, pass. shouldn't matter what the rider in front of you is doing

This ^

[viffergyrl]

not trying to be a dick (sometimes it just comes naturally) but what do you mean "let you pass" . If you want to pass, pass. shouldn't matter what the rider in front of you is doing

Something about the double yellow? It's nice when a rider is aware enough to allow you to lane share.  

But um, yeah, it's just paint.

[Kneescrubber]

Something about the double yellow? It's nice when a rider is aware enough to allow you to lane share.  

But um, yeah, it's just paint.

The double yellow is merely a suggestion.

 

[viffergyrl]

Hey - I've slept since I read your post!  

[Royal Tiger]

Depends on the State.  In PA you CAN pass on a double yellow with a few exceptions.

[Kneescrubber]

Sometimes you want to pass another rider but you're not sure whether he may get surprised or pissed because he doesn't see you coming.  Then all of a sudden you're the bad buy.  A signal to pass makes the situation safe for everyone.

You're making the assumption they monitor their mirrors. FWIW I always signal: lane change on the multilane, pulling into my driveway, turning in a turn only lane....

Your (and the nice lady) assumption that using your "turn signals" exonerates you from other motorist's responsibility is ludicrous.

[guzzinut]

Many years ago I was in a car being driven by an old uncle of mine.
OK he was driving slow but all of a sudden and out of the blue, this bike rider drew up along side us and started shouting stuff like, "stupid old c**t, get off the road, stick with the wheelchair" etc.
As we stopped for the lights, I undid my seatbelt, at which point the coward sped off.
That was a pity, because if I'd had the chance I'd have told him a bit about my uncle bill.
About how he was a young pilot in the RAF during the 2nd world war and flew Spitfires in 54 squadron, on bomber escort.
About how he was involved in numerous dogfights with german ME-109's and three times was shot down and survived.
About on how two of those occassions, he crash landed behind enemy lines and engaged in hand to hand combat in order to escape German patrols.
About how after each time he made it home, he was in the air again within hours.
My uncle Bill rocked, and I was supposed to sit there and listen to some wet behind the ears jerk who thinks he's hard because he's on a sports bike insult him like that.
I know this perhaps isn't relevant to the thread, but it reminded me of the episode.

[bikerfish1100]

TOTALLY irrelevant to the thread.  




but who gives a rat's a$$? Uncle Bill sounds most awesome.  

[Windblown]

Slip up along their right side and reach over and hit their kill switch as you go by.  

[Cozye]

Start racing WERA. It will improve your passing skills in no time  

[JSharp]

5 Pages about riders that make you wait? Seriously? Pass when you can and don't worry about it. Isn't life a little short to get worked up over this sort of thing?