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

[county]

Yep, absolutely correct---- right up to the point where the bubble gum machine lights up

That is when one demonstrates one's competency....

[Cablebandit]

That is when one demonstrates one's competency....

 

[Scratch33]

That is when one demonstrates one's competency....

I'm sure you could talk your way out of it.  

[Cablebandit]

I guess there's no need to talk if you are truly competent.

[Rogue]

Walking down a narrow pathway is not a useful analogy, as that is not what one would call a 'dynamic' situation. If you need an explanation of how a motorcycle passing another vehicle on a public road is more dynamic than "walking at the speed of molasses" I can't help you.

It's the same kind of mentality.  What difference does it make if your on a narrow mountain path on foot or a narrow mountain road on a motorcycle?  Be courteous and just make it easier for faster traffic to go by you.  Who wants someone buzzing around behind you?

No you are not obligated to make way for someone who wants to pass.  But why would you just "hold your ground" just because?  If you don't understand that concept then you can't be helped either.  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

It's the same kind of mentality.  What difference does it make if your on a narrow mountain path on foot or a narrow mountain road on a motorcycle?  Be courteous and just make it easier for faster traffic to go by you.  Who wants someone buzzing around behind you?

No you are not obligated to make way for someone who wants to pass.  But why would you just "hold your ground" just because?  If you don't understand that concept then you can't be helped either.  

 

[Kootenanny]

It's the same kind of mentality.  What difference does it make if your on a narrow mountain path on foot or a narrow mountain road on a motorcycle?  Be courteous and just make it easier for faster traffic to go by you.  Who wants someone buzzing around behind you?

No you are not obligated to make way for someone who wants to pass.  But why would you just "hold your ground" just because?  If you don't understand that concept then you can't be helped either.  

I had an uncle who drove at the speed limit--right at the speed limit--at all times.  And he'd do this driving down a multi-lane freeway, in the fast lane, creating long trains of frustrated drivers behind him.  He knew they were there, and he probably knew they were frustrated, but...in his mind, he was "right," and therefore, they could just go to hell as far as he was concerned.  By gar, he'd teach them a lesson!

One of his sons--my cousin--is the same (and come to think of it, he has a Harley...but I think it's as much of a garage ornament as anything).

[Scratch33]

I had an uncle who drove at the speed limit--right at the speed limit--at all times.  And he'd do this driving down a multi-lane freeway, in the fast lane, creating long trains of frustrated drivers behind him.  He knew they were there, and he probably knew they were frustrated, but...in his mind, he was "right," and therefore, they could just go to hell as far as he was concerned.  By gar, he'd teach them a lesson!

He wasn't named John Nestor, was he?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nestor

[Kootenanny]

He wasn't named John Nestor, was he?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nestor

Ha!  "Nestoring!"  Exactly!

[Rogue]

This topic makes me giggle...  

Bunch o' prissies, you are, wanting people to pull over for your delicate little bike.  

Hell yeah get the heck out of the way of us whipper-snappers!  

Seriously, I don't expect people to.  There are times you can't make way or is not safe.  I'm good with that and it's obvious to the passer.  On a motorcycle though there's usually lots of room to just scoot over to one side and let the whipper-snappers by, no?  It only takes a couple of seconds.  Also, it's a good signal to let us faster traffic know it's okay to pass.  Common courtesy is not so common nowadays.  Must be this Internet thing and crowds have made people anonymous...

[dietDrThunder]

I maintain this general mindset...

1) Unless someone is going egregiously slow (ie, farm equipment, half-blind old lady, skateboarding monkeys, etc), quit whining about how fast someone is or isn't going. The speed limit is not the minimum speed and it's no one's job to actually MAINTAIN that speed. It's the max.

2) If I don't like the way it's going, then it's *MY* job to get around the slow pokes. Period. End of story. I don't expect anyone to pull over for me, and frankly I think demanding it is an ass attitude to take. Even a slow ass bike can get around the average car in the blink of an eye. As far as other riders... really? It's a matter of skill and balls more than anything else. Man up and do it.

Often times, farm equipment is too big to pull off, the blind old ladies are oblivious, and the skateboarding monkeys are just a danger.

This topic makes me giggle...  

Bunch o' prissies, you are, wanting people to pull over for your delicate little bike.  

I'm not accustomed to aligning myself with someone who calls others "pussies" but there is a first for everything.

Is it nice when someone moves over and waves me by? Sure, it's nice. Am I ever going to be bothered, or even notice, if they don't? No.

I would submit that maybe if you're not comfortable passing someone without an invitation, maybe you're out-kicking your coverage a bit re: how fast you're riding...just a thought.

[dietDrThunder]

It's the same kind of mentality.  What difference does it make if your on a narrow mountain path on foot or a narrow mountain road on a motorcycle?  Be courteous and just make it easier for faster traffic to go by you.  Who wants someone buzzing around behind you?

No you are not obligated to make way for someone who wants to pass.  But why would you just "hold your ground" just because?  If you don't understand that concept then you can't be helped either.  

You miss my point. Why do you care what the other person is doing? Hold their ground? I'm not behind them long enough to notice, and if I were, I'd hate to think that I'm affecting their ride in any way. I am so much happier to come upon a slower rider than I am coming up on some ass clown who's writing checks that their skill level can't cash...hell I feel bad if the slower rider notices me and feels like they need to worry about what I'm doing. Riding a motorcycle is dangerous enough...you just keep on keepin' on...if I want to get by I'll get by, no problem at all. I didn't say anything about being obligated or not. the only obligation here IMO is the overtaking rider's obligation to do so smoothly, safely, and in a manner that is not likely to spook or otherwise interact with the rider being passed in any way whatsoever. If you can't do that, then you need to slow down and not worry so much about passing people.

Like I said in the other post...if you need assistance of someone "letting you by" maybe you need to re-asses your comfort level and skill level v. the pace you're attempting to ride? I'm not being a smart ass on this, I'm being serious. If you can't get my someone without them moving over, you have issues.

(and I don't mean "you" personally Rogue, in the above...I mean you 'understood')

[bikerfish1100]

I would submit that maybe if you're not comfortable passing someone without an invitation, maybe you're out-kicking your coverage a bit re: how fast you're riding...just a thought.

then there is an alternative thought about it that goes something like this:
"I would submit that maybe if you're not comfortable passing someone without an invitation, maybe you're trying to show a bit of respect for them as a fellow rider, along with not freaking them out when you unexpectedly dust their slow arse mid-corner."......  just a thought.

[dietDrThunder]

then there is an alternative thought about it that goes something like this:
"I would submit that maybe if you're not comfortable passing someone without an invitation, maybe you're trying to show a bit of respect for them as a fellow rider, along with not freaking them out when you unexpectedly dust their slow arse mid-corner."......  just a thought.

I would never pass anyone I didn't know personally mid-corner on the street, ever. IMO that is track behavior.

Here's another take for you: if you can't pass someone without freaking them your passing technique sucks.

[Orson]

People on Italian sport touring forums are specifically discussing the best ways to pass people in mid-corner while freaking them out.  

[bikerfish1100]

I would never pass anyone I didn't know personally mid-corner on the street, ever. IMO that is track behavior.

Here's another take for you: if you can't pass someone without freaking them your passing technique sucks.

depends entirely upon the road.

let's leave it at that.

CO (and other states out here) often give mid-sweeper passing zones. and if the state of CO says it's safe & legal, who the hell am i to argue with them?

let's leave it at that.

[county]

No you are not obligated to make way for someone who wants to pass.  

Well, this statement is obviously wrong....and anyone who believes it needs to learn to get the fuck outta the way and it doesn't matter if you are on a motorcycle or in a buffet line.  Move your fat ass over.  You are not the center of the universe you rude fuck.

[TuffguyF4i]

I always follow close enough so they know i want to pass, but not impatiently close.  I don't really expect them to move over, since i really do hate passing a stranger in thier lane and absolutely will not unless motioned to do so.  
I really prefer they wave me past just so i know they see me.  

I almost never have a harley wave me past, but they are always super easy to pass.    Unless there are 30 of them.  In those situations i usually pass on the gaps they leave on the yellow line.  

[rgbeard]

I would never pass anyone I didn't know personally mid-corner on the street, ever. IMO that is track behavior.

Here's another take for you: if you can't pass someone without freaking them your passing technique sucks.

And if you know them.... then Stuff-em in the corner!!!  

[dietDrThunder]

depends entirely upon the road.

let's leave it at that.

Sorry, but if it depends entirely on the road for you, you're doing it wrong.

It depends entirely on your skill level, and has virtually nothing to do with the road. Is it theoretically possible that a road is so diabolically twisty, made up entirely of 180 degree blind switchbacks with tiny radii and 30 feet between? Ya, I guess it's possible. Does such a road actually exist? I doubt it. There are some roads that have sections that prudence tells us that it's better to wait a minute or two before passing, but that's about it.

I'm sure someone will come along and point out some 2 mile long road they paved 2 days ago in Ecuador where there are no non-mid-corner passing opportunities, but _in general_ the vaaaast majority of roads have  jillions of good, safe, non-mid-corner places to pass if you're competent enough to exploit them.

And please remember...I am _only_ addressing the folks ITT who are complaining about those who won't move over or otherwise facilitate their passing for them. To get back to the point, if you need someone on a motorcycle (and even 99.75% of the time in a car) to accommodate your desire to pass, I think you should work on your riding skills, and not worry so much about what other people are doing.