Looks like I'll be commuting about a 100 miles to an new position. Right now I commute about 20 miles by truck. It's pretty boring. 100 miles by bike is probably going to be just the opposite.

Now I'm looking at the typical loop until I get out to I-85 south.

Any strategies on lanes, speed, etc any of you commuters have would be greatly appreciate. I already have a rain top and boots, need to add the pants and gloves.

Any thoughts on the wall next to the left lane?


Thanks in advance.


One more thing, I looked around at some other sites and relaized we didn't have a thread that addresses the subject. So let's make this one the catch all for going to work amidst the crazys.


r/


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When I ride the "inter state" or trans Canada and the like, I ride the left lane. When traffic gets heavy or some shit happens, I switch to the right lane. It has a wider shoulder it I have to pull over. We can't ride the shoulder but I have done it. I hate to sit in traffic clutching it. If it's been a long day, I might pull over and rest or wait for traffic to die down. I do get caught and then I just grin and bare it. It's the idiots all around me that are disconcerning. I live 9 1/2 kms from school and it takes 12 min in the morning to get to work. Maybe 25 to get home. Off topic but sometimes when I watch the 6 pm news, omg, people stuck in their cars in traffic.

thanks CB. On the way back from the final interview I had to slow down for a doozy of a crash. It was five cars, one turned around facing me, one rear ended hard, couldn't tell the rest. The only way this could of happened was everyone was in a pack and they were all going too fast and someone hiccuped. At least that's what I learned from what I saw. I use to cruise on my Harley and just stayed at 65/70 and was amazed at how theses "pods" of cars would go by, hell bent. After a couple of minutes there would be no one around me. Then there's the trick of just pulling off and sitting at a gas station or church and waiting about 3 minutes.

Anyway, it should prove interesting. I know I'm going to get caught in a down pour. I'll share a couple of days after I dry out.


thanks,

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We've all ridden in the rain. I'm not a fan of wet riding. Sometimes I keep my visor up and I've even had to take my glasses off and take the rain in the face rather than foggy, wet classes. I have, on rare occasions just pulled off and waited it out. Of course there's the "I have no choice." but to carry on. If it's wet I pull into the left lane b/c the right has "grooves" from heavy constant tire wear and traffic. I think you might be faced, in your area, with heavier even sub-tropical rain that we don't get in BC. Most of our rain falls in the winter months and you might have more rain in the summer months. I think I saw a "climograph" of your area. Just stay safe and of course ride aware! Cheers

Rule 1
S-scan
I-Identify
P-Predict
D-Determine
E-Execute

I never sit behind cagers, even though it is elegal in my state to pass between them. No need to wear a helmet though...go figure . For the most part cagers are courteous, and will move over. I have encountered one selfish cager that saw me coming and tried to block me, of course I just moved over to to right lane and then ahead of it.

Recite rule 1 and you will be Ok. Enjoy!

By the way, my 4yr old son loves your Avatar (the scarier,the better)

Originally Posted by swazijmw

Rule 1
S-scan
I-Identify
P-Predict
D-Determine
E-Execute

I never sit behind cagers, even though it is elegal in my state to pass between them. No need to wear a helmet though...go figure . For the most part cagers are courteous, and will move over. I have encountered one selfish cager that saw me coming and tried to block me, of course I just moved over to to right lane and then ahead of it.

Recite rule 1 and you will be Ok. Enjoy!

By the way, my 4yr old son loves your Avatar (the scarier,the better)

on the old MSF mantra. I learned that in 1988 when I took the course on my 86 FJ1200. Only accident I have had since learning that was running over a deaf Springer Spaniel that was also dumb as a brick.

Originally Posted by X1rider

on the old MSF mantra. I learned that in 1988 when I took the course on my 86 FJ1200. Only accident I have had since learning that was running over a deaf Springer Spaniel that was also dumb as a brick.

I had an 87 FJ1200 with jet kot and a full supertrapp. THat was a fun bike back in the day.


Back on topic,
When I am riding the super slab. If no traffic is around me. The slow lane. Keep speed a little over but not much. Don't want to be easy picking for the popo.

When traffic is around me. Light, moderate or heavy. I run a slightly more aggresive ride. Moving thru traffic as I can. Slightly faster pace. But not too excessive as to get noticed by the man. Always use turn signals. Even in a tight squeeze, but open in front to put distance. As stated earlier. Always scanning. Try to find pockets with no traffic and ride easy. Also, I don't ride the right lane coming up on a exit. People that are in the other lanes and reading papers, doing makeup, talking on cell phones, etc.. are not paying attention. When they realize it is thier exit. They don't look first. It is a free for all to get off on the ramp. God help whoever is in the way. Hope this helps some.

I commute about 80 mile a day to work and back. The thing you don't think about is tire wear. Say you get 8k from a set of tires. At 100 miles a day, 5 days a week, thats a set of tires every 16 weeks!

I usually go 5k on an oil change so roughly every other oil change it's time for tires....

Gets a little expensive...

However.... You are having 10 times more fun than the cagers making the same commute....

Originally Posted by CanadianBird

We've all ridden in the rain. I'm not a fan of wet riding. Sometimes I keep my visor up and I've even had to take my glasses off and take the rain in the face rather than foggy, wet classes. I have, on rare occasions just pulled off and waited it out. Of course there's the "I have no choice." but to carry on. If it's wet I pull into the left lane b/c the right has "grooves" from heavy constant tire wear and traffic. I think you might be faced, in your area, with heavier even sub-tropical rain that we don't get in BC. Most of our rain falls in the winter months and you might have more rain in the summer months. I think I saw a "climograph" of your area. Just stay safe and of course ride aware! Cheers

CB,

I was thinking about this. I don't really care if it rains either. Usually I just head home put the bike up and get cleaned up. What I've never had to deal with is showing up at work after riding in a storm. That's a new one. So I have the extra clothes, the rain gear, the liners to cover the saddlebags, tank bag, tail bag, ..... Always up for an adventure. Been caught in the rain and the Michelin's did great. Had to remind myself to slow down. Guess, now I'll be ready to take a long trip.

Ought to be fun, we'll see.

Thought I'd add a few notes. The sipde thing was in the mandatory saftey course back in San Diego at the 32nd St Naval Base. I think that was around 85-86. That was on my first bike which was a 84 V45 Magna. It was a basket case that I rebuilt. Traded it for an 86 V65 Magna. That was a nice bike.

IRT to my commute adventure, the basics are to ride with authority and assertivness, use the power to keep yourself separated from the pods of morons that seem to gather around.

The main thing that caught me off guard is being passed by idiots vastly exceeding the speed limit. Granted I was moving along very well. But there were a few times that I would check my mirrors and it seems just a few seconds later I would be passed on one side or the other by someone that was either racing someone else or they were doing the "you pissed me off, I'll show you" thing. I got into the practice of double checking and head turning as I changed lanes even if I had just checked. After a while I was pretty confident but don't let your guard down. Always look as you are moving over. Just a reminder.

hth---



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An old, experience rider friend of mine said "....always ride slightly faster than the surrounding traffic if possible...." This greatly reduces the risk as it eliminates most of the dangers from the rear.
Constant vigilance will be your best guide.

Good luck and enjoy.

Rod

Get a radar detector for the slab. It's saved me many times when accelarating to get away from the cagers. Most important, put as much distance between yourself and any and all cagers and never ride next to a car for any amount of time. Also, stay out of the blindspot. Riding faster than the flow of traffic will ensure this.

Good luck and have fun. Sounds great.

Oh, I want to suggest one more thing although some people might disagree with me. Get yourself a dedicated commuting thrasher for this and save the Bird for the fun rides.

I have a Kawasaki Concours (old design) and it is perfect for what you need. Huge fairing, the best cold and wet weather protection and you can find a nice one for about $2.5k.

I've tried long distance cold and wet weather riding on the Bird on the freeway and although doable, it's not ideal. Plus, all that smooth power is wasted just droning along at legal speeds.

Excellent idea, on an older tourer. In BC you would have to insure two bike though and that's a drag.

Get in the left lane, lay on the tank & twist the friggin throttle!