Safe Speed Forums

Just been re-reading this thread after a long absence from the forum - it really brings back the memories of my former life as a serial miscreant!

I thought I would let you all know I am still around. The gearbox on my bike (a tatty BM) packed up spectacularly on the M2 in November '05 and it wasn't worth fixing. My big white van was scrapped by the DVLA (no tax) and my knackered Mondeo became uneconomical to repair after I took a short cut out of a car park and holed the tank. So for the last 6 months the only vehicles I've used are bicycles and public transport. It was a shock at first but I'm quite happy with this lifestyle now. It's nice not to be bothered by any of the hassles of owning a vehicle - tax, insurance, parking, security, maintenance, congestion charge, speed cameras, bus lane cameras, traffic light cameras, police.

And it's so funny to see the summer bikers appearing now. They all seem rather sad - lots of look-at-me throttle blipping, not a clue about road positioning, arms rigid, with no destination, just looking for an audience. Reminds me of my old views that advanced instruction ought to be compulsory. Even better, get all women to have advanced motorcycling instruction so they realise what useless riders 95% of the men are!

Have been lusting after the new ZZR 1400 but I'm hoping to go travelling (by bicycle) in August so there's no point in blowing my travelling pennies on it. And anyway, I bet it won't do a a genuine 200 - it looks as big as a barn door.

Hi there!

Ahh! The summer bikers... We get a fair few up here. Just seen one lady riding pillion wearing a bikini top and some shorts

Was a bit distracting driving behind as I kept wondering if this top would fly off at one point

Where are you planning to go for your epic? We did put some ideas in the Cycling section and would be nice to read your adventures and travel tips in there

By the way my wife has an Advanced Motorbiking qualification As does that sister of hers and the other three girls in that family.

Of course those wimmin reckon most blokes are only useful for one thing

Spending our money!

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We use our smilies on YOU today
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KEEP SMILING
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Smily to penny.. penny to pound
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Enjoy life! You only have the one bite at it.

ZZR1400 mmmmmmmmm I currently have bike lust for a 749D, Daytona 675 and a ZZR1400. So many bikes so little time, too little funds

Hi, Eurostar!
Having joined this thread today, I can understand the suspicion your claims were met with. We have had a series of really nasty trolls recently and your postings seemed to invite some level of disbelief.

You are either unusually honest or, (no offence intended) building a very carefully-structured post-base from which to begin some form of dissent - I still cannot decide which.

Regardless of the case, welcome to our site, one of many spawned by the current political trends toward 'Big Brother' tactics in control of private vehicle use and the raising of revenue in the name of road safety such that actual reduction in KSI's is not the prime mover as this would reduce the amount of revenue generated by the system.

As a 'born-again' cyclist, you are among the most vulnerable group of road-users and should thus support our drive to return the execution of road safety issues to an increased Traffic Police presence, rather than mechanical means.

I hope that your association with us will be mutually educational as, whilst some of our opinioins are very diverse, our common goal is very clear.

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Aquila



Licat volare si super tergum aquila volat...

Hi eurostar. I don't mind if you're a troll or not (and I've no reason to believe that you are), it's just nice to see someone else realise what fun cycling is.

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We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the kerb.

Just to revive an old topic...

Yes, driving fast does give you a thrill. I have, on a couple of occasions, maxed out my car (56-plate A4 Quattro 2.0 TDI 170) to see just what it's capable of. Downhill with a tail-wind it'll hit 152mph.

Disclaimer - this was on an empty motorway both times, in the dry, in clear conditions and on a very straight bit of the M5. I won't say exactly where for obvious reasons.

I also maxed out a 3.2 litre A3, again on a deserted motorway (8pm on New Year's Day, nobody around for miles).

And yes, the adrenalin rush you get from those speeds is amazing. Although I don't do it very often - I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone past 140mph.

On a quiet motorway I'll usually be sitting around 90mph, perhaps just over the ton. As traffic builds up I'll slow down.

But anyone can drive fast on the motorway. If I'm going between the Cotswolds and London I take the A40 as far as Stokenchurch (the A40 then gets urban and the M40 is a superior route). And the old A40 that was de-trunked when the M40 was built is a superb road, good straights, fast bends, good sight lines, an excellent road for a bit of back-road barnstorming. At a guess I'd say it was upgraded and widened some years ago, then the M40 was built to replace it. The section between Oxford and Stokenchurch is one of the best fast drives around.

Another good road - the B4425 (formerly the A433) between Cirencester (A429) and Burford (A40). Now downgraded to a B-road due to a weight limit at Burford this again is a wide and fairly straight road, but with some challenging bends.

Why do I drive fast? Because I enjoy it. It's as simple as that.

But - and this is important - I'll only put my foot down when it's safe. If in doubt - hold back.

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Magistrates rule #1: "Never let justice get in the way of a conviction."