Stoopid Stealth Rider

dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
Yesterday, I went for a ride in west Sonoma County. I was sitting at a stop sign waiting for traffic to clear. I had the stop sign and cross traffic didn't. I started to pull out when traffic appeared to be clear. All of a sudden I noticed a bike bearing down on me from the left. I stopped with my bike 1/2 way into the lane. The rider swerved around me and continued on. I'm sure I got the stink eye. Black bike, black gear, black helmet, black road, rider was in front of a black truck and their headlight was barely noticeable. It gave me the willies when I realized I almost pulled out in front of another rider. Is appearing cool really that important?
 
Last edited:
WWWobble

WWWobble

This way...That way...
dravnx said:
... traffic appeared to be clear. All of a sudden I noticed ...
Click to expand...

Oh yeah.. I think this has happened to all of us who have ridden awhile.

I'm especially aware of the need to be careful when filtering to the front at a stoplight. I want to go as soon as the light turns green just because some cars might not like us filtering and I don't want to hold them up, BUT I need to be really careful that nobody in the cross traffic is blowing the yellow light.

So there's kind of a mantra going on in my mind saying things like, No daydreaming, pay attention, measure twice cut once, sort of concept.
 
Pushrod

Pushrod

Well-known member
How were you dressed?

Cursed with invisibility I took to wearing high visibility gear on an appliance white BMW R100RS. Under a white, full coverage Shoei. Close encounters of the impact kind dropped to near zero. You know, I looked vaguely like a LEO.

Perhaps the other rider could't see you as well as you not noticing him.
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
High viz Klim gear, silver helmet with reflective high viz tape and aux LEDs mounted low on my forks. Can't get much better then that but I was at a stop sign. The other rider had the right of way and would see that I was waiting. No, this was on me except the other rider made it as hard to see them as possible.
 
Last edited:
anytwowilldo

anytwowilldo

Well-known member
dravnx said:
Yesterday, I went for a ride in west Sonoma County. I was sitting at a stop sign waiting for traffic to clear. I had the stop sign and cross traffic didn't. I started to pull out when traffic appeared to be clear. All of a sudden I noticed a bike bearing down on me from the left. I stopped with my bike 1/2 way into the lane. The rider swerved around me and continued on. I'm sure I got the stink eye. Black bike, black gear, black helmet, black road, rider was in front of a black truck and their headlight was barely noticeable. It gave me the willies when I realized I almost pulled out in front of another rider. Is appearing cool really that important?
Click to expand...

I'm glad all went well in the end Jeff.
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
I'll occasionally see riders with the day-glow jackets, but a black helmet. When they're on bikes with big fairings, the only part of them that you can see coming toward you is the black helmet.

I do the opposite, wearing darker gear but the brightest helmet that I can get.

Oh, and I watch for people about to pull out in front of my from the side and slow down before they have a chance to get in my way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top