Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Howards Dillema...Almost.

John, Tutored by a couple of policemen, I took and passed the cycling proficiency test in the school playground as a kid, a pass was required to allow me to ride my bicycle to school.

Wend I returned to m/cycling in my fifties I thought it best to join in ride outs with the IAM to freshen up my skills, I even bought the police motorcyclists handbook to assist in that process.

Alistair,I think it it is good to discuss and even disagree in an agreeable manner...(-: In such discussion I can then perhaps learn something that might cause me to alter my thinking to some degree on any subject. I come here to learn.

I well understand that the young are precious to their parents, who in many cases may well wish to insulate and isolate their kids from all possible harm.

My parents did not know that I and my then school friends aged circa 14 years old had come by an old 350cc AJS, which we in time managed to get running and kept at one of the friends house that backed on to a large wooded area... We all gained bruises a plenty learning to initially get the thing fired up then dodging trees which taught us numerous valuable skills.

I can`t really imagine many caring parents thinking that m/cycling might be an ideal pastime for their little treasure.

By the time I became employed as an apprentice and thus earning, it seemed obvious by the growing number of Motorcycle Mechanics and "other" magazines taking up ever more space in my bedroom, that as an interest a m/cycle might be a better pastime, than many of the other interests that teenagers can become involved in... (-:

My workplace was dangerous indeed, at a time before elf`n safety, often working at heights or in the cold damp and breathing in dust or air fouled by who knows what....

As for the kids today, well it seems old folk have been complaining about the young since the beginning of time... I feel really sorry for those young folk without a sense of place, sense of purpose minus the possibility to work towards providing a better future for themselves, perhaps smothered in kindness and over-expectation provided by loving mum`s, combined with failed governance of the country`s political systems over decades..?

Failed political systems..? Thinking to the extent that perhaps the bank of mum and dad might be the only plan the young might be able to depend upon to provide "kids" living at home perhaps as old as 40 something, with some sort of financial stability...the future perhaps being dependant on the parents loosing their grip on the perch and leaving the house to the kids, that is IF it has not been re-mortgaged by the parents to provide the "kids" with funding for their necessities, such as cars and holidays over a few decades, while in the process of doing so, creating a large population of dependants, as opposed to those striving to succeed..?

To use an MP as any sort of example based upon decisions made for the overall common good would generally be a mistake, though it seems there may be at least some who may give it their best shot...?

Link posted in the soap box..

I totally agree with John and have long argued that it should be a requirement to pass a bike test before getting a car licence.
I did and have (so far) had 53 years of incident free driving....and riding.

Fair points John.

I was a keen cyclist and had a few spills. I avoided a car hitting me on a roundabout but ended up going through a privet hedge across a garden and into the side of someone's car (small scuff). I got a summons from HMP for speeding at 43 in a 30, dismissed. I learnt to fly when someone pulled out in front of me a few times.

During my following biking years I had "three learn to flies" due to others not seeing me (fair to say I was at some speed but not stupid) but the level of damage was a up several pegs. Cause and effect are both significantly greater?

In my motoring career I have had a couple and most were down to a surprise event I had not factored in, during my younger days. The outcome was always a lot more significant and costly. Fortunately never causing personal injury beyond a little shock and embarrassment.

You are right - by the time those took place I had learnt from my previous splashes so to that point it probably did have the right effect. My worry is mindset of the current generation coming onto the roads and their disposition to risk and entitlement. I watch it among the drivers in my area and the attitude I watch has me open mouthed with shock so often. Backing out of a side turn onto a main road without even looking to see the risk, pulling out in front of you at a junction and giving you the "bird" as they do it. If they have this sense of entitlement they need thick metal skin as well as the apparent thick mental skin they appear to have obtained through aggressive use of the keyboard and sochul medier.

Indeed, SAAB's turbo for torque philosophy made for quick cars - my last was a Hirsch tuned last-gen 9-5, with a many-speed paddle auto. It delivered mountains of power & torque in a narrow 2,000 rpm band - and once I'd learned the 1500-3500/change gear trick, was blindingly quick for a large saloon.

I kept that one a relatively short time - the two previous 9-5s looked after me for some 250,000 miles. The latter V6 turbo cost £2250, ran on LPG, so returned the equivalent of 55mpg in petrol costs. I fitted the last self-levelling rear suspension kit to leave the factory before the receivers arrived, to offset the weight of the LPG tank. A strut brace between the front suspension towers, and fancy Bilstein B6 coil/dampers... and I was chasing sports cars across country roads :-)

Never had a Saab, always admired them from afar, even their dullest cars were more interesting than the more popular competition and now and again they made some stunning designs, roof line and windscreen shape in particular.

Back again to the original post, I actually prefer Lidl and Aldi, they’re quicker in and out and the less time spent in ugly supermarkets the better, despite the nice cars, that’s still an ugly picture, I’d rather spend my money in a small business .
My normal excuse for a rural run is a 40 mile three point round trip to the countryside butcher, farm shop then costal village ice cream, even the petrol is bought from the independent small guy, he has the super unleaded. It’s fair to say, not a particularly environmentally friendly way to shop, but I’d be going for a drive anyway. The butcher noticed I’d changed my Ferrari and laughed when I said I only bought it to come to see him😂

Back in the day when the original Stig drove a Saab you could hear a group 4 escort coming miles away, When Stig appeared all you could hear was the stones hitting the wheel arches and at night fire out of the exhaust as he passed. It was a very menacing looking car all in black and he threw it about like a mini..... Em

I am sure learning to ride m/bike and passing the test should be of benefit before adding the extra two wheels. However, having witnessed some ridiculously stupid riding at speed in traffic, I am not sure the youngsters of today do benefit.
I learnt to drive 60 years ago, I wasn't allowed a m/bike as my father was far too well aware how dangerous it would be in my hands. I did, however, benefit from some tuition by a retired Class A1 traffic officer. He was very hot on observation, not on the car immediately in front, but the one 100+yards up the road, and made sure I was always looking for potential hazards.
I might be denigrating many current driving instructors, but I am not convinced their pupils get the same attention to those details. Too many sit for ages along our road talking to their pupils.
I must add that a few years later I was lucky to attend a series of evening classes given by a Police Driving Instructor, which was very illuminating, especially when, at the end of the course, he and some colleagues took us out on the roads in their ordinary unmarked cars. Could those guys move, and it was so smooth.

As an aside has anyone else found these https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL29W__2lVjSOhJZWFRhiuQ I think some of the videos should be compulsory viewing for learner drivers, not for the speed, but how to react.

I started out on M/C in the 60's and learned very early to keep my eyes open. In the 80's I was a driving examiner for the DOT, I would say the most common failure was observation.

A while ago I posted a link from a cycling site about vision/missing things
https://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/
A good read describing how our brains interpret what our eyes see ( and miss) as we scan an area.

Dear me I seem to be a victim of spell correction
An "Avvitatore " is a screw driver. What should have been written was "Avvisatore acustico" a term which is now used for reverse beepers and the now obligatory sound generation required for electric vehicles. In other words
something or someone that gives an audible warning.