Whacky bloke at the lights...

so, I'm riding home via the Highway (heading east from Tower Hill [London for the foreigners here]). Get to the lights at the opening of the Limehouse link and some geezer rolls up next to me and immediately flips his visor and says "you got a death wish mate???" Stunned, I reply "no"....."the way you were riding that thing (mimics heavy rolling on/off of throttle etc) you are gonna kills yourself!!!!" etc etc. I'm so stunned i didnt tell him to go fook himself or punch him in the face...but I cant for the life of me think why he was saying all this to me.

I'd only been filtering like ALL the other bikes, stuck behind two scooters so I wasnt exactly pushing it. I've not ridden in the dark in the city yet so wasnt totally comfortable yet...taking it moderately is how I'd describe my style. I couldnt think how he could have mistaken me for another bike unless he was deaf and blind.....or retarded....it played on my mind all the way home even tho I tried to not think about it. I think i was more annoyed I didnt get to challenge his accusations (the lights changed and I just rode off)...but I'll be keping an eye out for him next time I'm there at the same time of day.

What an arsehole he was.

(I wish I could ride off on 1 wheel !!)

Indeed. Start off being nice, give people the benefit of the doubt etc....but when they turn on you...they incur your wrath. c'est la vie!!

People these days expect the undying gratitude of strangers just for not being obnoxious...it challenges my compassion for my fellow man, it really does.

Understand that it's quite different but surprisingly I said almost the same to a brazilian courier yesterday. He flew past on bayswater road going about 50mph while filtering tight traffic which was doing maybe 15mph.

The next light turned red and I joined him in the front. -It was the first time I've ever told anyone that they're crazy on a bike.....

I can not KEEP from riding off on one wheel, jeezus what is with all of you that don't fecin wheelie in first, now I have graduated to riding it all the way in the air till it hits red-line and then comes down, i politely throw the bitch into second and nail it hard, she comes up and I keep riding till she hit red again, what is with this mamby pamby riding, have a big feuc you middle finger sewn on yer leathers so they get the message JEEZE! Wished the hell I was thare to terrorize the whole place... FOOK! Let joe influence you to be the HOOLIGAN that you were meant to be, fulfill yer destiny! By GOD!

This is the best thread going.

How'd you know the despatch rider was Brazilian? 80 is a bit much, 60 or so would be normal. Check this for stories of despatch riding in London:

My job is so sh*t, yesterday I was thinking "I suppose I could go do despatch riding again" - I must be mad.

Think of me John, I am reduced to wheelies and speeding... no filtering at all! Can you imagine it?... see me wondering?... then I am embarrassed, then sad...