The RoggBlog

Dad sent me the Police Rider’s Handbook the other day. As many of the Amazon reviewers note, a gripping page-turner it is not. What it is, however, is chock-a-block with helpful advice on becoming a better rider, and it’s become my bedtime reading since it arrived last week.

“Knowing yourself” is the basic theme of the first chapter, and thinking back to the ride this morning, I’m seriously thinking of staying off the road for a while, no matter how physically painful it is.

What with one thing and another, the only thing I have to look forward to each day is the ride home. But due to my now near-permanent state of seething irritability, I’m riding stupidly. I know it’s happening: the scuttling up between waiting traffic mere seconds before the lights change, the pointless overtakes if anyone dares to drop beneath the speed limit, etc., etc. I don’t think I’ve done anything really bad yet, but still.

The thing is, if I stop riding, I may have to release my stress in other, oh-so-much-more-anti-social ways. Beating on homeless guys seems to be flavour of the month round here at the moment. :/

Well, not actually. But I had my first traffic stop on my way to work today, and it was actually a relatively painless experience. Dialogue may not be 100% accurate.

Baby blue (from car): Oi, you on the bike!

Rog sighs inwardly and pushes bike over to meet him, while BB steps out of the patrol car to reveal himself in full jumpsuited glory.

BB: You know that scooters have to do a two step turn when turning right?

R: Yes, but this isn’t a crossroads. Plus, that’s a no entrance sign, so there’s nowhere to stop.

BB: But you can’t turn right like that. Even when no-one is coming. It’s dangerous. (more…)