Dealing with people that tailgate
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- OBX Dan
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- Location: Outer Banks, N.C.
Dealing with people that tailgate
I ride on a lot of 35 mph roads and even when I'm going 40+ drivers feel the need to push me. Any suggestions?
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- Stanza
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A pocket full of caltrops.
But for serious, you may not actually be going 40mph. The speedometers on scooters tend to be over-optimistic. I would put a GPS app on your phone, one that records top speed achieved, and then take a short ride at 40mph on the nose. My guess is that you're going to find you're actually only going 35/36ish.
But for serious, you may not actually be going 40mph. The speedometers on scooters tend to be over-optimistic. I would put a GPS app on your phone, one that records top speed achieved, and then take a short ride at 40mph on the nose. My guess is that you're going to find you're actually only going 35/36ish.
- OBX Dan
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- Posts: 66
- Joined: Sat May 11, 2019 4:17 pm
- Location: Outer Banks, N.C.
Stanza wrote:A pocket full of caltrops.
But for serious, you may not actually be going 40mph. The speedometers on scooters tend to be over-optimistic. I would put a GPS app on your phone, one that records top speed achieved, and then take a short ride at 40mph on the nose. My guess is that you're going to find you're actually only going 35/36ish.
At times yes but I GPS 45. I know my speedo.
Edit-Stick 35 in your pipe and smoke it, cause I am doing 10+ on that.
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A friend has a broken GoPro mounted to the back of his motorcycle with a "Recorded by GoPro" sticker under it. Was originally installed as a joke, because if someone steals it its already dead, but people tended to back-off his butt while he's riding so he just left it on. I'm thinking of doing the same thing but with a working GoPro, or like brand camera, since I've had front/rear camera's mounted in both cars for 3+ years now. Prices have come down so much for quality riding cameras.
- johnk
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As long as you are going the same speed as traffic, I think it helps to stay in lane-position 1 (closest to the dividing line/median) and to keep a normal following distance from the car ahead. I suspect that this can cause the tailgater (subconsciously) to see you as more of a normal part of traffic instead of an obstacle in traffic.
The more your "body language" demonstrates that you're trying to stay out of the tailgater's way (off to the shoulder-side like a bicycle, and/or close to the car ahead), the more they will be tempted to try to get around you.
Of course, every tailgater is different, so none of this advice is air-tight.
Here's a thorough video on the subject by the wise Fast Eddie.
The over-simplified point is that we have to become very familiar with the fine line between what we can and can't control.
The more your "body language" demonstrates that you're trying to stay out of the tailgater's way (off to the shoulder-side like a bicycle, and/or close to the car ahead), the more they will be tempted to try to get around you.
Of course, every tailgater is different, so none of this advice is air-tight.
Here's a thorough video on the subject by the wise Fast Eddie.
The over-simplified point is that we have to become very familiar with the fine line between what we can and can't control.