Things We Learn the Hard Way

[ScooterWolf]

In addition to reading scooter forums, I enjoy online and print articles as well, and hope to pick up something new. A riding tip, braking techniques, new gadgets and gear. There’s also a lot we learn on our own, much, unfortunately, the hard way -

Turning over froze manhole covers
Having scrapple for breakfast before rushing into morning rush hour traffic
Ignoring that low gas gauge indicator

The list can go on. Anyone have similar experiences?

- Wolf

[Tromper]

Lots of 'em but the biggest one is...
Trusting a cage driver to not be a complete idiot who's actively trying to kill you.....

[Stig / Major Tom]

"Scrapple:.....I  had to look it up.
Sounds like it is a poor man's Spam. °¿°
I do like the fact that it has one of my favorite  ingredients : buttwheat.
I love buttwheat flap-jacks!
Stig

[ScooterWolf]

Scrapple's not as bad as it sounds, but it will test your intestinal fortitude, especially with the thrum of a bike under you.

I’m going to say the majority of our hard-way lesson are learned from cagers.

- Wolf

[GLV55]

Lots of 'em but the biggest one is...
Trusting a cage driver to not be a complete idiot who's actively trying to kill you.....

I would agree with that, Tromper. There are just so many distractions to drivers, most of which involve their %$^&%$%^ phones. If we could eliminate that phone, we could drop the accident rates by a large margin. Or they could then be looking at all the other gadgets in the car and be equally distracted....can't win.

[CROSSBOLT]

Seems like old people like to ride their brakes and you NEVER know when they are really gonna use 'em! Brake lights are always blinking on and off. Really gets nutz when they actually use a turn signal!

Heavy wind and tree branches.

Rednecks, tow chains and towed vehicles.

Farm equipment on skinny roads. Hay bales improperly secured (square, round no difference).

Tailgaters, cell phome talkers/texters, loads of kids in anything.

Emergency equipment enroute behind on skinny roads (you gotta speed up until you can get off or they can pass).

County or state service crews on skinny roads at 3:30 pm with you following (gotta go slow to run out the clock).

Fresh oil on road prior to pea gravel, chip n' seal roads with Maxxis tires, steel grates on bridge transitions, trolly tracks (San Francisco), boards, pipe, pallets or pieces thereof anywhere.

People who continually creep forward at stoplights (does that really make the light turn green faster?).

People who do their stopping in the last 20 feet with you riding towards the intersection. People who do NOT stop when required!

Karl

[Stig / Major Tom]

The lesson learned : don't just check the dryer for a missing sock.

Heard this week on NPR's "Car Talk".

A fellow working on his wife's Mercury Sable, put a large athletic sock in the manifold so he wouldn't accidentally drop something in the engine while working. Put everything back together and got a mile down the road before he heard very bad engine noises.
Yep, he left the sock in there.

Stig

[GLV55]

The lesson learned : don't just check the dryer for a missing sock.

Heard this week on NPR's "Car Talk".

A fellow working on his wife's Mercury Sable, put a large athletic sock in the manifold so he wouldn't accidentally drop something in the engine while working. Put everything back together and got a mile down the road before he heard very bad engine noises.
Yep, he left the sock in there.

Stig

Gotta love Car Talk - part of my Saturday morning routine.

[ole two wheels]

Not so long ago, I was riding my Silverwing and a sudden and blowing rain storm came on. I remembered there was a small park with a large pavilion not far and I made a bee line for it. I turned into the drive only to find, the hard way, that they had placed a quarter inch cable between two post on either side of the drive. There was no sign or flag on the cable. Fortunately my speed was under 10 mph ans there was plenty of slack in the cable. The next thing I noticed was that the Givi adjustable windscreen was in my lap and the cable caught me under my chin and removed me from the scoot. I was able to swallow much better after about a month and the red and blue mark on my throat was gone. The windscreen replacement was around $250. There was no further damage to the wing. Mac proverb: It is better to remain soaked than to ride into unfamiliar territory in a rain storm when you can't see what's ahead.

Mac, aka "ole two wheels"

[Stig / Major Tom]

The Canadian prophet Red Green once stated:

"When you're driving down the street and teen-agers hit your car with snow balls - do not jump out and give chase. You'll only slip on the ice, and tear the crotch out of your pants."

The short version, which I like to quote : "Don't! - you'll just tear the crotch out of your pants."
Works in many social situations.
Stig

[ScooterWolf]

I’m usually told, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”. People tell me that every time at parties, generally when reaching for hors d’oeuvres with toothpicks sticking out. By that time I’ve already torn the crotch in my pants.

- Wolf

[GLV55]

The Canadian prophet Red Green once stated:

"When you're driving down the street and teen-agers hit your car with snow balls - do not jump out and give chase. You'll only slip on the ice, and tear the crotch out of your pants."

Another good bit of advice from Red Green: "Even duct tape can't fix stupid...but it can muffle the sound."
 

[Mr. Paul]

I got a real good laugh from the Red Green anecdotes! Loved that show. Now gotta watch some re-runs.