Motorbike ride-out today

Today (Saturday) there will be a ride-out of Island motorbike riders in memory of fellow riders that have been killed on Isle of Wight roads.

Lots of motorbikesBikers are welcome to join them as and when they can.

Places to meet up
The initial gathering point is Smallbrook Stadium, leaving at 1:30pm for a slow ride to Newport.

After a short pause there, they will move on to the County Show Ground to join up with the UK Street Car safety event at 6:30pm.

If you happen to be driving and see them, they will be going slowly, but please remember the reason they’re doing it.

Image: elsie under a CC BY 2.0 license

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JamesP
29, September 2012 3:02 pm

I’m a biker, but I’m not entirely comfortable with this sort of thing. Some riders die through plain stupidity.

Johanna Chessell
Reply to  JamesP
2, October 2012 11:46 pm

James, they are still dead, whether by their own stupidity or someone else’s. They are absent and doubtlessly missed by those who knew them. I respectfully suggest you have missed the point.

JamesP
Reply to  Johanna Chessell
3, October 2012 10:06 am

Possibly, but my point is slightly different. I was thinking of the recent accident at the bottom of Lushington Hill, where the rider and the driver of the car he hit (a 4×4) were killed. Bikers are often on the receiving end of careless motorists (SMIDSYs) but on this occasion the rider caused the accident and deaths through recklessness. It was a high price to pay, I… Read more »

jilly elston
Reply to  JamesP
3, October 2012 4:57 pm

is that last accusation based on hearsay? or fact? Nobody has yet heard who was to blame in that accident, but at the end of the day two people lost their lives and placing blame on either one at this moment in time is premature and reckless

JamesP
Reply to  jilly elston
4, October 2012 7:57 pm

Let’s see. Motorcycle hits 4×4 broadside and hard enough to roll it over several times, apparently, killing the driver and bike rider and severely injuring the other parties. Simple physics implies that he was travelling very fast, as the car would have been about ten times the mass of the bike. I’m simply suggesting the most likely scenario – if I’m wrong, I shall be happy to… Read more »

random bloke
Reply to  jilly elston
4, October 2012 8:25 pm

why do you feel the need to make any sort of suggestion? Wait for the inquiry and have some respect for the dead.

JamesP
Reply to  jilly elston
8, October 2012 9:09 am

“why do you feel the need to make any sort of suggestion?”

I was simply answering my critics. If you can think of another explanation for the accident, I’d be pleased to hear it.

As for respect, I reserve that for the innocent victims of accidents, not their perpetrators.

Philj
2, October 2012 8:32 pm

The ride was a memorial ride for our friends who have been killed whilst riding, regardless of how they were killed. I am assuming that you are one of the lucky ones who has yet to lose a friend in a road traffic incident. Absent Friends is about paying respect to those we were lucky enough to turn a wheel with, and highlighting one of the most… Read more »

john
Reply to  Philj
3, October 2012 7:54 am

I must agree with James in not feeling comfortable with this idea surly funerals are for remembering those who have left us not clogging up the already congested island roads !
The word that springs to mind is comedy bikers

Johanna Chessell
Reply to  john
3, October 2012 9:21 am

John, do you really go to a funeral and never again think of the deceased? The ride out is also designed to raise awareness, both of car drivers to the presence of bikers and bikers to good road sense. The roads were a lot less congested than when they are shut by a road traffic accident, don’t you think?

Tim
Reply to  Johanna Chessell
3, October 2012 5:46 pm

Sorry Jo, I accidentally clicked on the wrong arrow and knock you comment down by 1 vote, and yes you are right Jo on this comment, in nearly 30 years of riding bikes I’ve lost many friends on bikes and in cars, more in cars, the accidents that I have been involved in has always had that classic comment from the car driver “sorry I didn’t see… Read more »

random bloke
Reply to  john
4, October 2012 8:26 pm

the word that springs to mind is Idiot. Have some respect.

Ian
3, October 2012 10:31 am

John, we are all entitled to our opinions, but calling those that took part “comedy bikers” is offensive.
I could say that some one who can’t spell the word “surely” is a cretin, but that would lower the tone.

DJ
3, October 2012 11:46 am

After suffering inuries in an accident where a driver pulled out on us just a week before, I took part in the ride on Saturday as a pillion, and felt very humbled by such support, I have not lost a friend in the way that they died, I have however had a friend suffered from such sever damage, not just physically but mentally that he will never… Read more »

phil j
3, October 2012 5:22 pm

Well, I suggest we leave the haters to their seething, I applaud everyone who took part, and look forward to seeing you all next year, when we can make them all seethe some more.

CharA
3, October 2012 7:33 pm

I am truly shocked by some of the comments made by these small minded fools, as previously stated it was to raise awareness as well as remember our fallen friends, I can speak from experience as I had a very nasty accident on my scooter in which I got wiped out by a tractor (of all bleedin’ vehicles) and was just left in the road but all… Read more »

maz
4, October 2012 8:46 am

I found the comment “comedy bikers” very insulting!! The ride out was a ride of “respect” maybe that’s a word not in your vocabulary! I’ve lost friends on the road and almost lost my own father due to a car driver pulling out in front of him claiming she didn’t see him but when questioned by police said he had his headlight on-yes my dad survived and… Read more »

Ian
4, October 2012 2:34 pm

John,

We all have different opinions, that’s what make life interesting, but please don’t call those that took part in this ride as “comedy bikers”. That is as rude as me saying that people that can’t spell the word “surely” are cretins….

Dave Ford
Reply to  Ian
4, October 2012 9:21 pm

be interesting to hear what this block drives and the comments are all fore this ride, so how about next year you come and ride pillion and see it from our point of view

Ian
5, October 2012 9:13 am

Dave – My point entirely…..

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