Motorcyclists..talk to your friends

[ironglow]

   Not being a cyclist, I have always been rather ambivalent about them and their activities. I even take special caution to allow cyclists right of way where they are entitled.
  I know cyclists are a bit concerned with their image, so I wonder just why we had to experience the disgusting performance I witnessed this morning.
   As our church let out, we were greeted by the noise of motorcycles coming up the main street of our little town.
   
  At first, the multicolored machines were interesting and we waited for them to pass. I didn't mind the continuous horn blowing or unnecessary engine revving..figuring,
   "let the simple ones have their fun too".After 20 minutes or so, we realised that there was no break coming soon. This disruption lasted for more than an hour.
 
  Knowing there were a few elderly people who had to get home for meds and etc, I endeavored to secure a break in the monotonous parade, so they could get home.
   Waiting for a small break, I stepped out into the street requesting a little courtesy with my hand motions. A couple slowed..and I was in hopes..but others gunned their
  engines and nearly ran me over in their complete disregard for even basic courtesy. I later found out that they did not stop for traffic signals or any side streets...and
  they obviously Knew what a big mob they were. And it appears that in a mob setting, they acted different tha they would act in their home neighborhood.
  I called the county sheriff to find out if there is any control for such mob actions. They informed me that the one small city in our county, Olean, NY ...had sponsored something called "Rally in the Valley" and this is the result.
     As I said previously I have been ambivalent concerning large group outings of motorcyclists..but today I have re-assessd my thoughts and think differently..
  Sorry, I have a sour taste in my mouth, because they behaved like a cross between inconsiderate boors and plain hoodlums.

[bubba]

as a biker myself in north central ny. I can say I understand your frustration. However I must say if the bikers had the right of way they did not fracture any laws by not stopping. If it were a convoy or cars coming up the street with the right of way, and it was bikes trying to get out into the street and one of them stepped out in the street to stop traffic, how many do you think would have stopped?  I am not defending their actions as I was not there, but I am trying to picture how many bikes it would take to have an hour parade of bikes. I am guessing thousands. I attend the motorcycle rally at lake George knows as americade every year. There are upwards of 10 thousand people there most on bikes, and I have never seen traffic held up that long.  I would prefer to get them through and not have cars jumping in and out of them which will cause more problems than it solves.  If they had went through town 45 minutes earlier and disrupted the church service with  the noise, you would have been just as upset. It is a lose lose situation for the bikers. I have attended many rally's this summer the first one had 300 bikes all together and we rode all in a formation and obeyed laws. the total ride was 120 miles and we never tried to run over anyone or blow horns or rev up unnecessarily and we could pass through the towns without killing anyone. 

[Mike Britton]

I have ridden motorcycles for the last fifty years. ALOT of the people I know are courteous, thoughtful riders, realizing that courtesy makes things much easier.
I also know ALOT of folks that I won't ride with because of their attitude on the street.
There seems to be a sense, when numbers of riders get together, that "mine is bigger than yours". Before long, everyone in the group is involved in that "I can top that" game. No one wins, many times someone gets hurt.
 At the very least, the "cagers" around us get the impression that we are all d%^&heads bent on self distruction. I don't blame them for feeling that way, from back in the pack, it often LOOKS that way!
I don't know how to change it. When we were kids, and motorcycling wasn't so "trendy", we were looked at just as "kids who rode motors instead of driving cars". Now, if you ride you are expected, by both riders and non-riders to be a "biker".
It's BS! I don't ride to have everyone look at me, I ride because, well if you don't ride, it's hard to explain, but to be on a two lane blacktop all by yourself around sunup on a crisp fall day would explain it better than I ever could.
I don't want to be thought of as a biker. I just want to enjoy my bike.
And because of that I ride mostly alone. You'd be surprised how friendly people are to a single rider.

[ironglow]

 TM;
   I already have a bike and save a lot of gas ! My bike isn't like in Harley or Honda..but as in Schwinn.

  Bubba;
    I can understand how it could even be frustrating for a sensible biker..just as most of us dislike the "slob hunter". Frankly, if I catch a slob hunter
  doing somethging enough, I will report him/her to the authorities..because they hurt our image. And you asked if cars would have stopped for the
  same reason, yes, they do regularly. I am the local cemetery curator and work closely with funeral directors..every time I had to stop traffic for a few
    cars coming out of that same drive, through traffic stopped..we quickly moved traffic out, I thanked the motorists and all were happy. Sometimes
   funeral party cars did not even have funeral flags on . Fact is, when folks around here see someone trying to hold traffic for a bit they figure there
  is a reason and have the good manners to stop !
  The only light in town (a blinking red both ways) was about 150 yards from me, and although I didn't specifically look at the corner..there was no
  slow down in the passing machines within my location..so I must assume that they ignored the traffic light as some people told me they did.
  That sounds like the old Hell's Angels tactics.
      Curiously, if I am in a long line of traffic and see someone waiting for an extended length of time, I will slow down and wave at least one of them out.
  This seems to be only common courtesy.
  Question: Why do biker folks feel the need to "ride in formation" ?  I have never done that with my pickup trucks, Volkswagens or farm tractors ...
  I can understand why a few friends would like to ride in formation..but why a few hundred ?

  When I am out hunting, I take care not to offend farmers, other landowners or local citizens..one slob hunter can ruin things for a hundred !

  This incident gave rise to a concern I have wondered about for some time but never felt moved to inquire about..I have 2 vehicles , one is 1500 cc the other is 2300 cc,
   I must by law have these things whisper quiet when running on public roads; why is it acceptable that motorcycles can ignore the same rules. I have a friend who is a
   NY State Senator, perhaps I will ask about this pheonomena . The state could rake in lots of money (at least till all caught on) if they started enforcing the rule..and NY
  needs money.

  Mike;
  I think you have a great point there. You need not explain your love of riding..I have refrained from buying my first bike simply because I can see how it  becomes
  addictive. I have family members that are into motorcycles and usually ride alone or in small groups.
  No, I don't think all are like the proverbial  problem biker, and as I said..when I asked for a little break in the train..a couple were willing, but others after nearly stopping,
   suddenly accelerated, nearly running me over..obviously not all are discourteous slobs..even in a mob..
 
 
 

[Swampman]

I ride a Harley (I've been riding for about 40 years) and I abide by the law (mostly)  The thing I really dislike, is upper middle aged yuppies that think they are Hell's Angels because they spent $20,000 on a bike and have ridden it 20 miles in warm dry weather.

My current scoot.....

[bubba]

IG the formation is used to ride through a town so the line os not scattered twice as far. I asked if it were a bunch of bikes trying to get out in a line of cars would they let them out my answer I seriously doubt it. When I am out on the highway which I have been doing since 76, I do not ride side by side. I like to have the entire lane to maneuver.  I have never owned a harley, nor do I intend to. My bike is quite quiet. In NY any modificaions to an exhaust is illegal same as it is in a car. It just needs to be enforced.  My current ride in a 2008 Honda shadow spirit 1100 and I also own a 1982 yamaha virago 750 I have owned since it was new. My daughter is riding that one now and is learning for her road test. 

[ironglow]

  You guys gotta quit showing those pics and talking bike..you may get me tempted. 
 My 2 brothers-in-law have bikes they are not noisey..believe they are Kawasakis..at least they are Japanese bikes. One of them has 2 sons that are "into Harley".
  Curiously, their last name (my wife's maiden name) is Davidson and one of those boys swore he ws going to name his son Harley. He only has a couple girls 

[Mike Britton]

Swampman!!!!!
I am sooo jealous!! I'm going to sell both my vintage Triumphs and by another Sportster. I've been looking at the 1200 Roadster, but I saw a bike like yours at the dealership the other day and........Hmmmmm.
I love Sportsters. I think it's one of the best "all arounders" on the market.

[AtlLaw]

IG....your example of the biker formation you observed likely might have been a 'benefit' ride for some good cause.  If it was a large group you can bet that there were likely a large number of police and firemen sprinkled in among the ranks of the riders.

Glad someone finally pointed that out.  Also, these rides sometimes have police escorts to block intersections so the whole group can get through.  If the group was as big as it appeared to you, some charity is going to get a healthy donation.  Around here each rider pays $10 - $25 or more to participate.  I'm sure another phone call or two could get you the details.

[ironglow]

   I can appreciate the charity factor, I do charity demos myself...but I am not rude to the observers that come to watch !  ..But I take you guys in good faith
  that only some are clods. We face that in our hunter ranks also. I do consider the unrestricted exhaust as somewhat inconsiderate whether it is cycle, truck or car.
  To me it is the same disregard for others that prompts some to drive down the street with a boom-box system that rattles the houses. Can't under stand folks
  who do that !
   I have radio shows I like to listen to also..Rush, Good preaching or something on my XM radio, but I would never be so rude as to force my likes upon a whole
    neighborhood !
     Anyway; that's my rant..all done !

  A couple weeks ago I was doing a "freebee" demo for a local fire dept. While I was there,  a dice run pulled in  about 30 machines..they crowded under my shelter
  at my behest..it was raining furiously.
    Among the bikes I saw a very nice looking Triumph, looked about like a '53 model,  single vertical cylinder, olive drab with a British number plate mounted edgewise
   atop the front fender. The owner asked me to guess what year it was..I guessed a '53..he chuckled and said "a 2000".
  He saw it in a friend's garage a couple years ago, not being used. Over the last couple years he finally cajole his friend to sell it to him
   He explained this retro bike as something being built in India..Triumph sold the company all their old dies and tooling along with permission..

    Any of you guys seen one ?

[williamlayton]

Rudeness and inconsiderate behavior has no excuse.
Blessings

[myronman3]

ive been waiting all day to weigh in on this....

   believe me as a biker if i had a dime for every time some car or truck driving moron did something stupid that almost wiped me out i wouldnt have to work anymore.   

   a few questions for you... would you have stepped out  there if it had been a semi convoy?  a funeral procession? 
   who the hell do you think you are stepping out into traffic anyhow?  are you a cop?   
  do you know they ran lights in town, or did you HEAR it from someone who heard it from someone?   
   what makes you think that the elderly people wanted to be in the middle of the procession of motorcycles anyway? 
 
  sorry pal, but my take on this is that you tried to be someone you shouldnt have, and you got called on it.  and you were wrong by stepping out into traffic, YOU DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY OR AUTHORITY TO DO SO.    jaywalking is everybit as illegal as running lights (which you dont even know they did, you just heard it).   you are also very lucky you didnt step out in front of someone like me.  also, you are very lucky you didnt cause an accident, get hurt or cause someone else to get hurt. 
    most times you are o.k., but you are wrong on this one.     

[Sheila]

   Not being a cyclist, I have always been rather ambivalent about them and their activities. I even take special caution to allow cyclists right of way where they are entitled.
  I know cyclists are a bit concerned with their image, so I wonder just why we had to experience the disgusting performance I witnessed this morning.
   As our church let out, we were greeted by the noise of motorcycles coming up the main street of our little town.
   
  At first, the multicolored machines were interesting and we waited for them to pass. I didn't mind the continuous horn blowing or unnecessary engine revving..figuring,
   "let the simple ones have their fun too".After 20 minutes or so, we realised that there was no break coming soon. This disruption lasted for more than an hour.
 
  Knowing there were a few elderly people who had to get home for meds and etc, I endeavored to secure a break in the monotonous parade, so they could get home.
   Waiting for a small break, I stepped out into the street requesting a little courtesy with my hand motions. A couple slowed..and I was in hopes..but others gunned their
  engines and nearly ran me over in their complete disregard for even basic courtesy. I later found out that they did not stop for traffic signals or any side streets...and
  they obviously Knew what a big mob they were. And it appears that in a mob setting, they acted different tha they would act in their home neighborhood.
  I called the county sheriff to find out if there is any control for such mob actions. They informed me that the one small city in our county, Olean, NY ...had sponsored something called "Rally in the Valley" and this is the result.
     As I said previously I have been ambivalent concerning large group outings of motorcyclists..but today I have re-assessd my thoughts and think differently..
  Sorry, I have a sour taste in my mouth, because they behaved like a cross between inconsiderate boors and plain hoodlums.

They're  copycating  Thunder In The Valley here in Johnstown.

[ironglow]

 Welll;
  I guess I found one of those few most of you guys warned me about ?   Myron; if you read my post you would see that I clearly stated that I stepped out, and with
    my hand motions requested a little courtesy. Strange, I even expected I may be afforded some courtesy..my mistake I guess ! I didn't demand a thing..clearly it was a request.
        Do you take upon yourself that same attitude you just showed me when you ride in a pack ? I am beginning to think "pack" may be the proper nomenclature for
  SOME of our "fellow citizens" as they ride in gangs. Do you really think your attitude does great favors for the Motorcycle fraternity ? I know belligerent hunters don't help
  our cause..
     So, now I have recieved two answers that sound  semi-barbaric.."bikers aren't known for social graces or manners and are not tea totalers"..soooo... Does that mean
   they exempt from normal civil behavior ? If you truly believe that, you may be more of the problem than the solution ! Now, I am just an old country boy, but I was not
    aware that it took law enforcement to extract a bit of courtesy from, bikers..but then, that wouldn't be courtesy would it...that would be compulsion.
        Here, I have been having a rather congenial discussion with several motorcyclists and suddenly the "biker"... "fortress mentality" raises it's head ! You may think that
  your particular kiind pursuit exempts you from  common courtesy..but it doesn't.. DUH !
      I am familiar with the well known "biker mentality" that takes over SOME people as they run in a pack..but I don't blame all motorcyclists for such uncouth actions .
  We can witness the same mob mentality with street gangs in certain areas by  those who choose to join in..anyone ever heard of the "Bloods" and "Crips" ?
  
      Last year about this time, I spent a week among hundreds of "honestly tough" guys who have proven themselves as such . I visited my grandson, a Special Ops Marine,
  who spent a couple deployments in the mean streets of Ramadi & Fallujah..I met some of his friends..also Special Ops. I drove around the streets of Jacksonville, NC
   that week, and I was amazed at the courtesy shown by these genuinely tough guys. J-ville is the town that serves Camp Lejeune and the second Marine div, along with
  some MEUs. The town is filled with Marines, (most are "combat proven").
  The Marines would frequently slow the traffic line and wave people into the stream when they could see there was little break in the flowThey even seemed to take
  special note of old timers like myself & wife and be extra courteous whether on the road or in Walmart. The test of a man is not how readily he can bully old people
  and women..but apparently some disagree... You see, although I am old now, I was once one of the really tough guys...but I never attempted to intimidate decent folks.
  My brother, an old time pro wrestler who wrestled the biggest names of his time..was never was accused of bullying other folks..

   My friend who is about my age has a view that perhaps a few of those psuedo tough guys should think about ! He says, "I'm nearly 74 years old..don't have much life left,
  and have secured my place in Heaven; should someone unjustly molest a child I know, beat a woman or some outrageous crime..they may think they are tough..but not as
  tough as my .44 mag..and likely, they have more to lose than I do"..... Can't say as I disagree with him very much..
  
   My grandson, a big, very muscular, combat Marine platoon Sgt with several martial arts belts (and an instructor of same) is one tough guy, does heavy physical training and runs
  non-stop 8 miles each morning..13 miles once a week. Oh and did I mention..he's a tea-totaler ? Does drinking gallons of beer make one tougher, more physically fit ?
              Not that I could see  from some of those guts I saw flopping on gas tanks yesterday...
    ..But thank God, I have no qualms that my grandson is likely to run around intimidating civilians.. he was brought up better than that !

  Who would one guess is more of a man, these combat Marines..or some hooligan type "biker" ?  I still like to believe the hooligans are the minority..
      

[zombiewolf]

I hate loud bikes!

Unless I'm the one riding it! ('70 sporty w/ drag pipes...hehehe)

[Cabin4]

Most people are just capable of being a problem at something, but nothings worse then a smart azz teenager on a skateboard.

[ironglow]

 Know what you mean, Cabin4...

[myronman3]

well now i guess you done told me.   

  my friend who is about my age has a view that perhaps a few of those psuedo tough guys should think about ! He says, "I'm nearly 74 years old..don't have much life left,
  and have secured my place in Heaven; should someone unjustly molest a child I know, beat a woman or some outrageous crime..they may think they are tough..but not as
  tough as my .44 mag..and likely, they have more to lose than I do"..... Can't say as I disagree with him very much..

  so now because i ride a bike, i am a molester, a woman beater, and a 'psuedo tough guy' and you are gonna gun me down with your 44?   what the hell is wrong with you?


  1.   ever stop to think that many of the people you are slamming on are indeed veterans who have their own list of military credintials?   2. ever stop to consider that many of those individuals are the among the most patriotic people you could ever meet?   many of them volunteering their time and money to escort fallen heros and sheild them from protesters.  many more of them voluteering money to causes like m.d., cancer, and various other charity organizations.   and 3.  you talk about you and your 44.   you think you are the only one with a gun?  like was already mentioned, i about guareentee that if the procession was that large, there were a few cops among them, and depending on where you live, most likely quite  a few concealed carriers.   
 you need to let your pride go, and use your head.   fact is, you were wrong by stepping out.   i see no bullying of anyone here, except that you tried to bully someone and it didnt wash, and now you are pouting like a baby. 
  and now you have accused me of having a gang mentality.  where is my gang buddy?  it is just me at this point telling you that YOU were the wrong one in this situation, you just aint man enough to admit it.   instead you try to distract from the real issue by talking of servicemen, veterans and lawmakers you know.  big deal.   you aint got the patent on that.   the FACT is that YOU broke the law, and you feelings got hurt, and now you are trying to vent on me because your pride was hurt.   grow up pal. 
    the last time i was less than polite with anyone while riding was when a guy almost drove over the top of me and my wife.  he knew we were there, but because he was in a truck with his family, he didnt care.   i made it a point to catch up with him, and ball him out in front of his family.  that man had the balls to realize he messed up, and that he had that chewing coming to him.  i respected him for the way he handled it.  and i am guessing he wont do it again.   i broke no laws in what i did or said to him. 
   all stuff aside, it boils down to that fact that in your little tale,  the only one that i see that we know broke the law, was you.    who is the real bad guy here folks?

[myronman3]

one of my thug buddies.

[Swampman]

"I even expected I may be afforded some courtesy."

This is 2008......

[ironglow]

  Myron;
   You simply must take remedial reading ! The statement about beating a woman etc, was a QUOTE from a friend..and he was not speaking about cyclists at the time...
  and I don't even own a 44 mag !! I made no accusations against anyone at the time; shucks..I don't personally know anyone on these posts..so if the shoe does not fit,
   there certainly is no need to wear it !
  ..Guess I should have figured some would misread it !
    You spoke of a "convoy' of 18 wheelers..my son is a professional driver and he says that any OTR truckers that form a "convoy" of more than 2 trucks, will soon find
  themselves in trouble with LEOs.
  The guy that nearly ran you over with his truck, deserved a chewing out..but remember, he may have done the same to me on my bike or in my small car, again,
  common courtesy is what started this thread...not rights, regulations or Philadelphia lawyers..
      Sure many of the riders may have been veterans, police, firemen or chicken pluckers..common courtesy should be realtively common. One particular time when I
   stepped out to stop traffic was several years ago, when I was on my way home from work. I was driving through a small town a few miles from my home, when
  a small child, wearing just a diaper, dashed out directly into the street from between the barber shop and a neighboring house (and 2 parked cars) Thank goodness
   the following and opposing traffic, cars, trucks and likely motorcycles not only had the courtesy, but the  common sense to stop ! Sure, no sensible mother should have
  an 18 month old child being baby sat by a couple 5 year olds near a busy highway..but the child did notdeserve to die either.
    
   Had I been stepping out to warn them about an impending disaster..truck about to explode, multi vehicle accident just out of sight..I wonder if the "convoy" would
  on Sunday would have paid heed.
     I have run back and warned traffic when I came upon a blizzard "whiteout" that hid a multi-vehicle pileup..although one would not expect many motorcycles
  in that scenario, but still I expect those drivers were glad for the "heads up".
  
   FYI; for you and TM..please note, I did not paint you, him or motorcyclists with a broad brush. If you re-read you will see I emphasized in caps, SOME don't bring
  credit upon the sport..just as in hunting..

        Seeing your picture, if I was rude to you..I apologize..

  Just kidding...  Nice looking bike , nice looking lady....shalom..

[williamlayton]

Myron
You are the one wrong. If someone ask for courtesy are you too flip it off as some minor thing not worthy of your attention.
If someone walks against the light am I to blow my horn and swerve around him/her just because I have the ROW. Get a deep breath and THINK man.
It stands too reason they were ignoring the light---otherwise they would have had too stop for the traffic in front.
I rode once and have the rash too show for it. Yes, most people don't see motorcycles and that is wrong. So I guess that you are getting even--well, duh, find the person who did it too you, then you can get even with the correct person.
I cannot believe the inability of most people too accept responsibility.
Blessings

[gypsyman]

Thing to remember to is, with that many bikes, to get them stopped and started at lights and stop signs, yoiur asking for an accident to happen. It's like a funeral procession, once it gets started, best to let it go. Everybody has an inconvience now and again. Part of life. gypsyman

[myronman3]

william- usually you are well thought out and on the mark.   you are all wet on this one.   ironglow makes himself out to be a good guy here, 'the elderly need to get home to get their meds', gimme a break.   i will bet the farm that NOT ONE PERSON stepped up and asked i.g. to interrupt the procession.  and, i am betting that the procession wasnt quite as long as he is making it out to be.   if it was, i am positive it would have had a police escort.  he took it upon himself to try to be someone, and it didnt work out.  now he is crying about it and you are buying into it.  

  no one is talking about infants in the street,  snowstorm whiteouts, or impending doom.  
oh,  you want to talk courtesy?  how about the courtesy to keep your foolish self from stepping out in traffic for no good reason?  you willingly over look that.  
    some people are old and bitter that they didnt live their lives when they had the chance.  and many of those sit around and wait for something, anything, to bitch about.   then there are the people that were mean as hell when they were younger, and now the age monster has snuck up on them, and suddenly they are enlightened and saved.   fact is that they just dont have the vigor of youth anymore and cant enforce their will through strength, so they try other ways.   and, we are all gonna have to answer for our deeds anyway.  so drop the victim act, suck in that lips, and face the facts.  envy is a b***h, and a sin.
    i am the kind of guy that aint afraid to step up and call it like it is.   many people dont like me because of that. and when they look at me, and i see that in their eyes.  holy rollers.  jesus would be ashamed of them.  but hey,  there they are in church every sunday so it doesnt matter.
   fact is i am more likely to help the old woman, the small kid, the lost soul than they are.   they are too busy putting on airs, with the fancy house, car, suit, on and on.  
   i.g. you messed up, and you know you did.  you know i am telling you the truth, even though you dont want to.    do what you want to with it.  like it or not, you have been told what it is.

[Swampman]

" i am the kind of guy that aint afraid to step up and call it like it is."

That doesn't make you wise.  It usually just means a person is unwise, rude, or immature.

Generalizing about folks who attend church and act like mature citizens, doesn't make you a better person.  It's just an indicator of immaturity. 

[Mike Britton]

You know....this happens on every forum. A comment is made and the next thting you know fists are doubled up and everyone is in each other's face. Jeeez!! We are supposed to be adults !!
Do we really think it would get to this point if we were standing face to face? We can reallly talk tough when we have no idea who, or where we are talking to.
Get over it! We don't, and won't agree. Beating this dead horse is like having a circle J^&*, not much good is going to come from it.

[ironglow]

  Sorry Myron;
  I guess we just come from two different worlds. I made it clear that I was not painting all cyclists with a broad brush. I even had some good conversation with some
 nice guys right on this thread..they are a credit to their sport and do not bring ill will upon their motorcycling fraternity.
     Your verbal picture of me is so far off base it is unbelievable. That is not surprising, because as I said..I personally do not know each person in this thread and
   obviously, for that reason I did not even try to paint a picture of any of them, so I believed the understanding was mutual...
    Surely, if your "world" is one that lives by the "letter of the law"..I would look very bad since I am not a traffic cop. In my world, one does not need legal counsel
  in order to ask for a bit of courtesy.
  That word came from my #2 grandson that the convoy did not stop for the traffic light..I know his word to be reliable. I could have seen the light from where I was
  but I honestly did not look, but since it was no more than 150 yards from me the numerous machines would have  been stopped momentarily and space could be found
 between groups to slip across between stopped vehicles, that is the way it usually works every Sunday, with no snags. Oh sure, I could have said that I saw them go
   through the light, but that would be untrue..and not my style..
  I pointed out the truly tough guys (combat Marines) simply as a way of pointing out that courtesy is not a thing limited to one class of people or another. In fact I
  have always seen it even when I was young, as a sign of civilization that we do not socially rule by force. Don't forget as my old friend implied.."Sam Colt made
   everybody equal".
  Of course, I don't endorse lawbreaking by anyone much less my old friend..even though technically I guess I broke the law by requesting a break in traffic.

  Please keep in mind, I accuse nobody here of being  a discourteous creep and I was only REQUESTING a break in traffic..no demand involved. The thread even started with
  "motorcyclists, tell your friends..if it were "hunters tell your friends" by a non-hunter..i would listen a bit as long as I personally were not being attacked, just for the good
  of the sport.

  If I hurt the feelings of any good cycling folks, I apologize..my post was only to help your sport..as the non-cycling public's sees it..In any case, I am done with this
  discussion..think of it as you will and think of your sport..Peace...

[myronman3]

actually, i think i have a pretty good idea about what kind of person you are.  fact is most times i agree whole-heartedly with you.   another fact, most times i dont agree with tm7.   but here in this particular thread, like a few others, things are different.   it is a funny thing at times.

.."Sam Colt made everybody equal".

again, what are you thinking?  to me, it sounds like you are ready to bring a gun into this silly situation which is totally avoidable. i hope you are smarter than that.  i really hope you dont carry for your own sake.
   if nothing else,  you are aware of the other side's view.   obviously, i wasnt there.  from your own description, i can see plainly you had as much blame to bear has anyone else; and it wasnt totally the other peoples fault.   i know you have gotten my point.
   

[AtlLaw]

... It's like a funeral procession, once it gets started, best to let it go....gypsyman

Darn Gypsy!  You took the funeral analogy right out of my mouth!     The courteous person would have let this charity procession pass.  What happened can be equated to stepping out into the roadway in the middle of a funeral procession and trying stop part of it because you felt you had waited long enough to cross the street.  Your reason being as sound as "He had no business having so many people mourn his passing anyway!"

These large rides are usually well organized and the route laid out well in advance.  The police in all effected jurisdictions are notified and can take whatever traffic control measures they deem necessary.  Any horn blowing (ever hear most bike horns?  they sound like the road runner...   ), waiving or hollering is usually in response to the greetings of pedestrian onlookers.  Normally "Roadguards" will block traffic as the gaggle of bikes approach an intersection if there isn't a police escort.

Although the term "pack" is correct in some instances, like when my Brothers and I ride together, this group wasn't a pack.  It was a bunch of individuals, most unknown to each other, who were riding on the same road, at the same time, going the same place for the same reason.  This was also not a "gang" who appeared in your town for no other reason then to be discourteous and make you unhappy.  Methinks someone has seen "The Wild One" to often... 

I can imagine that the riders involved in this also had quite a bit to say about your lack of courtesy, at the very least.  That's their opinion and everyone's entitled to their own opinion.  I 'spose both parties are right from their respective points of view, but neither should sanctimoniously dismiss the others opinion.  But then, that's just my opinion.   

[AtlLaw]

...most times i agree whole-heartedly with you.   another fact, most times i dont agree with tm7. ...

Ain't it the truth!