Filter Tip: Expect the worst

Filter tips. They provide a “safer” way to enjoy tobacco. Another filter tip is one that helps bikers avoid death.

Here’s my filter tip: Expect the worst. That way you can avoid situations like tonight.

So there I was doing ~23mph between stationary traffic. All was right in the world and I was hungry and looking forward to my tea. I approached a bus on my left and a car on my right.

Then out of fecking no-where, a small Peugeot 206 appears, blocking the space between the bus and the car. Now it wasn’t like the car slowly edged it’s way out and looked. No, the car bombed it across our 2 lanes, then stopped, looked left and then carried on in the opposite direction.

I have no idea how I managed to stop, and my brakes aren’t what you would call sharp, but instinct took over and I managed to stop in about 12ft. As I came to an abrupt standstill I looked to see how close I was from this guys rear arch; 1cm.

1 unbelievably , amazingly close centimeter.

I sat for a second to let my brain catch up and then sat some more. The guy in the Peugeot was totally clueless and continued to look left, only realising that there was a man sitting in a white helmet staring at him when he started to drive away.

Now some may say that I shouldn’t be filtering and that it was my own fault. Some may say I was going to fast. I disagree with both statements and add that I did fabulously well to avoid an accident and should actually get a medal for it…

As I put my bike in to gear and started to pull away I could feel the slight sensation of adrenaline, but unlike all near misses and actual accidents that I have had, the adrenaline was a vague sensation and disappeared within minutes of the incident. I then carried on my way as if nothing had happened. Amazing. This now however throws up a few questions:

Have I done so many miles now that I am able to calmly and efficiently deal with anything that gets thrown in my direction or;

Have I done so many miles now that I am numbed to the whole motorcycle/danger thing?

Whatevet the answer is, I know one thing: I was able to quickly, efficiently and safely stop my motorcycle from ~23mph in 12ft, with absolutely no warning whatsoever and cause no commotion at all.

 

I F*CKING ROCK!