Hua Hin to Cha-Am - Don't spare the horses! ;)

[Rider]

rider wrote
He who embraces danger and potential death is freer than he who clings to life ever will be.

rider come into the real world. you do not intentionally embrace danger and death on a public road. you talk like a 17 year old. grow up before you kill someone.
miked

Your boring world not mine. If you don't understand the asian mindset you're lost already.
Maybe when I'm 30 years older I might back off the throttle. But I'm young, I'm mobile and I like speed, the very buzz on the road IS the fact that you're mortal and the thrill of the chase

You know what I deliberately knew this would rile the 'grey' part of the forum, but guess what? I don't CARE what the rest of the forum thinks of me cause I tell it like it is.
Conforming to the greater part of the forum isn't really my thing, I'm an individual and do things my way.
If that means death on the road then so be it!
Everyones got to die sometime...

[miked]

rider,
i think you are very sad and you think you are inadequate. are you very short in height.?? how do you ride a bike with such a big chip on your shoulder.?? if you consider this forum to be "grey" and you don't fit in then why contribute.?? it's obvious that you don't give a toss about anyone else.
one thing puzzles me though.
how on earth did you manage to buy a crash helmet large enough to fit your over sized head.???
I'm not going to waste anymore time on you. my last words to you. grow up and remember your not a teenager, except perhaps your brain still is.
miked

[hhfarang]

It is true that when you're young, you don't think so much about mortality and you enjoy the thrills of dangerous activities more. I rode bikes when I was young but gave them up after a few years and a few trips to the ER. I was a downhill skier for a few years but gave that up in my 40's when a friend died in an accident with a tree, and I was an avid scuba diver for twenty years (lost two friends to that sport) but gave that up when I had a family (wife and step daughter) to take care of.

I still like speed and drive way to fast on road trips around Thailand but feel a little safer encased in my steel cocoon with four tires on the road (most of the time).

... and I'm grey but still like the feel of wind in my hair so I sit in my La-z-boy recliner with my Mitsubishi floor fan on high pointed at me!

[VincentD]

Err....
Can someone define 'grey'? (I assume it comes before 'wrinkly..)

[hhfarang]

Err....
Can someone define 'grey'? (I assume it comes before 'wrinkly..

See this thread for explanation...

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/jo ... 11446.html

[VincentD]

Ah. Okay, not quite there yet, though on the wrong side of fifty..

[Big Boy]

Getting back to the OP, as I'm snowed in, working at home today, I thought I'd watch the video. I had to stop it after 3 minutes - Not one of your better efforts.

I found myself watching the road/central reservation. Could it be that you need to adjust the camera angle when you're driving at higher speeds.

[Super Joe]

Maybe when I'm 30 years older I might back off the throttle. But I'm young, I'm mobile and I like speed, the very buzz on the road IS the fact that you're mortal and the thrill of the chase

If that means death on the road then so be it! Everyones got to die sometime...

Rider if you are 17 or 18 then I get where you're coming from.
If not you're pretty sad IMO.

SJ

[Wanderlust]

Rider,
It is possibly one of the roads in the best condition in Thailand, and has been for a long time, but the national speed limit applies. While I appreciate that many Thais ignore the limit, I don't think it is a good idea to encourage others to do so, especially as that road does not have any bridges for pedestrians to cross it, and there are several places where they do frequently (markets, popular restaurants etc). One final safety point is that there are frequently teams of workers in the outside lanes tending to and watering the flowers etc in the central reservation, often with no warning cones or signs - at the speeds you are talking about there may not be enough time to avoid collisions. The watchword in Thailand (and everywhere) should be defensive driving, to avoid both accidents and police involvement.

Your comments have been duly noted, considered and rejected.
The reasons being:
I ride with other bikers out Bang Saphan and if you go slower than 120 kph you will be left behind.
On a clear open road 80kph is for scooters and low cc bikes. Bigger cc bikes are more than safe at faster speeds.
Going at about 140 kph still gives you enough time to sight oncoming drivers in the opposite direction and take action. Defensive Driving is applicable at all speeds.
I've had less danger at 160kph++ than I have at slower speeds in rush-hour traffic with cross-filter bikers buzzing around
Besides, there is an old adage that going faster than traffic behind you keeps it behind you, if you catch my drift

Rider,
I never had a chance to respond to your 'rejection' but thought it might be appropriate now given what has come after; I merely pointed out that your post was encouraging others to let rip on the roads here, which I don't think is a good idea, for several reasons, the main ones being it is against the law of this land and it is dangerous. I didn't comment on either your ability on a bike (which I am sure is excellent from your posting history) or your personal choice to both break the law and endanger yourself and others; I just objected to your glorifying of such irresponsibility, which might encourage others less skilful and experienced with a bike to copy your example.

It has nothing to do with my age and everything to do with respect for my fellow human beings. As you have stated you don't care what we think of you then that seems to add grist to the mill and prove that you do not respect others and, for example, their right to cross a road without fear of some lunatic driving well in excess of the speed limit that they may not see until it is too late. If you or others are focused on avoiding or riding over a pothole you might easily not see the child who has strayed into the road or the pickup that has suddenly pulled out. You think you can avoid these dangers because of your skill with the bike, but that feeling only lasts until one day you don't avoid it; I just hope that your experience when it comes is not fatal for anyone.

[Rider]

rider,
i think you are very sad and you think you are inadequate. are you very short in height.?? how do you ride a bike with such a big chip on your shoulder.?? if you consider this forum to be "grey" and you don't fit in then why contribute.?? it's obvious that you don't give a toss about anyone else.
one thing puzzles me though.
how on earth did you manage to buy a crash helmet large enough to fit your over sized head.???
I'm not going to waste anymore time on you. my last words to you. grow up and remember your not a teenager, except perhaps your brain still is.
miked

Miked,
Jeez some-one dry this poor mans eyes. I never called the forum grey I referred to the 'grey element within it. RTFP properly.

Why am I sad for enjoying a motorbike and going fast? Is this some repressive, we must desist, geriatric mentality or something?

Pardon me for having my own voice.

Perhaps you need introducing to the Thai style of Sanuk?

[Khundon1975]

Rider wrote
Your boring world not mine. If you don't understand the asian mindset you're lost already.
Maybe when I'm 30 years older I might back off the throttle. But I'm young, I'm mobile and I like speed, the very buzz on the road IS the fact that you're mortal and the thrill of the chase

You know what I deliberately knew this would rile the 'grey' part of the forum, but guess what? I don't CARE what the rest of the forum thinks of me cause I tell it like it is.
Conforming to the greater part of the forum isn't really my thing, I'm an individual and do things my way.
If that means death on the road then so be it!
Everyones got to die sometime...


Hi Rider

Yes as you say everyone has to die sometime, but I think when my time comes, I would like to arrive at the Pearly gates and just walk in, rather than arrive ass backwards, in a ball of flame, blood, guts and assorted chromed bike parts.
After all, getting genuine bike parts up there may be a problem.

[Rider]

Rider,
It is possibly one of the roads in the best condition in Thailand, and has been for a long time, but the national speed limit applies. While I appreciate that many Thais ignore the limit, I don't think it is a good idea to encourage others to do so, especially as that road does not have any bridges for pedestrians to cross it, and there are several places where they do frequently (markets, popular restaurants etc). One final safety point is that there are frequently teams of workers in the outside lanes tending to and watering the flowers etc in the central reservation, often with no warning cones or signs - at the speeds you are talking about there may not be enough time to avoid collisions. The watchword in Thailand (and everywhere) should be defensive driving, to avoid both accidents and police involvement.

Your comments have been duly noted, considered and rejected.
The reasons being:
I ride with other bikers out Bang Saphan and if you go slower than 120 kph you will be left behind.
On a clear open road 80kph is for scooters and low cc bikes. Bigger cc bikes are more than safe at faster speeds.
Going at about 140 kph still gives you enough time to sight oncoming drivers in the opposite direction and take action. Defensive Driving is applicable at all speeds.
I've had less danger at 160kph++ than I have at slower speeds in rush-hour traffic with cross-filter bikers buzzing around
Besides, there is an old adage that going faster than traffic behind you keeps it behind you, if you catch my drift

Rider,
I never had a chance to respond to your 'rejection' but thought it might be appropriate now given what has come after; I merely pointed out that your post was encouraging others to let rip on the roads here, which I don't think is a good idea, for several reasons, the main ones being it is against the law of this land and it is dangerous. I didn't comment on either your ability on a bike (which I am sure is excellent from your posting history) or your personal choice to both break the law and endanger yourself and others; I just objected to your glorifying of such irresponsibility, which might encourage others less skilful and experienced with a bike to copy your example.

It has nothing to do with my age and everything to do with respect for my fellow human beings. As you have stated you don't care what we think of you then that seems to add grist to the mill and prove that you do not respect others and, for example, their right to cross a road without fear of some lunatic driving well in excess of the speed limit that they may not see until it is too late. If you or others are focused on avoiding or riding over a pothole you might easily not see the child who has strayed into the road or the pickup that has suddenly pulled out. You think you can avoid these dangers because of your skill with the bike, but that feeling only lasts until one day you don't avoid it; I just hope that your experience when it comes is not fatal for anyone.

Free will is everyones choice especially here in Thailand.
If they choose to copy-cat my videos then so be it.
I don't believe in this 'we must be goody-two-shoes ambassadors and ride like miss daisy.'

If you want to get on your soapbox about setting a good example you are barking up the wrong tree.
I suggest you try telling it to the Thai mainstream, not the expatriates who enjoy bikes and can safely ride them.

if you lot who are so critical of a biker for riding at 120-140kph on a flat straight highway, then I suggest you don't visit this link:



Otherwise some of you delicate souls might just have a heart-attack!


PS. I know the camera I used was out of alignment, I was test and adjusting it for the later videos down south. Sorry about that folks

PPS Yes I'm young at heart and live my life to the fullest. I make no apologies for who I am as I enjoy my life and think LOS is a great place for such things.

[T.I.G.R.]

Rider -

The drive you describe is far from the middle of nowhere and you are no doubt one of the most selfish people I've ever had the pleasure not to meet.

You've been in Thailand long enough to know that nearly every day there are local markets (on this road particularly) where people are crossing up to six lanes of traffic going to and from the market.

I drive Cha Am to Hua Hin and back nearly every day and I hope to God I don't "run into" anyone like you during the drive. I think 120 is more than enough speed for most of said road, and 140 - 160 is just suicide.

Yesterday we visited a friend in Palm Hills recovering from an accident where someone traveling at a high rate of speed hit her broadside because he found himself with nowhere to go.....she's lucky to be alive.

A few weeks ago someone passed me on the same road like I was standing still. I was doing somewhere between probably 90-110 and he proceeded to spin out about 1/4 mile ahead of us with cars and dust flying everywhere. By the time I got there all that was left was a poor Thai guy standing in the middle of the road, bleeding, wondering what happened and why his brand new pickup was wrecked.

I haven't made these stories up pal, and as you seem to care not one whit about the rest of us humans on the road do us all a favor and stay the hell out of the Cha Am - Hua Hin area before you kill one or more of us.

[Spitfire]

OK, I'm going to 'run this past' everyone here, just to gather some feedback.

This thread was started as a 'biker' thread, probably to appeal to, and get responses from, other bike riders.

The thread title was not misleading IMO. Opinion about bike riding is 'fair play' on here, personal insults/judgements are a bit tight. Sure, disagree with what the author said but not ridicule or make personal attacks.

It is not much different from Jockey starting a thread in current affairs and getting the 'mainstream' of the forum 'charging-in' and slapping him down, which we have all, including myself, learnt something from.

I do remember WL telling us all that we don't have to read a thread or even open it if we are not interested, we can just do/say nothing. In the interests of variety, threads like this should be allowed to run, if people wish to comment.

The best way to get rid of a thread quickly is if nobody comments and it is sentenced to oblivion quickly.

Not every thread has to appeal to the 'mainstream' of the forum. It would be a shame if members did not start threads on fringe subjects for fear of 'mainstream' reaction.

I agree with parts of this thread and disagree with other parts of it but I didn't 'have a pop' at the author, just merely stated what I think regarding my thoughts on this subject. That is enough IMO.

Just 'floating' a point, that's all, nothing is absolute........apart from _______ (fill in as you see fit, for me it's obvious).

Interested to hear what you think, don't get me wrong.



Edit: Type-Os

[T.I.G.R.]

I'm sorry but I don't give a crap whether this was meant to be a biker only post or a letter from Santa Claus.

Those of us from places that have written and enforced traffic laws should know better and behave responsibly.

A person who thinks driving at 160 kph is fun is not doing so at just his own risk, but putting everyone else on the road at risk as well.

Get a CLUE !