Road racing is dangerous, which is why most riders do it (and it's pretty much outlawed in England)
In no way is crossing a public road safety-wise or other-wise comparable to riding a motorbike on the limit on public closed roads. What you are saying is nonsense.
while in the same context is isn't the same thing, we basically put ourselves in the path of danger in pretty much everything we do in life, why not do it doing something you love?
Playlife, do you ride a bike?, I would hazard a guess no, you would be amazed at how many non-bikers tell me what I do is soooooo dangerous and I shouldn't be doing it
You said "over here", so I'm assuming you live on the island. I'd be interested to hear more about the general attitude of Manx residents to the race. From my perspective, you may not want this burden, but living on the island means you are the caretakers of a quite special celebration.
The TT is a kind of Dionysian festival, the likes of which are becoming rarer and rarer. Would you really want to see something so rich, so stimulating, so different from the idiocy of nine to five productivity, erased from life just because of a fear of what might happen?
1907 my friend, this year was the centenary anniversary
I had the game TT Superbikes for the PS2, which some of you will probably know is based around the IOM. This game depicted the circuit very well including most of the bumps you get on the real circuit, and iirc, it took me roughly 2-3 weeks to learn properly. I think I set a pb of around 15-16 minutes.
If I may, I'd like to add a few facts to this thread as there's some misleading paragraphs in what I've read so far. I'm one of the marshals at the TT, and specifically in the mountain section. On the Tuesday of last week I was marshalling at the spot where the fatal accident happened, and have personal connections with those involved.
* While there isn't quite line-of-sight between all marshalling posts (around a 37+ mile course, on twisty roads, it's practically impossible) it is there for the vast majority through use of "advance" posts in addition to the main post. Unless you see where all the marshals stand during a race or practice it's impossible to see where we have line of sight and where we don't. It takes over 500 people as a bare minimum to man the course during a session. Due to the radios and communications we have, LOS isn't an absolute, but I believe it's an aim.
* While the course is generally well supervised, people are left to make their own decisions somewhat about where they spectate from. Even if we tell people they shouldn't go into places, unless it's a strictly forbidden signed area, or the road itself, people are generally free to move around which is what makes the TT an exhilarating event to watch. To be so close to the action is a good thing in my book.
* The TT isn't available to just anyone to enter. You need to be able to demonstrate recent racing experience and experience of the course through riding in the Manx GP. The racers you see aren't just anyone from anywhere who've punted up the money.
Storm_Cloud - you seem very against the TT - where on the island do you live?
* While there isn't quite line-of-sight between all marshalling posts (around a 37+ mile course, on twisty roads, it's practically impossible) it is there for the vast majority through use of "advance" posts in addition to the main post. Unless you see where all the marshals stand during a race or practice it's impossible to see where we have line of sight and where we don't. It takes over 500 people as a bare minimum to man the course during a session. Due to the radios and communications we have, LOS isn't an absolute, but I believe it's an aim.
* While the course is generally well supervised, people are left to make their own decisions somewhat about where they spectate from. Even if we tell people they shouldn't go into places, unless it's a strictly forbidden signed area, or the road itself, people are generally free to move around which is what makes the TT an exhilarating event to watch. To be so close to the action is a good thing in my book.
* The TT isn't available to just anyone to enter. You need to be able to demonstrate recent racing experience and experience of the course through riding in the Manx GP. The racers you see aren't just anyone from anywhere who've punted up the money.
Storm_Cloud - you seem very against the TT - where on the island do you live?
Well they have got a point although it is up to you if you want to ride or not. You know the risks, biking is dangerous, period.
I am assuming that 'Mummy' told you that? Biking is only dangerous because 85% of accidents to M/Cycles are caused by OTHER road users. Now go and put your cotton wool coat back on.
I've always said I never ride a bike on the street, I'd only ever race one (ironically seems safer to me...) but over the last year or so I've given some serious thought to getting a Motorcycle license.
so because others punt you off your bike its less dangerous then ? logic ftw
well it is ... the nasty bit is suddenly becoming stationary which does happen a whole lot less on a track with gravel traps that stop a human body quickly but not as violently as the side of truck or a wall
Lol , Actualy I see it on the news, in the papers & on the roads. Just because other people cause the accidents does'nt justify putting your life on the line for a few cheap thrills. Go find a brain.
Hahahaha, typical non-biker attitude, if you haven't ridden, you don't know what it's like, or why we do it
True I have'nt riden a powerful bike on the road, but I dont think I should be patronised for stating a well known fact. g7usl
Enlightenment time
Okay, you asked for it..........
Like Danowat, I have been there, done it and worn the 'T' shirt. I am now 65 years old and I'm still here.
When I rode my first M/Cycle way back in the 60's an 'AJS 7R' the design wasn't a patch on the development that modern riders enjoy today. The handling and power was way down compared with todays standards. I raced both the Manx GP and the TT together with almost every short circuit in the UK.
I fell off racing three times in all, at speeds over 80mph and in all accidents got up and walked away.
My last bike was a GSXR1100. I used it near where I used to live. A place called Enfield. Together with several freinds we used to indulge in high speed touring through the country lanes of Epping, Stanstead, Thaxted, Finchingfield and Dunmow early on Sunday mornings while you was still slumbering in your bed dreaming of meeting Santa Claus.
The throttle turns both ways.
An idiot who condemns something that many, many people enjoy and he hasn't, because 'Mummy' told him not too, is either ignorant or brainless.
To conclude.......NOBODY IS 'PATRONISING' YOU. Like Dan said "Don't knock it if you haven't done it" because you are 'out of your depth, believe me.
I like it how some people seem to think that if you ride a bike your riding at 100 mph at every chance you get?
You can have just as much fun going around a corner at 30mph compared to 130mph.
As for the TT every rider knows what the there getting into, A couple of my friends race an f1 sidecar and used to race the TT most years until the passenger hit his bum on a wall at over 130mph, It nearly killed him but luckily he is still with us, He knew exatly what he was doing entering into the event, but at the end of the day thats why the racers love it, there speed junkies!
You can have just as much fun going around a corner at 30mph compared to 130mph.
As for the TT every rider knows what the there getting into, A couple of my friends race an f1 sidecar and used to race the TT most years until the passenger hit his bum on a wall at over 130mph, It nearly killed him but luckily he is still with us, He knew exatly what he was doing entering into the event, but at the end of the day thats why the racers love it, there speed junkies!
No thats not patronising at all is it??
Errr........I resemble that remark LOL
Nice to know that you have been biking for many years & you've been on the race track, I am not knocking that. I would think a man of your age would know better than to start to start throwing insults around.
1. I am no idiot.
2. I did not condemn anything, I simply stated the well known fact that biking is dangerous.
3. Glad to see that your brains are still inside your skull & not splattered over a pavement somewhere!
I can see that you are passionate about biking but there is no need to be so damn rude & offensive.
Yes at last you got one thing right. If you think I am rude and offensive it's because of people like you who make blind comments on something you know nothing about.
In future try to understand that and you will be respected for finding out first before ridiculing the entire country for riding motorcycles.
Now I must telephone the Police and stop them riding theirs eh?
Because you say they are dangerous. Now is that rude too?Yep, and the average speed of an accident is actually less than 30mph too.
Nobody will suggest that riding a motorbike is a safe business, and it's much more dangerous (statistically) than driving a car, but then so is riding a pushbike. Riding a pushbike is something like 15 times more likely to get you killed or seriously injured, per kilometre travelled, than if you're in a car. And don't go believing that air travel is safer than your car either, it might be per km, but the odds of being killed on a (single journey by) airline flight are 1 in 6.3 million, vs. 1 in 7.6 million for a car, also don't go near anything less than the top 25 airlines. Oh, and politely decline if a friend invites you up in his light aircraft. Chance of being killed in a single trip : 1 in 73,187.
The point is, that "safe" is a matter of opinion. We all know the roads are not "safe", but there's always danger in anything and everything. We decide what is worth doing ourselves.
I just hate how non-motorcyclists seem to really delight in telling us "see the paper? someone died on one of those round our way the other night". I just say "oh no, that's a shame. Still motorcyclists are less than 7 percent of the total number of deaths, whereas car occupants account for nearly 70 percent and pedestrians more than 12, so perhaps that's why a motorcycle death is still news-worthy."
Just because there's a load more cars than bikes on the road doesn't make you any safer.
In terms of "safety", an interesting point was raised on one of the TT forums about the safety of the TT races when compared with other sports.
If you consider the number of people that attend the TT races each year and the number that are killed, then contrast that with how many people are killed attempting to climb Everest, K2, etc. I think you'll find that high-altitude climbing needs to be banned long before motorcycle racing.
I'm not suggesting it should be though - it's their choice if they want to climb, like it's my choice to ride a motorcycle if I wish. It takes a special amount of arrogance for someone else to be able to tell me what I should and shouldn't be allowed to do, especially over the internet. It's bad enough the government do it so much, without other people joining in.
If you consider the number of people that attend the TT races each year and the number that are killed, then contrast that with how many people are killed attempting to climb Everest, K2, etc. I think you'll find that high-altitude climbing needs to be banned long before motorcycle racing.
I'm not suggesting it should be though - it's their choice if they want to climb, like it's my choice to ride a motorcycle if I wish. It takes a special amount of arrogance for someone else to be able to tell me what I should and shouldn't be allowed to do, especially over the internet. It's bad enough the government do it so much, without other people joining in.
"1. I am no idiot.
An idiot is someone that opens his mouth before putting his brain into gear. You thought we would be interested in reading your opinions of an experience you have never had. This is not an insult it's fact."
OK wise guy if you would be kind enough to point out where I have aired my opinions about an experience I have never had. I merely stated a fact & you came back at me with some patronising comment?? (which you bluntly refuse to accept was patronising) & you rant on twice calling me an idiot with absolutely no justification what so ever. IMO you are a very rude old man.
"2. I did not condemn anything, I simply stated the well known fact that biking is dangerous.
Everything is dangerous isn't? Driving a car is dangerous."
Absolutely correct! Why the hostility??
"Then you could say motorcyling was dangerous & have some reason for saying it"
BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS! 2003: Motorcyclists: 693 deaths - a 14% rise from 2002
"If you think I am rude and offensive it's because of people like you who make blind comments on something you know nothing about."
There was no need to be so abrasive when all I did was state the fact that motorcycling is dangerous. What blind comments are you going on about?
"Before ridiculing the entire country for riding motorcyles"
Now you've really lost the plot, do you even know what "ridiculing" means? If you care to point out where I did that?
fyi my "few cheap thrills" comment was directed purely at you alone as a response to you patronising me.
"Now I must telephone the Police and stop them riding theirs eh?"
The police use bikes for a reason. They know the risks.
An idiot is someone that opens his mouth before putting his brain into gear. You thought we would be interested in reading your opinions of an experience you have never had. This is not an insult it's fact."
OK wise guy if you would be kind enough to point out where I have aired my opinions about an experience I have never had. I merely stated a fact & you came back at me with some patronising comment?? (which you bluntly refuse to accept was patronising) & you rant on twice calling me an idiot with absolutely no justification what so ever. IMO you are a very rude old man.
"2. I did not condemn anything, I simply stated the well known fact that biking is dangerous.
Everything is dangerous isn't? Driving a car is dangerous."
Absolutely correct! Why the hostility??
"Then you could say motorcyling was dangerous & have some reason for saying it"
BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS! 2003: Motorcyclists: 693 deaths - a 14% rise from 2002
"If you think I am rude and offensive it's because of people like you who make blind comments on something you know nothing about."
There was no need to be so abrasive when all I did was state the fact that motorcycling is dangerous. What blind comments are you going on about?
"Before ridiculing the entire country for riding motorcyles"
Now you've really lost the plot, do you even know what "ridiculing" means? If you care to point out where I did that?
fyi my "few cheap thrills" comment was directed purely at you alone as a response to you patronising me.
"Now I must telephone the Police and stop them riding theirs eh?"
The police use bikes for a reason. They know the risks.
Sigh. And how many more motorcyclists were there that year? Was 2002 a particularly good year for accidents? Did motorcyclists in general travel further in 2003? Without qualifying your stats they're meaningless.
Did you know that people die loading dishwashers? If you look at RoSPA's website and use their counting function (see http://www.hassandlass.org.uk/query/MainSelector.aspx )
You can see that between 2000 and 2002 roughly 1,700 people (edit: each year) were injured in incidents involving dishwashers! Motorcycles are obviously far, far more dangerous, but still the accident counts for (edit: those years) were 17,000. This means dishwasher are *deadly*! Please, Someone! Think Of The Children!!
Yes I see your point many things in life are dangerous, thats life. I wonder how many LFS related injuries happen every year?
Quote:"Now I must telephone the Police and stop them riding theirs eh?"
The police use bikes for a reason. They know the risks.
Yes and so to do the guys who ride in the 'TT'
Give me a break?
The police use bikes for a reason. They know the risks.
Yes and so to do the guys who ride in the 'TT'
Give me a break?
3 die at Isle Of Man TT
(54 posts, started )
FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG