Is this normal?

[Adamm0621]

So I attended the first meeting of the Thoroughbred DOC of Kentucky the other night up at the Commonwealth dealership in Louisville.  It was a great time, I met a lot of cool folks, and I saw a lot of great Ducs.

The ride home is what I'm concerned about.  I was headed south-bound on I-65 riding in the fast lane, already doing 10 mph over the speed limit just to meet the flow of traffic, when a group of bikes (not guys from the meeting, and all large cruisers) came up from behind me.  I was riding in the center of the lane when the first biker passed me on the right (mere inches from me).  Before he passed, I was about to move over to the right so they could pass on the left, and I was even considering changing lanes to give them the whole lane to pass.

I was just beginning to initiate the lean to the right when he passed and it scared the shit out of me.  I've only done a few group rides and I still consider myself to be a novice rider, but I was under the impression that you were supposed to pass to the left.  Needless to say I was quite anxious until the rest of the group passed as it wasn't a straight portion of the highway and I was negotiating turns on a tight line so that the other bikes would have plenty of room.  Granted these weren't twisties but at speeds in excess of 70 mph I found it to be both rude and dangerous.

Am I in the wrong or is my frustration justified?

[muskrat]

You have every right!  That's simply reckless and stupid on his part especially not knowing your riding style

[IZ]

I was riding in the center of the lane when the first biker passed me on the right (mere inches from me). 

Did the guy tap you on the shoulder as he went by??

Was he wearing a CHP uniform?!

[hadesducati848]

that would piss me off.  i hate when bikers not in my group pass me in "MY" lane. I find it rude and disrespectful... unless its a really hot chick riding a SBK

[muskrat]

that would piss me off.  i hate when bikers not in my group pass me in "MY" lane. I find it rude and disrespectful... unless its a really hot chick riding a SBK

In a thong!

[somegirl]

I would only pass in another biker's lane if they moved over and waved me to pass.  I'd pass on the right if I were splitting and they were in the left-most lane, otherwise I only pass on the left.

[Randy@StradaFab]

You should never let a cruiser pass you, especially Harleys

[muskrat]

I bet you won't say that to yellow wolf!

[superjohn]

I'd be pissed as well. I don't even pull up to another biker I don't know at a stoplight, let alone at speed in their lane on the highway. 

[Düb Lüv]

Hey Adamm, do you live in louisville? i live in jeffersonville, on the other side of the river.

[RAT900]

You met a pack of morons who buzzed you...

clearly too cool to realize how farking stupid they are

unfortunately bikes are powerful moron-magnets...

you get the good with a disproportionate quantity of the bad

they come with the territory

[DoubleEagle]

Adam, it's too bad that happened to you.

Being new to riding I can imagine your fear and anger.

I have a rule for myself, I don't let any bike pass me unless I want them to.

That's mainly in the twisties.

On the Super Slab I'm more concerned w, the  so I generally don't run much over the speed limit .

In the hills they better be a better rider than I to get past me.

I'm glad you're ok and just watch out for groups , they tend to act less rational.

Dolph     

[DW]

As rough, curvy and typically congested as that stretch of 65 is, you need to ride with your head on a swivel.  One of the biggest things to learn when riding in traffic is to control your environment as much as is possible.  Monitor closure rates of those approaching from the back.  If they are coming up quick, either change that rate (accelerate) or get out of the way. 

Unfortunately, what they did is dumb.  But here is the bad news - they won't be the last to do dumb things.  Next time it may be a runaway Camry or a distracted soccer mom on a cell phone.  They won't fit into your lane quite as well as some idiot on a motorcycle will.   Always monitor your rear view mirrors and leave yourself an out.  I'm not being paranoid, they are out to kill you...

At least they are finally doing road work to fix the 6 inch height differences in lanes out by the airport... one less thing to catch you off guard going through there.

[Scottish]

I would only pass in another biker's lane if they moved over and waved me to pass.  I'd pass on the right if I were splitting and they were in the left-most lane, otherwise I only pass on the left.

+1 Unless waved by it's never ok to pass me in my lane and I'll give a good ass reaming to anyone who does. THe reason for this is as such. I am in control of that little bit of black top and I will use all of it from one painted line to the other. We are not at a groomed track and adjustments sometimes need to be made for road debris etc.

We had a rider hurt a couple summers ago by a kid who passed on the inside and couldn't hold his line. He forced our rider off the road and he needed serious medical attention and totalled his bike. The kid wasn't one of our riders, he never stopped.

If you are going to pass me on the road, you better give me the same full berth you'd give a car or I'll let you kow about it. I will show you the same consideration, save the heroics for the track where medical staff is on hand and they have sand pits etc.

You could always take up a cruiser habit of riding with a long leather lash hooked to your brake handle, I think it's the motorcycle equivalent of an ax handle in the gun rack of a truck. Shows how bad ass you are. Use it to whip riders who get to close.

[justinrhenry]

you should have kicked them over.