[sanjuro]

Yesterday, I was about 25 feet away from a very long red light, when some guido-kid gives me the horn and then swerves into my lane (which I was at the edge).

He is blasting some "Club" music out his windows, so I roll past him, and inspired by yesterday's White People Can't Dance thread (the driver looked like the guy in the video), I give him the "Raise the Roof" dance. He turns down the music and begins to threaten me from his car. One thing he yelled was "What you are going to do about it?", and while I was still showing my dance moves, I said "I am doing it right now".

As the light turns green, I push off into the crosswalk for protection, and he drives to the next block and pulls over to wait for me. He yells some more threats as I passed by, and this time I just laughed at him.

Of course, I kept checking backwards next mile just in case. During this whole incident, I never got off my bike, touched his car, or made any move towards him.

Writing this down, it seems pretty obvious to me I should have just hung back, and let this jerk-off do his thing. Was it stupid to mock this guy?

 

[Tenchiro]

I prefer the California howdy w/ lota of eye contact.. Most people are too scared to actually confront someone anyways.

 

[sanjuro]

I prefer the California howdy w/ lota of eye contact.. Most people are too scared to actually confront someone anyways.

One time in New Orleans, I did just that, and he ran into me with his truck's side mirror. I chased him down and I had a ridiculous confrontation in the middle of the street. I felt stupid then...

 

[Heidi]

I ignore them. Why pick a fight with someone in a couple tons of steel?

 

[Biscuit]

Everybody seems to act differently when in their protective bubble called a "car". In person few people would dare be so rude.

I recently started riding road, and can't believe how many people get all pissed off and honk over nothing.

 

[sanjuro]

I ignore them. Why pick a fight with someone in a couple tons of steel?

I am going to have to train myself to not react....

 

[Westy]

I ignore them. Why pick a fight with someone in a couple tons of steel?

Had some kids pull up behind me, they decided to lay on the horn. They had plenty of room to pass but chose not to. I held my line at the right of the lane. I could of gone onto the shoulder but just held my line. Eventually they got bored and passed me. In the end I was happy to spend time on the bike and they were pissed off jerks in a car. I win.

 

[JRB]

Good attitude, Westy.

Sanjuro - mocking people isn't the best way to score points. I do it, and then get bashed. It's kind of part of the game.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

My reactions vary with the circumstances and my mood. Escalating is dangerous.

 

[rooftest]

I ignore 'em unless they threaten me. Had a guy pull up next to a group of us, honk, flip us off, and start to get out of his car. I firmly laid down some profinities that would have made a truck driver blush. He thought better of it, and was on his way.

Only recommended if you really are ready to take off the cycling shoes and defend yourself. If you're just bluffing, it'll get you into trouble.

 

[sanjuro]

Good attitude, Westy.

Sanjuro - mocking people isn't the best way to score points. I do it, and then get bashed. It's kind of part of the game.

Well, when people mock me, I usually cry.

 

[JRB]

Well, when people mock me, I usually cry.

You usually cry anyway don't you??

 

[sanjuro]

You usually cry anyway don't you??

Only when I think of rainy days, sad movies, lost loves, and when I read your posts.

 

[JRB]

Only when I think of rainy days, sad movies, lost loves, and when I read your posts.

ahahaha - they are quite "touching".

 

[Tenchiro]

ahahaha - they are quite "touched".

Yes they are.

 

[JRB]

Actually - what response did you expect??? There aren't many people that won't get pissed when you make fun of them. It's like going to the zoo and throwing peanuts at the monkeys. They don't have peanuts, so they are going to throw poop. If you put yourself in a position of mocking people, prepare for a response. Was his overreactionary??? Most likely, but you knew what you were getting into.

 

[Biscuit]

They don't have peanuts, so they are going to throw poop.

Very true.

 

[sanjuro]

Actually - what response did you expect??? There aren't many people that won't get pissed when you make fun of them. It's like going to the zoo and throwing peanuts at the monkeys. They don't have peanuts, so they are going to throw poop. If you put yourself in a position of mocking people, prepare for a response. Was his overreactionary??? Most likely, but you knew what you were getting into.

Hey I am a natural-born counter puncher. I don't mouth off to people, but I do shut them up.

However, I recognize that I do push way too far on a bicycle, when I am at my most vulernable. On the other hand, while I think I should tone down my reactions, I do not necessarily want to change as a person.

Posting this is probably me trying to work out what I do...

 

[JRB]

I'm with you, but like you said, doing it in a vulnerable position is a bad idea. You don't have to change, just choose your situations wisely.

 

[GumbaFish]

I've only flicked off a couple of people that turned when they weren't supposed to and almost hit me. I am on a bike, they are in a deadly weapon...they can insult me all they want.

 

[sanjuro]

I'm with you, but like you said, doing it in a vulnerable position is a bad idea. You don't have to change, just choose your situations wisely.

I realize why I don't want to change: so I can continue to shut up a**holes.

I am getting a cup of coffee from another floor where I am in a meeting, and the department ball buster is telling me that I cannot have a cup because I don't belong on the floor. The path of least resistance is to not get coffee, and the second is to suffer thru his comments.

Naturally, I ask him, "So you own the coffee urn now?", which seemed to quiet him down.

 

[LordOpie]

Half the time, I over-react, so props to you for doing a white-man-dance at the light

A cop once got on his horn and told me to ride closer to the curb, I yelled at him to pull over so I could explain the law to him... which he did after 20 minutes, he conceeded that he wasn't sure and since he was a sgt., he said he'd look up the laws and educate his staff.

 

[rooftest]

A cop once got on his horn and told me to ride closer to the curb, I yelled at him to pull over so I could explain the law to him... which he did after 20 minutes, he conceeded that he wasn't sure and since he was a sgt., he said he'd look up the laws and educate his staff.

Holy Sh*t - you argued with a cop? Here in CA, that would earn you a quick billy club to the forehead!

 

[jaydee]

A couple of years ago a friend of mine on his road bike was run off the road into a muddy ditch by some redneck drunks in a van, who drove away laughing. He got going again and a mile or so down the road he came up to the van sitting at a red light. He rode up to the driver's window, which was open. He was going to confront the idiot, but he was so angry that he just hauled off and drilled the guy as hard as he could in the face and rode away. He's not a small dude. He looked back 30 seconds later and the van hadn't moved. I guess all the morons were looking around the van for the driver's head. I don't advocate doing this, mainly because it's dangerous, but I have to admit I felt great when my buddy came to my place after that ride and told me the story.

 

[Biscuit]

A couple of years ago a friend of mine on his road bike was run off the road into a muddy ditch by some redneck drunks in a van, who drove away laughing. He got going again and a mile or so down the road he came up to the van sitting at a red light. He rode up to the driver's window, which was open. He was going to confront the idiot, but he was so angry that he just hauled off and drilled the guy as hard as he could in the face and rode away. He's not a small dude. He looked back 30 seconds later and the van hadn't moved. I guess all the morons were looking around the van for the driver's head. I don't advocate doing this, mainly because it's dangerous, but I have to admit I felt great when my buddy came to my place after that ride and told me the story.

Oh, man! I've dreamed of doing that!

A good friend of mine was on his road bike, some rednecks slowed down behind him, waited, then tried to push him off a low bridge when they passed.

He later cought the drunk f'ers taking a piss down the road.
I'm sorry to say he didn't do anything. He's relatively small and there were three of them.

If I were there it would have been 'game-on' till the cops showed up.

 

[JRB]

A chick that works at a shop in Austin was riding in when a guy flicked a cig butt at her. Intentional or not, he hit her. She stopped and picked it up and threw the lit smoke in his lap at a stoplight.

 

[sanjuro]

A chick that works at a shop in Austin was riding in when a guy flicked a cig butt at her. Intentional or not, he hit her. She stopped and picked it up and threw the lit smoke in his lap at a stoplight.

That's a good idea...

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=142952

 

[JRB]

Hrm - you'd think that since you seemed to have sense about people running folks down in that thread, that you wouldn't taunt people while you were on your bike. We almost had this on track to forget about you being a dumbass for screwing with people, but alas, you got us back on the right path. Good work.

 

[sanjuro]

The difference is I wouldn't throw garbage back into a car (I would offer it back and then throw it away myself); I believe in running away because he is in a car and I am on a bike; and if that d**chebag was to step to me, I would be off my bike in a heartbeat.

 

[JRB]

The difference is I wouldn't throw garbage back into a car (I would offer it back and then throw it away myself); I believe in running away because he is in a car and I am on a bike; and if that d**chebag was to step to me, I would be off my bike in a heartbeat.

I see your point, but I wouldn't have mocked the guy you did either. People are too stupid to be trusted, bro.

 

[sanjuro]

I thought it was funny. Hey, I gotta be me...

 

[mmaddmark]

carry a rock with you on your ride. anyone who has ever hrown a cig a penny or swerved at me on a ride has lost a back window,or at the least got a dent. though sometimes i have missed. when/if they do stop to give you a hard time. grab the bike by the bars and fork ,if they get within 3 ft of you, swing that rig at em. yeah its trouble, but really at that point theres no turnning back. the drivers do not own the roads and thats all that they need to understand, anything beyond that takes some beating into.

 

[sanjuro]

carry a rock with you on your ride. anyone who has ever hrown a cig a penny or swerved at me on a ride has lost a back window,or at the least got a dent. though sometimes i have missed. when/if they do stop to give you a hard time. grab the bike by the bars and fork ,if they get within 3 ft of you, swing that rig at em. yeah its trouble, but really at that point theres no turnning back. the drivers do not own the roads and thats all that they need to understand, anything beyond that takes some beating into.

Thank you. Your response from the bike paths of Fantasyland makes my aggro behavior appear levelheaded.

 

[richcreek]

Through your frame pump at him. or you could follow him till he gets out then piss in his gas tank or empty a gell energy pack into it. that will mess up his fuel pump. if it is a desiel truck go down to the nearest farm supply store and by some ammonium nitrate pour it into his tank and RUN, desiel fuel and ammonium nitrate make a bomb, thats what a lot of thoes terrests use in iraq for thoes road side bombs.:bomb:

 

[JRB]

I thought it was funny. Hey, I gotta be me...

I agree that it's funny, but I don't want to see you killed by some wannabe rapper, as irritating as you are.

You are so very right. Some folks came in with some whack job ideas to make us all look sane.

 

[The Toninator]

I had a buddy get run down the other day by a driver. We cant even call the dude an ‘Irate’ drive because my buddy was in the right lane of a 2 lane road and the other lanes were separated by a large grass median and it was 10am on a Sunday morning, there wasn’t another vehicle in site.
I only know that the dude in the truck came up behind my buddy honked his horn at him then moments later ran him the **** down.
Luckily he wasn’t physically hurt but he’s mentally **** up. This is a VERY experienced rider too. His bike was bent in half. The dude just drove off. Again luckily he was conscious and had a cell phone and called the police.
The dude has been charged with aggravated assault the misdemeanor kind not the felony. It’s aggregating to know that this guy isn’t going to see any real punishment for trying to kill someone.
I’ve had plenty of altercations with motorist. Sometimes when I’ve been in the power position I’ve acted but I mostly just try to be aware of my surroundings and safe out’s and just let the jerks go on about their business.
I’ve stated carrying my cell phone with me while riding in the hood just in case. The cell phone is probably your biggest and best weapon.
Try to find out what your rights are and exercise them.
This guy that got hit rode his bike to a 'local' race prerode with everyone he could then raced and rode home. 405 miles that weekend that was just weeks before getting run down. I dont know if he's been on the rode since.

 

[johnbryanpeters]

When I used to be a serious commuter in Cambridge and Boston, I used a chain and padlock and carried it wrapped around my waist. My worst road rage was getting hassled by a carload of punks and I took out their windshield with the chain. Don't try it if you don't have an escape route.

 

[sanjuro]

I should point that my original intent wasn't how to start sh*t or smack a car and get away from it.

Riding on the road as much I do, you see plenty of stupid driving. Nothing fatal, not even an accident, and I shake my head and comment to myself. Certainly not as taunting as my raise the roof, but I am not invisible.

I don't think I should be run over, for lets say, holding my hands up if someone behind me starts honking at a red light. But I realize the more confrontational I am, the more likely I will get myself into a confrontation a cyclist cannot win.

P.S. A great way to stop any aggro driver is to chant D.U.I. It stopped a few drivers from going after last month's Critical Mass. It also helps to have a police escort.

 

[Fshflys]

When I used to ride road, I'd stare at the driver that was turning into my path just to make sure they recoginized that I was there. Sometimes I'd have to yell to get their attention. When my kids got to an age when they could ride, I'd do the same thing, being even more vigilant with not just my life at stake but my kids also. My kids would get embarrased, but I would tell them I'd rather sound like a jerk than be hurt or dead.

 

[HarryCallahan]

I think it is really hard to keep your cool, particularly if the motorist startles or scares you. The adrenalin really gets pumping. My first impulse is to swear or flip em off, even though I know it's smarter to ignore them.

For someone who persists in harassing me, I pull off in a safe spot and pull out the cell phone, and make sure they can see it.

Toninator that sucks about your friend. In California that driver would also be looking at carges, either for hit and run or leaving the scene