I took out my new build for its first ride today. I didn’t care that my ankle was still busted…you can only look at a bike so much! (In all seriousness, my ankle felt fine throughout).
A block away from home, I’m pulling up to a stop sign and I get a mega-honk. One of those 5-seconders where they really lean on the horn. I spin my bike around (I’m already at a stop) attempting to block the road so I can see if maybe I knew the person and they were just messing with me. I didn’t do a good job at blocking the road - she maneuvers her mini-van around me and lowers her window (from a safe distance).
“You’re an @$$HOLE!”
Boom.
Came from nowhere!
Was it my purple leg warmers underneath my lime Liquigas tights? My red PX jersey sticking out from my Cervelo jacket? My hipster-esque big-frame-RX-mixed-with-my-cycling-cap-beneath-my-helmet look?
Or maybe it was my obnoxiously deep PX 82/101 combo…here’s the bike. Anything I’m missing?
Either way, I followed her home and made sure I knew where they lived (most people who drive here are going somewhere in the area). Now what? Do I ask her kindly what ehr problem is? Do I leave a flaming pile of poo?
I’ve followed people before adn the only real problem with that is that you could be seen as harassing them even if you’re intentions are golden. I say screw them. If they’re that upset about your presence simply parked at a light, you’re not going to change their minds. Screw them.
And it might have been the tights or leg warmers, whatever you want to call them.
Yeah, it’s pretty much a mystery why a lot of drivers have this attitude when a bike only takes up a small space on the road. It’s really not too hard to navigate around a cyclist and it really doesn’t take up very much of the driver’s obviously valuable time. What I really find even more mystifying is how careful, courteous and patient the same drivers are when it comes to someone riding a horse along the road. Even a car parked and blocking some of the road gets better treatment than a cyclist. Why can’t they split some of that love with us?
Faceless targets … You’re just a big collection of lairy colours.
Jealousy … Your riding round in some expensive kit, they’re struggling to pay the fuel bills
Cowboys … Some cyclists, through their actions, create a reputation for all others
Frustration … Often they’re caught in traffic, your zipping by unimpeded. And you usually live closer than them
I’ve never been the recipient of abuse while riding, I think those that get flack probably deserve it, even I’ve raged at riders (while driving and riding). Last incident was a group of riders 2 and three abreast on a busy road with no shoulder, I had to idle behind them until I could finally pull into the oncoming lane to get around them but I think they got my message by the time I was done. Just arrogance in my opinion.
Maybe because you were blocking the intersection or the road?
If your favorite tour rider can brush off harassment all the way up an uncategorized climb you can ignore a single comment from one driver. Usually they just want a reaction out of you, ignore them and you win.
Reading a great book called Running the Edge. It’s about running. But it makes a point about the whole “run forrest run” hollered by drivers. Put simply they’re unhappy with their lives. They’ve settled for mediocrity, and are honestly jealous. They have something so wrong in their lives that they need to attack someone else to feel better. Of course they blame this on inconvenience of a cyclist or a runner as the book mentions. Just smile and be happy you are yourself and not them.
There are a lot of angry drivers out there. Well, there are a lot of angry people out there period. I say too much caffeine. Now all those caffeine addicts are angry at me. Just kiddding. It is a part of society today. Everyone is tense. You were in her space (or so she felt) and so she took it out on you.
Some of this we can blame on cyclists that seem to go out of their way to take up the whole road, but most of it is just an angry, tense people. Try to let it go. But I know it bothers me for a while.
Reading a great book called Running the Edge. It’s about running. But it makes a point about the whole “run forrest run” hollered by drivers. Put simply they’re unhappy with their lives. They’ve settled for mediocrity, and are honestly jealous. They have something so wrong in their lives that they need to attack someone else to feel better. Of course they blame this on inconvenience of a cyclist or a runner as the book mentions. Just smile and be happy you are yourself and not them.
I’m very happy you posted this.
After reading Running With The Buffaloes, I’ve been following Goucher…and his facebook group keeps nagging me to buy his book!
Honestly, this book is awesome! It’s not just a running book, or about improving your running, but improving your life. It wraps sport and life together in a great way and really has been a good read. I have really been noticing large improvements in my mental thought process while running, and I’m trying to do everything the book mentions to start the road to improving your life. It’s very hands-on. I may need to read it about 5 more times to really grasp what I’m reading. Plus Adam’s stories, especially the 2000 olympic trials was the best running writing I have ever read. Much better than even Once a Runner, the description of the backstretch made my skin get goosebumps and I was ready to tackle a hard workout the next day. I also hear rumors if you buy it from their website(not from amazon) it will arrive signed
You were on HER road. She owns it because she pays taxes and you don’t.
¿¡QUE!? At least in my state everyone pays for the roads EQUALLY. Thus, I pay more for the amount of road I ride on than they do when calculated by $/mile.
I have to say, this is really an ENVY issue and perhaps a lot of problems with unclear laws regarding cyclist. I’ve been yelled at for riding on both the road and the sidewalk. I’ve run EL lights along the frame of my bike and a driver still was too inattentive to notice me crossing the intersection.
Drivers get caught being inattentive and the first thing they do is blame whatever they needed to look out for. A company near my house has a limo service for the kids parties they host. The driver had to screech to a stop when he nearly ran over me. When I confronted his boss, the boss said he is an attentive driver. When the driver happened to come by our conversation he said he didn’t even see me. WHAT??? It’s not like I could mistake who had to stop for me when their limo has the company name plastered on the side and they only have one driver.
Recently a driver who had struck and killed a cyclist, was cleared of manslaughter despite being intoxicated. He even received the minimum sentence for his DUI.
I know I get the biggest road rage directed at me when I am cycling at the posted speed limit or I have to slow down for a school zone.
