Originally Posted by
bobn
Let me play "Devil's advocate". Your friend was cranking behind a car going down hill about 30 mph. What would have happened if this guy had to jamb on his brakes? Let's say a deer ran out if front of him. What would have happened to your biking buddy? At the very least, a bad case of road rash? Perhaps the emergency room or the county morgue? A wrecked bike?
I don't think the driver was entirely wrong. Probably stressed out and a nervous wreck. Maybe he had more sense than your buddy?
The OP mentioned the motorist passed the cyclists on a narrow, twisting, downhill with no shoulder accompanied with lots of horn-blowing and yelling.
Sounds like he had a bit of a temper problem
before he even encountered the eight cyclists.
We also don't know the skill of the rider. He may be dangerous. He could also be very skillful and accustomed to drafting. We simply don't know.
If the person was pedaling along at 35 m.p.h. behind a car and simultaneously
smiling according to the angry driver...the rider must be at least moderately strong or can otherwise push big gears.
The notion of road rash, wrecked bikes, and morgues would sadden any riding group...especially since it sounds like the automobile driver was itchin' for a fight in hilly, narrow, and twisting terrain better suited to a fast bicycle with competent rider aboard.