Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Shoved by a car passenger last night

was riding the bike home from the bar this morning when it happened. as the car passed me, they honked their horn and the passenger shoved me. i managed not to crash but the whole incident kinda freaked me out. if some crotch could reach out and shove me while they drive past, they could easily grab my handlebars and steer me to doom.
im not used to any contact at all when im on the bike, especially physical. its unsettling when someone pulls you out of your focus. BAH, fuggit. i should have had my wits about me anyway. late night friday commutes from the city into the county are always kinda sketchy.

Rest assured there is a special place reserved for people like this.

Denny's?

Sure! At least if you meet or surpass der Fuhrer's expectations. I always liked IHOP better.

That's why I like my small helmet mounted mirror.
Folks bent on mischeif assume I cannot see what they are up to, until it is too late...

...for them.

On the topic of car-bike interactions, I almost got doored twice yesterday afternoon by passengers in cabs. And outright hit once.

The first time I was moviung so fast, hat I heard that little clunk sound of the door opening, I was abrest of the door, anad I quickly turned my head back, and saw the door opening right behind me, almost hitting my rear wheel. :eek:

Scary shiz, I tell you.

I have witnessed behavior like this way too often.......there are tons of punks out there.. and some cyclists wonder why we hate so many cagers..so far, only been spit at, had ice cream cones and soft drink bottles thrown at me...of course cursed at too. but guess better be shoved than had cars veer too close to you..that as happened to me couple times too..absolutely sure it was intentional.

skitbra and I were riding last night and some D-bag decided to stick his arm out of his window as they passed skit...not cool. I couldn't tell if the guy had a cell phone or a tazer/stun device in all honesty. There were focused on skit, so I swept around to the driver's side and just rode nice and slow with my cell phone out so they knew that someone was watching them AND got their lic#. They chilled - not a cool thing to do on their behalf. In all honesty, I wanted to see how many of their car windows my lock could go through on one throw, but that wouldn't have done anything to better the situation...

Not quite malicious intent, but yesterday a guy merged into my lane without noticing I was in it. We were only going about 5 mph, but he hit me. With my body sliding against the side of the car I steadied myself with my right hand on his hood and managed not to go down. It was pouring rain so I just slid alongside the quarter-panel and hood. I looked back at him as I pulled away (he stopped), and he was frozen at the wheel, no doubt thanking his god that I didn't go down.

I've said it before. Passengers are the WORST.

Rest assured there is a special place reserved for people like this.

Unfortunately no, agressive jerks rule the world. Best you can hope for is to stay out of the way as much as possible.

man, some guys in car shouted at me the other day as they drive past, it happens a lot. i was so pissed off i tried to catch up with them so i shout at them. but i dint, and if i'd caught up, i'd probably just given them the finger anyway. i dont wanna get run over.

Rest assured there is a special place reserved for people like this.

Did you get a plate number or vehicle description?

I get yelled at all the time, but the "worst" interaction with a car I've ever had was one time where some middle aged woman in the passenger seat of a car driven by another middle aged woman, opened her window, had a short conversation with me about my bike and then proceeded to reach her hand out, grab my ass and make a "Woohoo!!" sound. Really.

The hanging out the window and yelling in your face phenomenon is a strange one. I never get that urge when I'm in a car passing cyclists. It's happened to me in a few dangerous situations, like on a bridge. Luckily, the insurance corporation here is fairly receptive to dangerous drivers so calling them up and letting them know a motorist was endangering your life results in a lecturing phone call.

Also, throwing your mini-lock at the body of the car allows you to retrieve it, and leaves a sizable dent. Windows can be easily replaced and you don't get your lock back.

this morning i rear ended a car that came to a quick stop to park, i did like a rear wheelie and almost kissed the trunk but then my rear landed and i was fine and my wheel is still true, most pathetic scene ever lol

Did you get a plate number or vehicle description?

unfortunately, they were moving too fast for me to get any of that. i might have been able to catch up with them but i decided it wasnt the smartest thing to do. this was at like 3am on my regular commute route. i just try to be a ghost on that route, and i wouldnt want to have to reroute because i broke out a guys window or something. i usually just stay away from the trouble the best i can.
like i said earlier, i should have had my wits about me.

Unfortunately no, agressive jerks rule the world. Best you can hope for is to stay out of the way as much as possible.

Don't worry...its all karma! It will come back to him. Good thing you weren't hurt.

A few years ago I was riding down the local blacktop when some jerks decided to play chicken with me at 55+ mph. They came across the lane and never did flinch. Luckily I did. Even got a shower of empty beer bottles as they passed in celebration of their victory as I picked myself up out of the ditch. Out of state plates and cowboy hats.

http://www.theweapons.com/bazooka%20youth.jpg

While its probably not true, I'm convinced Paris drivers are out to get me. So I've been riding pretty much exclusively around Hippodrome de Longchamps where there are usually at least 100 cyclists going around the loop. If anyone caused any intentional trouble there with their car there would be a small riot and the car would probably get picked up and thrown into the Seine.

While its probably not true, I'm convinced Paris drivers are out to get me. So I've been riding pretty much exclusively around Hippodrome de Longchamps where there are usually at least 100 cyclists going around the loop. If anyone caused any intentional trouble there with their car there would be a small riot and the car would probably get picked up and thrown into the Seine.

You really must do the Loire valley if you can. Very cycling friendly and advertised as such. Hotels and hostels expect people to have bicycles.

some lady gave me about an inch as she passed me at 40. so i caught up at a light,it was warm she had all her windows down, we had a talk she tried to yell at me, it ended with me calling her fat b#tch. she thought she was all hot and sexy with her princess sticker on her car.

While its probably not true, I'm convinced Paris drivers are out to get me. So I've been riding pretty much exclusively around Hippodrome de Longchamps where there are usually at least 100 cyclists going around the loop. If anyone caused any intentional trouble there with their car there would be a small riot and the car would probably get picked up and thrown into the Seine.

Haha.. that's great. How's the cycling culture there. Tell us, tell us!

On the topic of car-bike interactions, I almost got doored twice yesterday afternoon by passengers in cabs. And outright hit once.

The first time I was moviung so fast, hat I heard that little clunk sound of the door opening, I was abrest of the door, anad I quickly turned my head back, and saw the door opening right behind me, almost hitting my rear wheel. :eek:

Scary shiz, I tell you.

I was riding with G'town, a neighborhood in DC, when a cab door opened on me. I immediately held my hand out and closed it on the passenger. Then I yelled something along the lines of "watch it dickhead."

Which would be next to impossible unless you were going about 1kph.

I didn't say I was riding fast! You definitely have to be careful around the cabs, especially if you are riding between them and the curb. Not the smartest move on my part.

Don't worry...its all karma! It will come back to him.

:rolleyes: karma schmarma.

some lady gave me about an inch as she passed me at 40. so i caught up at a light,it was warm she had all her windows down, we had a talk she tried to yell at me, it ended with me calling her fat b#tch. she thought she was all hot and sexy with her princess sticker on her car.
Cabana...Is you logo /sticker "One less car." a bumper sticker.? .I like it...It's message is clear...

This is why I ride around with 2 sawed-off double barrels attached to my bar-ends.

Reading all this stuff, it seems to me Hungarian drivers are not too bad after all. Every biker here is whining all the time about them, but I myself have not had too great trouble. In ~15000 urban miles I got doored three or four times (narrow escapes, no crash, closed 2 doors back), yelled at a couple of dozen times, rearended an idiotic driver who panic-braked with no apparent reason once and have been endangered by idiots passing way too close <50 times. Very few crashes, no broken bones.
Once a cab-driver got out of his cage onto the road w/out looking back, right in front of me. I slapped him in the back hard as I passed. My buddy who was riding behind me told me the look on his face was priceless:-)

I slapped him in the back hard as I passed. My buddy who was riding behind me told me the look on his face was priceless:-)

his face probably looked exactly like mine when i got shoved... :rolleyes: thats just ugly.
i know, i know, us vs cars. stupid @$$ drivers and the lot need to watch out for us cyclists. im on your side. but im just realizing how disgusted i am by any sort of violence.

geez-o-whiz, im becoming a pacifist as i leave my twenties...

but im just realizing how disgusted i am by any sort of violence.

geez-o-whiz, im becoming a pacifist as i leave my twenties...

I know...Violence begets violence..But, I like the solution posed in Paris...some jerk threatens the life of a cyclist..have a mob of outraged cyclists, just throw the perpretrators car in the Seine and just disappear...cyclists can disappear into the traffic in a whirl of cyclists' kit and never be seen again..
a joke, not violent..

I've been a pacifist since I got the snot beat out of me by a large Australian in grade 8. While I did not start the fight, and barely even participated in it (other than acting as a rake thin boney punching sack), I realized then that whenever you hurt someone, you are actually hurting yourself. As it was the large Australian got in bad trouble and I gained a fight-club style respect (way before the movie came out) from most of my classmates for my tenacity in getting back up after every pounding.
Big guys who pick on little guys... I feel sorry for them really... They must have some serious complexes to deal with.

Big guys who pick on little guys... I feel sorry for them really... They must have some serious complexes to deal with.

but are these stories about big guys picking on little guys, or just simply more little guys/gals surrounded by metal to make them feel like big tough guys picking on smaller guys/gals being bike riders?

Which would be next to impossible unless you were going about 1kph.
I was right beside the cab's rear door drivers side and that happened to me I was able to boot itback at the prick that opened it and I was going faster than 1 kph about ten kph so it is not impossible

usually people just ask me how i "stand still." i like to tell them magic. then ride off really fast.

but are these stories about big guys picking on little guys, or just simply more little guys/gals surrounded by metal to make them feel like big tough guys picking on smaller guys/gals being bike riders?

With great power comes great irresponsibility... or something like that

Cabana...Is you logo /sticker "One less car." a bumper sticker.? .I like it...It's message is clear...

i mde it yesterday i started my own pedicab company by the name one less car. that is my new logo it will be on my shirt's and on my cab,im thinking i might make stickers out of,people seem to like it.

i mde it yesterday i started my own pedicab company by the name one less car. that is my new logo it will be on my shirt's and on my cab,im thinking i might make stickers out of,people seem to like it.
Cabana...Used to live in the Grand Rapids area for about 4 years...Pedicab..Probably in Grand Haven..that is where all the tourists go...? Good luck...would not mind a pedicab ride down the Holland -Grand Haven bike trail...The smell of sasafrass in the forests...what an expereince...your logo you should market..good job........some of us need bikes without the cab however- to make it true to us..

I get yelled at all the time, but the "worst" interaction with a car I've ever had was one time where some middle aged woman in the passenger seat of a car driven by another middle aged woman, opened her window, had a short conversation with me about my bike and then proceeded to reach her hand out, grab my ass and make a "Woohoo!!" sound. Really.

Jacobs. I thought New Englanders were reserved people.? Hope you are a guy... Well, One could get to know someone new, that kind of luck.....Never know how one might meet a new friend..When, we are at singles bars..Been told to flount it..
Older woman..Maybe you felt violated...? guess a compliment.

ya grand haven is the place to be,they are looking into letting me operate there,im going to travel all over and see what works.

ya grand haven is the place to be,they are looking into letting me operate there,im going to travel all over and see what works.
Sounds like a fun job and exercise...Hope you make it all the way down to Singapore..? Used to love swimming near the discharge of the power plant there..

']Denny's?

That was a beautiful reply. A+ would read again.

i had a truck with the extra big trailor hauling mirrors on it swerve in an attempt to get me with the mirror. i ducked at the last second and the mirror just clicked against one of the bones in my dreads. i caught up just before my turn and flicked my lit cigarette into his cab.

As it was the large Australian got in bad trouble and I gained a fight-club style respect (way before the movie came out) from most of my classmates for my tenacity in getting back up after every pounding.

You can get this same 'respect' by being a quiet short kid, and punching everyone in the face thsat messes with you.

was riding the bike home from the bar this morning when it happened. as the car passed me, they honked their horn and the passenger shoved me. i managed not to crash but the whole incident kinda freaked me out. if some crotch could reach out and shove me while they drive past, they could easily grab my handlebars and steer me to doom.
im not used to any contact at all when im on the bike, especially physical. its unsettling when someone pulls you out of your focus. BAH, fuggit. i should have had my wits about me anyway. late night friday commutes from the city into the county are always kinda sketchy.
Man, that sucks :( Was this near Baltimore? If I ever got kind of physical abuse from car drivers, I'd definitely report it to the police.

yay for pacifism!

Also, throwing your mini-lock at the body of the car allows you to retrieve it, and leaves a sizable dent. Windows can be easily replaced and you don't get your lock back.

But if you aim at the brakelights you can retrieve your lock and have the satisfaction of smashing something... plus they can get an extra ticket for that. best of all worlds