Fifty Plus (50+) - Near miss.

Has anyone else had a near miss like this?

I have mentioned in another post that I have been laid up for a few days by a sore leg I attributed to pushing too hard. So I have followed some advice and backed off a bit with some rest between rides. The advice is working because today I did 25 miles with more stamina and energy than I have had in a long time.

However about half way through the ride I was almost knocked off of my bike by a passing car. Not because the car hit me, even if it came pretty close, but because someone in that car tossed a half full energy drink at me. It was one of those monster drinks in the green can and the car was doing about 55 when it passed me. I was going about 11. Anyway I was enjoying the ride and the view around me and I felt this bang against the back of my bike and the rear tire moved about six inches to the right. I saw the can fly passed me with drink flying all over the place and then saw the Scion xB loaded with teens swerve back to make a hard left about 100 yards in front of me on a cross street.

I was in shock and for a moment had no clue as to what had happened. The can had hit about where my rack attaches to the frame making the impact area just a bit low of my butt or a bit higher and it would have hit me in the back. Because of how it felt hitting my frame I know it could have easily knocked me off of the bike if it hit me. At first I was just shocked. Then I got a bit mad and if I could have reached the car who knows what might have happened. But they turned before I could get close enough to read the plate number. I think I might have emptied a can of pepper spray into the car if I have reached it.

Once the car turned at the cross street I continued on with my ride and began to settle down. By the time I got home I was ok and the only damage was some bent supports for my rear fender. I managed to straighten them out and other than the sticky drink residue on the crank and bottom bracket it is hard to tell how close I came to having a bad ride and a bad day.

This won’t stop me from riding but it might cause me to go back to group rides for a while.

Has anyone else had a near miss like this?

Please place a complaint with the local police department with as much of a description of the vehicle as possible. I'm glad your ok. Anything you can do to prevent these kids from doing this again to someone else is a good thing.

I have found most people that we share the road with in our area to be real good. More so than what I've read about [here] in other parts of the country. There is always those "one percenters" though, that'll wreck it for 'ya.

So far, the worst I've had is cars in the bike lane.

What time of day was this for you??

I have found most people that we share the road with in our area to be real good. More so than what I've read about [here] in other parts of the country. There is always those "one percenters" though, that'll wreck it for 'ya.

So far, the worst I've had is cars in the bike lane.

What time of day was this for you??

It would have been about 8:45 AM. I was at or about at the 10 mile mark and noticed how good I was feeling. The road I was planning to turn on to was a new route for me and it turned out to be a nice road with very little traffic. :)

I think everyone that rides much at all has had this happen to them at some point in time.
It makes you instantly mad as hell.
I tried, and came very close {it surprises people how fast an angry bike rider can go** to catching a car load of jerks. They wound up running a red light to get away.
After I cooled down, I was glad I didn't catch them and I also felt bad about the safety of runnig a red light.
An innocent passerby could have been hurt.
Its just people being people. But its hard to not take it personal when some one plays with your life like that.:notamused:

Report what you can to the police. This may not be the first time for this car and kids, and they also might use that route regularly.

Some police will care, others won't.

Essentially, you have been the victim of an assault with intent to do bodily harm. This may be a felony.

Report what you can to the police. This may not be the first time for this car and kids, and they also might use that route regularly.

Some police will care, others won't.

Essentially, you have been the victim of an assault with intent to do bodily harm. This may be a felony.

Good point. Turned out to be a jurisdiction thing. I was just outside of the city limits so they referred me to the CHP. They were willing to take a desk report but thought maybe the Sheriff would be interested. Maybe they will catch them doing something else anyway. At least maybe someone will be looking.

Good point. Turned out to be a jurisdiction thing. I was just outside of the city limits so they referred me to the CHP. They were willing to take a desk report but thought maybe the Sheriff would be interested. Maybe they will catch them doing something else anyway. At least maybe someone will be looking.

I'm here in S. California. Could you be more specific on the location so some of us others might keep an eye out. If it had hit you and not done any damage in itself, but knocked you off your bike you could have easily been severely injured. I have to believe that 8 oz's or drink in an aluminum can at 55 mph would be a very destructive missile! That is a lot of energy: 3,400 grains at 80 to 100 fps! A bullet from a pistol ranges in at 120 to 180 grains at 1,000+ fps. 30 times the weight at 1/10th the speed! My calculations could be off. Some of you engineer types might better figure it out.

I'm here in S. California. Could you be more specific on the location so some of us others might keep an eye out. If it had hit you and not done any damage in itself, but knocked you off your bike you could have easily been severely injured. I have to believe that 8 oz's or drink in an aluminum can at 55 mph would be a very destructive missile! That is a lot of energy: 3,400 grains at 80 to 100 fps! A bullet from a pistol ranges in at 120 to 180 grains at 1,000+ fps. 30 times the weight at 1/10th the speed! My calculations could be off. Some of you engineer types might better figure it out.

It was right as you exited off of Highway 79 Lambs canyon and Gilman Springs road. I was about 75 to 100 yards from making a left on Gilman Springs heading towards the Soboba Indian Reservation and San Jacinto College. The xB was lowered and a gray color. If I would have been watching I might have seen the plate but I was taken totally by surprise. The xB turned left going west towards Quail Ranch Golf Course. I live close to Diamond Lake.

Over 6-7 years I've had all kinds of things thrown at me-drinks, fruit and even money!! I think a coin that was pitched from a truck going 55 mph that hit my butt stung the worst. Either my butt is a super big target or that fella must have had really good aim. A lot of times it has been teens but it has also been some good 'ol boys as well. I always get really teed off but try and not let it spoil my riding........Unfortunately I've never been able to get enough information from a passing vehicle to report it but one of these days someone is going to get stopped pretty soon afterwards by a train, traffic light, etc and they are going to wish they hadn't done it........

It would have been about 8:45 AM. I was at or about at the 10 mile mark and noticed how good I was feeling. The road I was planning to turn on to was a new route for me and it turned out to be a nice road with very little traffic. :)

Darn; I lost that bet w/ self. I would have said mid-day to afternoon. I like to ride in the AM when there's less traffic and less wind. For that reason, sorry to hear it was in the morning. Well, as most have said, file a report so there's a history on the kids/vehicle. When they get caught, the list of complaints will show against them.

There was a very similar post today over in the Road forum. Someone got cronked with a big gulp or its kin.
Teenagers again. I've been riding with a cell phone lately - first one i've ever owned. Something like this happens to me and i'll do everything to get a description of the car and then call 911 immediately.

There was a very similar post today over in the Road forum. Someone got cronked with a big gulp or its kin.
Teenagers again. I've been riding with a cell phone lately - first one i've ever owned. Something like this happens to me and i'll do everything to get a description of the car and then call 911 immediately.

I had a cell phone but I wasn’t close enough to get a plate number. What also bothered me are several cars passed me after the event and no one stopped or tried to get the other car to stop as well. If it had been me I would have helped the bike person at least by getting the license number and getting back to him. Then again they may have reported it and I just haven’t heard anything yet.

Some guys in a pickup threw a half full beer can at me once. The beer went under my arm and hit my handlebar.

I was covered with beer, including my glasses, no chance to get any kind of description.

That guy must have had a deep seated hatred of cyclists to throw away an unfinished beer.

Where I live, this fits the legal definition of "battery"! I'd have immediately called 911 and filled out a report.

Over the last 30 years about once or twice a year I have somebody throw something ranging from bottle to can out a a car window at me. Had a few flats because of it, but no injuries. I wonder what it is that makes folks want to do such sh*t?