Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - horrifying experience this weekend

so i had just about the worst experience ever on saturday. i was riding down the street i live on when this guy in a pickup truck blew by me going about 70mph (on a 30mph street). it scared the crap out of me, and pissed me off, so i flicked him off (like i've done a thousand times). anyway, as i was coming up close to where i live, i see the guy slam on his brakes. i thought he was trying to slow up to keep from hitting these railroad tracks so fast, but i was wrong. i noticed that he was stopping right past my house. i stopped right before my house, and as i was getting off my bike, he was getting out of his truck. i thought, "oh no, i don't want to do this." anyway, he started walking towards me and said, "you got a f***ing problem?" i was like "yeah, i have a problem, you blew by me by 3 feet going 70mph, you almost killed me!" he kept walking towards me, and asked me again, getting about 10 ft from me. but this time, and i hadn't noticed it yet, he pointed a large caliber glock at me, aimed right at my chest. i just stopped, and he yelled the same question at me. it took me a minute, but i was like, "no, its cool, everything is ok" he yelled again, and i said the same. i was just trying to talk him down, while looking for a way to get out of his way if he started shooting. he started to back up, and sped off in his truck. i went in the house and started freaking out. this happened at around 2:30 in the afternoon, in broad daylight. i'm still freaked out by it. i can't get that image of the gun out of my head. you know, all these debates about wearing helmets, riding with brakes, they seem pointless right now. all i want now is a bullet proof vest. i'm also seriously rethinking how i deal with idiots in cars. i'm also afraid he lives in the neighborhood and will see me at night, ugh...... this sucks.

Dude, I don't know what to say. Esp. seeing as how you live right around the corner from me. Did you get the tag #. I don't blame you if it never crossed your mind to do so. Do you remember anything about what he and/or his truck looked like? I could keep an eye out.

aint that some fokked up shiet. Glad you are OK... I guess they allow concealed carry in GA (they do here). I keep my bad finger in the holster (now) just because of what you've described. it's a shame how many idiots there are in this world who are just looking for an excuse to wave a gun around:(

I guess you didn't think it wise to call the popo?

you did call the cops right?

Please say you got the license plate #. PLEASE say you did. And tell me that, even if you didn't, you filed a police report. That shït doesn't fly.

As soon as he left I would have been on my cell to 911 to make a cop come. If it was me I would have pressed charges against the twit for menacing and whatever else is applicable. You did call the police didn't you?

dude, that's the worst story i've read in a long time. :mad:

maybe you could talk to the neighbors and see if anyone else saw anything? that might be good to have if you file a police report (which you really should). be careful out there. you might want to lay low for a little while or take a different route for a few weeks. although i'm sure it was just a moment of road rage.

i talked to a cop that works the area. the co-op i work at on saturday has a cop work there in the evenings. i told him about it and all and described the truck, but what would they do? you know? i live in a relatively poor neighborhood and i've called the cops before cause my neighbors were beating the crap out of each other one night and i thought the guy in the relationship ran over his partner/girlfriend. it took the cops like 30 minutes to show up. to be honest, i had the intention of getting the license plate and all, because of how he was driving, but as soon as the gun came out it was like everything stopped. it was just me and him and that gun. i vaguely remember what the truck looks like and could probably recognize it if i saw it, but i definately remember what that gun looks like. it was soooo surreal. i just wanted to keep myself from getting shot, nothing else really mattered. i just kept thinking, "i don't want to get shot right outside my house." i wish i DID call 911 and get the tag and all, but i couldn't think straight afterword. i was really calm during the incident, but when it was over, man.

You need to get as much as you remember back in your head and call the cops. That guy is seriously wacked. Maybe go find a hypnotist and get them to take you through it again.

That person should not be on the road. I'm glad you are alive, but you should not have to live in fear that the same person will be on that same road again for you.

You might try posting this on the Advocacy/Safety forum too, or maybe it should be moved there. This is something where other bikers in your area might have seen them too, or had similar instances.

I'm really glad you're OK. Be safe.

yeah, i think i'll copy and post this on the advocacy/safety forum as well, or maybe the admin could move it there. i know, or at least i'm pretty sure, i could remember the truck he was driving if i saw it. i described it to the cop i spoke with at work, and sense he works that area, he said he would keep an eye out. i sort of have the feeling he doesn't live in the neighborhood and that he was coming FROM something, or was going TO something. whoever he was meeting up with though i feel very sorry for them.

c'est terible. imho, especially here, some things are better left alone. if you got him arrested, who knows, either he or his hillbilly half-brother might come after you, and then it's game over. the mofo's probably on meth, actually probably makes it in his kitchen. go for some quick therapy (bona fide, vacation, booze, a century) and hope for the best. sorry to hear, bro.

c'est terible. imho, especially here, some things are better left alone. if you got him arrested, who knows, either he or his hillbilly half-brother might come after you, and then it's game over. the mofo's probably on meth, actually probably makes it in his kitchen. go for some quick therapy (bona fide, vacation, booze, a century) and hope for the best. sorry to hear, bro.

I have to agree! I would leave it alone! You call the cops and they arrest him. It's not a serious enough crime that his bail would be set really high. He posts bail and then he comes after you thinking that he has nothing to lose if he kills you because he is probably going to the pen for this anyway!

I say nuts to fear of him coming back at you. I refuse to accept a lack of justice for presence of fear. If he gets out, buy a gun and eviscerate him with a hollow point if it comes to that. Live your life afraid of creeps like that and you might never get out of your room.

i still think you should report it formally. just to have a record. that way if you encounter him again and he does something else you'll already have a complaint filed.

I say nuts to fear of him coming back at you. I refuse to accept a lack of justice for presence of fear. If he gets out, buy a gun and eviscerate him with a hollow point if it comes to that. Live your life afraid of creeps like that and you might never get out of your room.

i think you've been watching too much anime, dave ; )
seriously, though, where's the justice in getting killed by a lunatic. he's still alive, rotting away in prision, if caught, and you're six feet under. justice is an ideal which we strive to acheive-- after the fact. after someone's been shot, maimed, killed. it's damage control. we need to prevent the loss in the first place. sorry, just realized i was preachin . . . .

I say nuts to fear of him coming back at you. I refuse to accept a lack of justice for presence of fear. If he gets out, buy a gun and eviscerate him with a hollow point if it comes to that. Live your life afraid of creeps like that and you might never get out of your room.

i'm not sure if i'm afraid of him coming back at me. he probably pulls his gun on 10 people a day, so he probably forgot about it when it was done. i've just been playing worst case senerio over and over in my head since saturday, one of those is him catching me at night. i might add i firmly believe in the right to defend ourselves and despite feeling like i've fallen into a victim role (being afraid) to some degree, i'm not going to let it stop me from doing something i love (riding my bike). i'm just dealing right now with that image of the gun, you know?

" guess they allow concealed carry in GA "

didnt seem very concealed to me.

"but what would they do? you know?"

hopefully arrest him? Take his gun away? If not, I'd have the sheriff/chiefs job.

" I refuse to accept a lack of justice for presence of fear."

Trudat....presence of fear is what keeps crime prevalent. When more people start doing more, crime goes down.

Nah, see, I'm just a cowboy. I don't bend on crap like that. But that's just me.

I say file a formal complaint. Does it require a license for one to carry a concealed weapon in your state? If so, it'd be great to have his taken away from him. Maybe take away his driver's license, or send him to an anger management workshop...

What a horrible experience, though, and I'm glad he didn't physically harm you. I guess it's my fear of stuff like that that keeps me from giving people the finger or swearing at them.

oh boy what a horrible experience, I have had people in cars come after me for saying something or flipping them off... others have actually been nice when I ride up to their cars and tell them that they almost killed me back there (sometimes its WORSE when they are NICE since I get all riled up and WANT to yell, even though I dont) But this story takes the cake. I would say you did the right thing and just get out of the situation alive. I would file a complaint with the police, sure it doesnt do much now, but who knows... its always good to have this stuff on paper. If someone is THAT crazy and carrying a gun, I dont think you have to worry about them coming back, chances are they probably blow up at people about 10 times a day and ONE of those people will end up being just as much of a dumb redneck to shoot back. Actually I am a firm believer that this guy will end up doing this to the wrong person and if he is not locked up already, he will be.

I am glad you are safe, dont be a hero, just get out alive.

Dont let this experience keep you from riding, or the terrorists... i mean, the crazy *******s in pickup trucks win.

"Does it require a license for one to carry a concealed weapon in your state? "

again, wasnt concealed.

Regardless, still illgegal to point it at someone.

oh boy what a horrible experience, I have had people in cars come after me for saying something

I was driving on the highway and one of my favorite songs was playing and I was singing to it. The guy in front of me, I assume, thought I was cussing him out and pulled his gun out and pointed it back at me. This happened two summers ago.

Infestguy1 - glad you're okay. Having had a gun pointed in my face two months ago, I know how it feels. That said, my friend and I did report it and the cops were all over it (granted it's Chicago) in a matter of minutes. Someone threatening you is a problem and like others have said, report it -- there's a record in case anything else happens, hope it ends here though.



i think you've been watching too much anime, dave ; )
seriously, though, where's the justice in getting killed by a lunatic. he's still alive, rotting away in prision, if caught, and you're six feet under. justice is an ideal which we strive to acheive-- after the fact. after someone's been shot, maimed, killed. it's damage control. we need to prevent the loss in the first place. sorry, just realized i was preachin . . . .

Problem here is, then this guy goes around waving a gun at anyone in the first place. Nobody says ****e and then he does end up hurting someone - isn't that against what you just said? How does letting this guy get away with what he just did prevent loss? By your reasoning, he's better off roaming Atlanta, with people privy to his whims and fancies?

Please note that I'm not bashing you or anything - just a discussion.

I was driving on the highway and one of my favorite songs was playing and I was singing to it. The guy in front of me, I assume, thought I was cussing him out and pulled his gun out and pointed it back at me. This happened two summers ago.

Tell me you reported him.

again, wasnt concealed.

Regardless, still illgegal to point it at someone.

No, it wasn't concealed; but it may be illegal to so much as CARRY a handgun without a license (or at all). In MN you have to have a license to carry one.

People that wave guns have very small penises

An experience like you described would have scared the **** out of anyone. It's people like that that make me believe in gun control.

Problem here is, then this guy goes around waving a gun at anyone in the first place. Nobody says ****e and then he does end up hurting someone - isn't that against what you just said? How does letting this guy get away with what he just did prevent loss? By your reasoning, he's better off roaming Atlanta, with people privy to his whims and fancies?

Please note that I'm not bashing you or anything - just a discussion.[/QUOTE]

of course, can't have enough discourse. fair comments. record keeping is good and he should definitely file a complaint, w/o pressing charges. this will help him or someone else in the future-- God forbid. BUT, but . . . the difference here is that he lives in a small town, the incident happened right in front of his house, and he's often out in the area riding his bike. there's a good chance he'll be a constant target and, then, really privy to this hillbilly's, or his buddies', whims and fancies. that's too much to risk for him to be the town regulator, the purveyor of justice. sometimes, it's just not worth it. if he were some anonymous guy on a street, who was subject to that act, or witnessed it, and immediately called 911 on his cell phone, that's different b/c he can still preserve his own personal safety while advancing justice. but that's not what we have here. plus, he's still freaked out. imagine if he went through the whole process-- police line up, trial. that sheet ain't easy. it's all a balancing of the interests. his own personal safety v. the welfare of the public. i'm making a judgment call. here, his personal safety outweighs the public safety. sorry to say. if i were driving by in a car and witnessed the event, then i'd call the police and make a statement (of course, even that could place this guy at risk b/c the hillbilly make think he filed the complaint). in sum, it's too close to home, literally.

Tell me you reported him.

No, I didn't. I didn't want to get involved. He was a dumb, stupid hick that I just didn't want to get something started that may have ended up as a trajedy.

Thats f'd up. I've had some scarry moments in that neighborhood, but nothing like that. I thought some guys were going to pull something on my when I was going down DeKalb the other day. They sat behind me yelling that they were gonna beat the sh*t out of me for like half a mile until they could pass. When they did pass, they just stayed in front of me for a bit instead of speeding off like people usually do. I was scared sh*tless.
Damn good to hear that you're ok.

tim

Man this thread makes me lose faith in people. The fact that this crap happens fairly frequently is just depressing.

Man this thread makes me lose faith in people. The fact that this crap happens fairly frequently is just depressing.

werd. i know we got gun violence everywhere, but, damn, these posts are all from the georgia and tennessee. makes schaumburg look like a country club . . . .

Man this thread makes me lose faith in people. The fact that this crap happens fairly frequently is just depressing.

sad isn't it? i've lost my faith in the general public a long time ago.

werd. i know we got gun violence everywhere, but, damn, these posts are all from the georgia and tennessee. makes schaumburg look like a country club . . . .

It's funny that every incident that I have had, it was with a country hick! I used to have respect for country people until I started cycling and see how they act. They are as nice as they can be if you are in a car and are broken down, but if something happens to you on a bicycle, they will just drive right on by! They are usually rude and the ones that cause problems such as this.

After I have seen what they are like, I have no respect for them at all!!! That's why most of my riding is done in the city. I have never had any problems with drivers, except twice, and they were both from the country! I know that I am generalizing this, but damn, again, they are the only ones that have ever caused problems for me.

I grew up in Atlanta. I lived in east point right off cambelton road for a few years and then moved down to forest park. Its sucks how often things like that happen. Atlanta is so big and there are so many crackheads-junkies-gangsters-rednecks everything just running around. And so many people there have guns, legal and illegal. If he didn't get the plate number filing a report would be useless. You just have to count your blessings and keep living. I just hope you can get the image of the gun out of your head. God Bless and we're glad you're safe.

i know since i'm from georgia alot of people might be assuming that this happened to me on a country road or something, it didn't. i live about 15 minutes by bike from downtown atlanta, quite a big city. its not new york or chicago, but still pretty good size nonetheless. when i said pickup truck, it was one of those super nice, former SUV's that they made into a pickup. it probably cost 30,000 bucks. i just wanted to say i appreciate everyone's comments and concern, and to those that live around close to me, look out for a bluish, silver former suv style pickup. and yeah, it is depressing. i haven't even really been angry about the incident, just sad. its sad that something so dumb could escalate into what happened and couldve been potentially alot worse (me getting shot). and to sort of echo what MKRG said, i do think it had alot to do with machismo. i slighted him or threatened his "manhood" when i shot him a bird. he had to put me in submission one way or another, to regain whatever it was he lost. thats why i keep thinking if i had said one thing wrong, i mightve ended up laying in a bloody heap right outside my front door.

and i thought we were passed all that racist sheet, down there in the south. black, brown, yellow, red. guess some people just don't like seeing a furry red Elmo riding a shiny new bike in their part of town . . . . ; )

I'm fairly certain that I see far more anger and general misanthropism from the higher class-looking vehicles in atlanta than from those of the lower class; this city is pretty polarized economically and the strata are terribly evident in the inner-city. Generally the worst drivers and most threatening individuals drive expensive cars and live in, well, poorer neighborhoods--you can imagine the logical conclusion as to their profession. Atlanta isn't New York or Chicago, but it's crime rates certainly rival anywhere. People just seem pissed-off in general in this city, and I can't really blame them. It's overall pretty ugly here.

I can certainly understand how you would forget to get a plate number after that experience! The only thing that counts is you got out of the situation unharmed. Very scary just to read about it.

There are some real crazies out there. All I can say is that I'll think of your posting everytime some idiot pisses me off and repeat, "I will not flip off motorists. I will not flip off motorists. I will not...."

I'm fairly certain that I see far more anger and general misanthropism from the higher class-looking vehicles in atlanta than from those of the lower class

It's just the In my experience, it's just the opposite here in Nashville. It's the lower class that has always given me trouble; the upper class has always been courtious, or at the least, the ones that have disliked me, which I have seen them talking about me in their cars, never said anything out the window.

For me, it's always been the beat up cars that give me trouble.

WOW! DAMN! I got goose bumps when I read your story, I hope you're OK now. And the dude who's wife was hit by a car while buying burgers thought he had problems... maybe you should do like him and get a cam-coder for your helmet! :)

All kidding aside, you did the right thing. I can't even imagine how it all felt or still feels, so I will not offer advise. But, if I were you, I would make sure I don't flip off any blue-ish pickup trucks anytime soon :)

I was slapped on my back by belt while riding. Lost control of the bike and landed (thank god) on a grassy patch. What hurt the most was the tear on my brand new Pearl shorts :( I had a black welt across my back for weeks, and it took even longer to get over the fear of riding on a road again.

I'm glad you kept your sense of humor: I like your signature

"who was that finger for?" that finger was for you, sir.

well... I hope everyone sees that "flipping someone off" is hardly worth it...
the personal satisfaction of knowing that someone is a jerk should be enough.
we all need to get over trying to "prove that we are right" all of the time... let it go.

I hope all is well, man.

"Does it require a license for one to carry a concealed weapon in your state? "

again, wasnt concealed.

Regardless, still illgegal to point it at someone.

if he's carrying it on his person, he needs a concealed carry permit. IIRC, if it's in the vehicle otherwise, it has to be in a case, not loaded.

I'm glad you kept your sense of humor: I like your signature

yeah, my signature takes on a whole new meaning right now :) again, thanks to all of you and the support. i appreciate it.

"if he's carrying it on his person, he needs a concealed carry permit. IIRC, if it's in the vehicle otherwise, it has to be in a case, not loaded. "

admittingly, I'm not from Georgia; but in most states, concealed carry permits are necessary for carrying concealed; not in the open. We also dont know that he didnt have it in a case in the car, or whether or not it was loaded (regardless, vehicular carrying laws also vary widely from state to state).

Not defending the guy; but lets not charge him with crimes he didnt commit. Apologies if youre from GA and know more than I do...

Steve

Please report this to the authorities will you. The guy will end up in jail eventually but hopefully you can make this process faster by reporting him before he may actually kill someone. He probably was on meth b/c his behavior was so wild or he has serious mental problems. This man needs to be romoved from society...

so i had just about the worst experience ever on saturday. i was riding down the street i live on when this guy in a pickup truck blew by me going about 70mph (on a 30mph street). it scared the crap out of me, and pissed me off, so i flicked him off (like i've done a thousand times). anyway, as i was coming up close to where i live, i see the guy slam on his brakes. i thought he was trying to slow up to keep from hitting these railroad tracks so fast, but i was wrong. i noticed that he was stopping right past my house. i stopped right before my house, and as i was getting off my bike, he was getting out of his truck. i thought, "oh no, i don't want to do this." anyway, he started walking towards me and said, "you got a f***ing problem?" i was like "yeah, i have a problem, you blew by me by 3 feet going 70mph, you almost killed me!" he kept walking towards me, and asked me again, getting about 10 ft from me. but this time, and i hadn't noticed it yet, he pointed a large caliber glock at me, aimed right at my chest. i just stopped, and he yelled the same question at me. it took me a minute, but i was like, "no, its cool, everything is ok" he yelled again, and i said the same. i was just trying to talk him down, while looking for a way to get out of his way if he started shooting. he started to back up, and sped off in his truck. i went in the house and started freaking out. this happened at around 2:30 in the afternoon, in broad daylight. i'm still freaked out by it. i can't get that image of the gun out of my head. you know, all these debates about wearing helmets, riding with brakes, they seem pointless right now. all i want now is a bullet proof vest. i'm also seriously rethinking how i deal with idiots in cars. i'm also afraid he lives in the neighborhood and will see me at night, ugh...... this sucks.

I live and ride in Atlanta, too, and can say that our motorists' level of hostility toward bikes, peds, (and each other!) is beyond belief. Many times I have had visitors from places like Chicago, L.A., and New Jersey express amazement at the outrageous, reckless and lawless behavior of our drivers. I can't say that it's just the "gangstas" and rednecks with expensive vehicles - it seems to cross all socio-economic and geographic boundaries. I work at the corner of 14th and Peachtree and everyday observe dozens of drivers, pedals floored, tires squalling, and cell phone to ear, as they fly though intersections, blatantly running red lights and scattering packs of peds who run for dear life. The police, for their part, seem to have utterly given up (this applies to the 'burbs as well, notwithstanding the sporadic "speed-traps"). The Interstates resemble a NASCAR race minus any discernable driving skills.

I am glad to see you're ok. I think you should report it, too. Definitely, don't let this guy get away with threatening you- he could be doing it to another cyclist right now, and that person may not be as lucky as you.

I used to be confrontational with drivers, but then one day, I thought I may have an encounter much like yours. Now, I pretty much react quickly and move on as quickly as possible. I also carry mace, because I know in a situation like that, I need to defend myself too. I keep mine in a convenient place that's easily accessible in a flash, and I am not afraid to use it. I also keep my cell phone right next to my fingertips if I need it too.

Please reconsider calling the police. If the guy does it again and something bad happens, then at least there will be other incidents out there, and that's most likely to convince the police to do something about the guy.

Take care,

Koffee

I say nuts to fear of him coming back at you. I refuse to accept a lack of justice for presence of fear.
Amen, brother!




If he gets out, buy a gun and eviscerate him with a hollow point if it comes to that.
Ehh, maybe not so much, but...




Live your life afraid of creeps like that and you might never get out of your room.
...that is simple truth. To tolerate the bully is to be bullied even in his absence. Add to that the possibility (perhaps even probability) that he will inflict the same or worse on the next unfortunate citizen. Perhaps the incident related in the original post was made possible by the inaction of a prior victim.

No Tolerance. Ever.

so i had just about the worst experience ever on saturday. i was riding down the street i live on when this guy in a pickup truck blew by me going about 70mph (on a 30mph street). it scared the crap out of me, and pissed me off, so i flicked him off (like i've done a thousand times). anyway, as i was coming up close to where i live, i see the guy slam on his brakes. i thought he was trying to slow up to keep from hitting these railroad tracks so fast, but i was wrong. i noticed that he was stopping right past my house. i stopped right before my house, and as i was getting off my bike, he was getting out of his truck. i thought, "oh no, i don't want to do this." anyway, he started walking towards me and said, "you got a f***ing problem?" i was like "yeah, i have a problem, you blew by me by 3 feet going 70mph, you almost killed me!" he kept walking towards me, and asked me again, getting about 10 ft from me. but this time, and i hadn't noticed it yet, he pointed a large caliber glock at me, aimed right at my chest. i just stopped, and he yelled the same question at me. it took me a minute, but i was like, "no, its cool, everything is ok" he yelled again, and i said the same. i was just trying to talk him down, while looking for a way to get out of his way if he started shooting. he started to back up, and sped off in his truck. i went in the house and started freaking out. this happened at around 2:30 in the afternoon, in broad daylight. i'm still freaked out by it. i can't get that image of the gun out of my head. you know, all these debates about wearing helmets, riding with brakes, they seem pointless right now. all i want now is a bullet proof vest. i'm also seriously rethinking how i deal with idiots in cars. i'm also afraid he lives in the neighborhood and will see me at night, ugh...... this sucks.


I'd say just count your blessings, go on with your life now.

There's no point to let this keep you off your bike in your own neighborhood.

File a police report (it'll probably do no good if you didn't get his license plate #) and move on.

It's a scary situation you described, very scary, but you're still alive and it's no reason to keep you from living your life as if it never happened.

Isn't there like 4,000 murders in the US every year? You guys don't need protection from terrorists, you need protection from each other!

Seriously though, that is one **** story. Easy for me to sit here and agree you should report him, but I've never had a gun pointed at me. That musta been harrowing, can't imagine what that woulda been like for you, but I'm glad you're okay.

Don't you think there's something wrong when this thing happens though, and it's not just an isolated case? If it ever became like that here in Australia, I'd move. Seriously. What sort of life is it when you have to carry a gun or mace for fear of being violated in some way?

These things can creep up on you, and us human beings are terribly short sighted. First, you start carrying mace because a friend got mugged. Before you know it, you're commuting with a bullet-proof vest. It sounds far fetched, but believe me, from my perspective, even the simple act of being harassed while riding is almost unthinkable. It just never happens. Getting a gun pulled on you? Thats just some weird surreal Hollywood **** from where I'm sitting.