Advocacy & Safety - So Pissed He Threw Punches!

Out enjoying my ride today in the country. It’s straight and level, but coming up is a little down hill and left turn near the bottom. I spy a truck waaay back and I figure I've got time to make the left before he gets on me, so I stick my arm out and move to the left.

I’m out there for maybe 10 seconds and he closes on me pretty fast and keeps inching to within 6 feet (speed limit is 45). We're going about 25 or so and the turn is about 30 yards away. It's off camber, kind of turns back instead of a true 90 and sometimes has gravel, so I have to brake to safely make it. Figuring that move would result in an F350 suppository, I moved into the oncoming lane and he buzzes me while screaming into his window. This all transpires in like a 10-second window.

Well, as he passes me I motion that I want him to come back (My usual would be to signal that he's #1, but, heh, I'm trying to turn a new leaf!). I slow into the intersection and paused. He’s pulling a trailer with a few round rolls of hay and stopped about 100 yards past me.

So, I mosey over while this 50 year-old farmer bolts out of his cab and starts toward me in a huff. As I approach, I say, "Hey, no need to get all riled up. I just want to talk."

He's beside this trailer and I'm maybe 10 feet up the road from him.

Him: Mumbles something unintelligible
Me: “Sir, I was just trying to make a left turn.”
Him: “You seen me comin’. You shoudda pulled off the road!”
Me: “Sir, neither of us own this road. We share this road. You could have just slowed down just a little.”

Now here’s the bizarre part. He mumbled something unintelligible and threw a temper tantrum! He turned and proceeded to pummel his hay bales in three series or hard lefts and rights. He then stormed back to his cab while mumbling more unintelligible “words”. As he steped in he yelled, “Dumb ass cyclist shouldn’t be on the road!”, slamed the door and drove off.

I’ve thought about it quite a bit. I’m pretty sure that not only did he not lift, when he saw me move left and signal he actually accelerated in order to bully me. There just was no reason he had to be moving that fast or accelerating.

Too bad he stormed off. I would have explained to him that I try to be courteous and if I thought we would have reached that intersection near the same time, I would have slowed to let him make a safe pass. And that I either made an error in my estimation or he failed to properly yield, or both.

Further I would have told him that I did nothing illegal, but he probably broke a couple laws, AND he could have killed me.

It just gets old... doesn't it.

Hate to put it this way, but here it is: get his plates, turn him in.

No, nothing would really happen to him. This time. But if he pulls a similar stunt again and does hit a cyclist, he'll have a record of behaving that way.

Which is why I turned in one of my neighbors who got out of his car to yell at me. I don't need a crazy moron zooming around at dusk with no lights on down streets where kids play, much less one aggressive enough to get out of a vehicle to threaten someone.

The mistake was trying to be reasonable. Don't call him over to talk: he's already threatened you with his multi-ton vehicle, and now it's time to kick some ass. If all we ever do is react calmly to people who do things that endanger us, how are they going to learn their lesson. Didn't people have better manners back when they thought not doing so might get them popped in the mouth?

Consider yourself lucky that he vented his temper on the hay bales.

Wow... you all missed it.

OP wasn't ever in danger (except, of course, by the front end of the truck at first); the driver was spoiling for a fight, wanted the OP to throw the first punch so he could be sure and have him arrested for assault. When OP said he just wanted to talk, and DID SO reasonably, it took all the fun out of it for the dumb@$$ driver!

Perfect! I don't think I could have done it -- I'd have fought the fool....

don't try to talk to car drivers and never signal to have them come back to have a discussion with you. just move on and keep going. he could just as easily have pulled out a revolver and shot you dead. and you being condescending is just asking for a punch in the head. if that guy didn't already have a record or wasn't working, it all would have gone down a lot differently.

Wow... you all missed it.

OP wasn't ever in danger (except, of course, by the front end of the truck at first); the driver was spoiling for a fight, wanted the OP to throw the first punch so he could be sure and have him arrested for assault. When OP said he just wanted to talk, and DID SO reasonably, it took all the fun out of it for the dumb@$$ driver!

Perfect! I don't think I could have done it -- I'd have fought the fool....

So now Farmer Bob is going to make sure he gets a piece of the next cyclist who annoys him.

And if it's dark and that cyclist happens to be an 11-year-old kid?

Wonderful.

Be glad that it was the bales of hay that he decided to punch. Maybe he had a moment of clarity and realized that he was wrong for what he did and in that frustration he decided to punch his bales of hay.

Agree abut the driver realizing he "messed" up. Last year was riding with 3 other coworkers. Was confronted by a carload of idiots while taking a break in a parking lot. They were OK until one decided to get out of the and get in the face. When the second one in the car started to get out of the car with one foot on the ground; the "fit fatty" of th group(about 240 lb) was off the bike and applied enough pressure on the car door to prevent the guy from being able to get out of the car and had the door pinned against his shin.

fortunately they realised they were in a no win situation and when the first person got back in the car they were able to drive off. When we later saw a LEO we stopped and gave a description of the car and passengers (if anything it got a report on file in case they wanted to caim something at a later date)

this is why I ride mtn bikes

Just another point with angry people is don't tell them not to get "riled up" ,"p*ssed off", etc, as angry people don't like being told what to do. Better to say "I can see you angry" instead. Keep a lot of space between you and the angry person, use good eye contact, a moderate tone and open body language.

Just another point with angry people is don't tell them not to get "riled up" ,"p*ssed off", etc, as angry people don't like being told what to do. Better to say "I can see you angry" instead. Keep a lot of space between you and the angry person, use good eye contact, a moderate tone and open body language.

Better yet just ignore them. Don't respond ro say anything to them.

Sounds like Farmer John really needs to switch to Decaf.

I’m pretty sure that not only did he not lift, when he saw me move left and signal he actually accelerated in order to bully me.

I get that shyt all the time.
The jackoff is 500 yards back as I take the lane to make my left, and all of a sudden, he's on my ass.

You can sometimes even hear them speeding up.

And why is it always, ALWAYS... A TRUCK?

Be glad that it was the bales of hay that he decided to punch. Maybe he had a moment of clarity and realized that he was wrong for what he did and in that frustration he decided to punch his bales of hay.

And maybe if I strain really hard, I can squeeze out diamonds (afterall food is carbon based).
But more likely, I'll just get hemorrhoids.

pick up trucks; jeeps and mustangs

And why is it always, ALWAYS... A TRUCK?

Usually because the truck image attracts the "tough" guys. Haha.

And why is it always, ALWAYS... A TRUCK?

Because it's hard to pull a trailer of hay with a Mini-Cooper?

I think you should have challenged him to a pistol duel at dawn.

Judging from when he caught up to you and how far you had to go to the turn, I think you might have been better off waiting for him to pass before moving to the left to turn (presuming no vehicles were behind him; you didn't mention any). I'm well aware that you had the right to do what you did, but sometimes waiting when you don't need to can prevent unnecessary hassle with drivers such as this.

what hassle?

Really enjoyed all the comments.

Can’t get plates on a truck pulling a trailer. Trailers don’t require plates in TN.

I was never really afraid and I kind of thought the post-traffic incident somewhat comical. Up until the time he bludgeoned the hay, it seemed as if the tension between us was diffusing. I think he got mad at himself in the end.

Could argue with a few of you, but no one could prove right or wrong as humans are somewhat unpredictable. You could be right. It’s hard to argue that you can reason with someone that is upset.

But what is really evident that each of us see the world through lenses that are shaped by our local conditions.

There were no other vehicles and may not have been for another 5 minutes. There is a real possibility that he had never come upon a bicycle in the road. People in this area are fairly courteous.

Some of you would freak, but I’d estimate that there was a 90% probability that he had a rifle and maybe a handgun in his truck. This is the South. People in this area generally don’t kill people they don’t know unless they are breaking into the house. They don’t hit them unless they have offended them.

We’re in the Bible belt. He is a farmer. He will more than likely be in church on Sunday.

I was courteous. I was respectful.

My bet is that he now realizes that there was a person on that bike and that no good came from creating an unsafe situation or being an ass. I would bet he lifts next time and I doubt it actually made things worse.

Out enjoying my ride today in the country. It’s straight and level, but coming up is a little down hill and left turn near the bottom. I spy a truck waaay back and I figure I've got time to make the left before he gets on me, so I stick my arm out and move to the left.

I’m out there for maybe 10 seconds and he closes on me pretty fast and keeps inching to within 6 feet (speed limit is 45). We're going about 25 or so and the turn is about 30 yards away. It's off camber, kind of turns back instead of a true 90 and sometimes has gravel, so I have to brake to safely make it. Figuring that move would result in an F350 suppository, I moved into the oncoming lane and he buzzes me while screaming into his window. This all transpires in like a 10-second window.

Well, as he passes me I motion that I want him to come back (My usual would be to signal that he's #1, but, heh, I'm trying to turn a new leaf!). I slow into the intersection and paused. He’s pulling a trailer with a few round rolls of hay and stopped about 100 yards past me.

So, I mosey over while this 50 year-old farmer bolts out of his cab and starts toward me in a huff. As I approach, I say, "Hey, no need to get all riled up. I just want to talk."

He's beside this trailer and I'm maybe 10 feet up the road from him.

Him: Mumbles something unintelligible
Me: “Sir, I was just trying to make a left turn.”
Him: “You seen me comin’. You shoudda pulled off the road!”
Me: “Sir, neither of us own this road. We share this road. You could have just slowed down just a little.”

Now here’s the bizarre part. He mumbled something unintelligible and threw a temper tantrum! He turned and proceeded to pummel his hay bales in three series or hard lefts and rights. He then stormed back to his cab while mumbling more unintelligible “words”. As he steped in he yelled, “Dumb ass cyclist shouldn’t be on the road!”, slamed the door and drove off.

I’ve thought about it quite a bit. I’m pretty sure that not only did he not lift, when he saw me move left and signal he actually accelerated in order to bully me. There just was no reason he had to be moving that fast or accelerating.

Too bad he stormed off. I would have explained to him that I try to be courteous and if I thought we would have reached that intersection near the same time, I would have slowed to let him make a safe pass. And that I either made an error in my estimation or he failed to properly yield, or both.

Further I would have told him that I did nothing illegal, but he probably broke a couple laws, AND he could have killed me.

Doing that with an 18-wheeler is risky but, like you pointed out, he was trying to bully you.

Now here’s the bizarre part. He mumbled something unintelligible and threw a temper tantrum! He turned and proceeded to pummel his hay bales in three series or hard lefts and rights. He then stormed back to his cab while mumbling more unintelligible “words”. As he steped in he yelled, “Dumb ass cyclist shouldn’t be on the road!”, slamed the door and drove off.

Sounds like what animals do when they're looking to be dominant but aren't willing to fight for it. I think you're supposed to chase him. That's what I saw the squirrels doing over a potential mate yesterday...

Can’t get plates on a truck pulling a trailer. Trailers don’t require plates in TN.



Whaaaa?!

I think you should have challenged him to a pistol duel at dawn.

If you don't already know, you do this by removing your cycling glove, approaching him authoritatively, and slapping him in the cheek. You say "sir, I challenge you to a duel!" If he refuses then he's a wussy and you're super neat.

Just another point with angry people is don't tell them not to get "riled up" ,"p*ssed off", etc, as angry people don't like being told what to do. Better to say "I can see you angry" instead. Keep a lot of space between you and the angry person, use good eye contact, a moderate tone and open body language.

I think he handled it perfectly. If that guys not embarrassed by the temper tantrum he threw then his mother was a miserable failure. How will it sound when he tells his friends: "So I punched the hay bale, that really showed him!"

don't try to talk to car drivers and never signal to have them come back to have a discussion with you. just move on and keep going. he could just as easily have pulled out a revolver and shot you dead. and you being condescending is just asking for a punch in the head. if that guy didn't already have a record or wasn't working, it all would have gone down a lot differently.

That's idiotic. By that logic we should live on acreages with guns and hide from other people because they also probably have guns. The reality is that you're more likely to get hit by a car than shot dead.

Your low opinion of the human race does more disservice for it than the gun toting wacko's that you're overestimating. Talking to each other is definitely the way to avoid creating gun toting wackos.

Whaaaa?!

About my reaction. Holy u-know-what! Massachusetts requires plates and annual inspection of trailers. Tires, lights, etc, even if it's just a little boat trailer.

That's idiotic. By that logic we should live on acreages with guns and hide from other people because they also probably have guns. The reality is that you're more likely to get hit by a car than shot dead.

Your low opinion of the human race does more disservice for it than the gun toting wacko's that you're overestimating. Talking to each other is definitely the way to avoid creating gun toting wackos.

Lies, damn lies, and statistics. Statistics mean nothing outside the conditions they're compiled in. You're a helluva lot more likely to get hit by a car if you play in traffic on an interstate highway. That doesn't make doing that a good idea. Being more likely to get hit by a car than get shot means NOTHING when you deliberately put yourself in a confrontation with a person who has already demonstrated a wanton disregard for your life. I've already got a pretty doggone low opinion of anyone who just tried to squish me with two tons of steel. Anyone who'd do that, IF they do have a gun, is HIGHLY likely to use it.

You're also a lot more likely to get hit by a car than to die in a tiger attack. That doesn't mean it's safe to roll around in ground beef then jump in cage with a tiger that hasn't eaten in a week.

it wasn't until I read the OP that I truly understood what a "haymaker" was. Now I know. Thanks.;)

About my reaction. Holy u-know-what! Massachusetts requires plates and annual inspection of trailers. Tires, lights, etc, even if it's just a little boat trailer.

Liberals...

Lies, damn lies, and statistics. Statistics mean nothing outside the conditions they're compiled in. You're a helluva lot more likely to get hit by a car if you play in traffic on an interstate highway. That doesn't make doing that a good idea. Being more likely to get hit by a car than get shot means NOTHING when you deliberately put yourself in a confrontation with a person who has already demonstrated a wanton disregard for your life. I've already got a pretty doggone low opinion of anyone who just tried to squish me with two tons of steel. Anyone who'd do that, IF they do have a gun, is HIGHLY likely to use it.

You're also a lot more likely to get hit by a car than to die in a tiger attack. That doesn't mean it's safe to roll around in ground beef then jump in cage with a tiger that hasn't eaten in a week.

The "statistics" occur during daily life in the US where you live... Do you think you're not under those conditions?


Someone who very carefully doesn't hit you has not, repeat not, demonstrated a wanton disregard for your life. He's demonstrated disrespect and a desire to harass you by carefully coming too close for comfort without hitting you.

If you don't like statistics I could point out that this guy cowered away from the confrontation and did not attack the OP in any way.

The "statistics" occur during daily life in the US where you live... Do you think you're not under those conditions?

...
So, are you going to roll in ground beef and climb in with that tiger, then?

Statistics say it's safe. After all, tiger attacks in the US are pretty much non-existent.

So come on, climb right on in. It'll be perfectly safe.

The stats say so.

The "statistics" occur during daily life in the US where you live... Do you think you're not under those conditions?


Someone who very carefully doesn't hit you has not, repeat not, demonstrated a wanton disregard for your life. He's demonstrated disrespect and a desire to harass you by carefully coming too close for comfort without hitting you.

If you don't like statistics I could point out that this guy cowered away from the confrontation and did not attack the OP in any way.
While driving a car, it is my regard for the lives of others that causes me to slow down and drive courteously around pedestrians and cyclists in particular. The few times that I've been less than courteous, my conscience has weighed heavily on me.

Harassment includes yelling and honking. Buzzing a cyclist like this *does* put their life in danger and crosses a serious line-- far beyond harassment. There's a difference between prank phone calls (harassment) and waving a pistol in someone's face.

I have to hand it to farmer-rancher-haymaker. Usually, these kind of encounters aren't examples of self-control. At least he had the good sense to punch the bales, not the cyclist. Good for him.

And, with a nice Hollywood touch. When I write my screenplay for the cycling movie, I may give him a few lines.