Pacific Northwest - Possible anti-redneck-pickup countermeasures! American flag jersey?

I ride on country roads a lot. I've been buzzed and left (on purpose!) in a cloud of diesel exhaust more than once.

It just hit me this morning. There's no possible way the demographic in question would mess with me if I had the Old Glory on my back! Right?

Also, armed services jerseys! Although if I put on a USAF jersey I'd probably be more likely to attract unwanted attention from an ex-Army redneck in a pickup. Heh.

Personally, I can't imagine one Vet picking on another Vet!

Part of being Brothers In Arms....

My buddy Dave rode his recumbent on the Adventure Cycling Southern Teir route last year. He was a hit in Texas:
http://gallery.me.com/dixonesoracco#100244/IMGP1323&bgcolor=black

Also, armed services jerseys! Although if I put on a USAF jersey I'd probably be more likely to attract unwanted attention from an ex-Army redneck in a pickup. Heh.

:thumb:

USAF guy stationed at Fort Lewis, WA - I get plenty of 'looks' wearing the USAF jersey but no one messes w/ me.

Well this is timely.

East Lake Sammamish drive this afternoon. I was wearing a team kit and riding a Cervelo TT/tri bike. Dark domestic pickup passed me and I felt a drop of liquid hit my face.

Oh no they didn't???? Naw?!

And then they pulled into the bike lane and stopped about 70-80 feet in front of me with absolutely no room to the right. I started slowing down (no WAY I'd try passing the a-holes to the left!!!) but luckily they took off.




Personally, I can't imagine one Vet picking on another Vet!

Part of being Brothers In Arms....
Agreed 100%. However not everyone shares that sentiment. I got an earful from a Marine once for "bombing his brothers". He was pretty pissed. There were just a couple of things wrong with that statement:
1) I wasn't there
2) FAC (a Marine!) ****ed up and called air support on his own position

Stuff happens in a war.

Anyway, I'm going to look for a new jersey.

as I recall, the stars-and-stripes helmet didn't protect the 'biker' in Easy Rider; but, that was just a movie, not real life.

I wear my US Navy Jersey, and I still get buzzed by few vehicle in the road. Maybe, couple of wanna-bees that is just jealous.

Maybe a confederate flag jersey would do the trick.

Seriously, here in Enumclaw, there's no reprieve. I either wear Army stuff, Harley stuff or the local biker bar shirt. I was diesel-smoked by my next-door neighbor who didn't care what I was wearing. When I called him on it, he apologized but still thought it was funny.

My spouse and I were considering our own local "camouflage". Since we live in an area where the pick-up/SUV crowd overwhelmingly identify as "christians", we were seriously considering putting crucifixes on our backs/racks to make them think we are one of them. I'm just not sure it is worth the risk of friendly fire.

As to the American flags, any rational patriot would not be driving in the first place, so I don't see much hope for success with that. On second thought, whoever said Americans are rational?

I would say Amry stuff, Horse pictures, Country Music related, Nascar -- any of that should work. Maybe Skoal tobacco? :D

Seems drivers in Wa. are pretty regionally-oriented about buzzing cyclers. I've had plenty of folks in shiney black BMW's edge me, but at least down here, the guys in the redneck trucks give me a wide berth. Dunno, maybe it's because I'm a woman? I'll just stick with my tacky orange safety vest :)
I'm down by Oly, btw.

in kitsap i am lucky so far. honks of approval, drivers yielding to me unnessarily and waving me thru intersections... stuff like that. overall a great place to ride. i did have a friend get honked at my a red prius with an obama sticker. i thought that wasn't very "progressive" i am new to biking, but so far, wonderful. any jersey is bound to make someone mad. and we are assuming these idiots can read... hahahahahaha

NRA jersey might help too.

152908152909

I would roll a Gadsden.

Just sayin'

NRA jersey might help too.


Hmmm, yeah, NRA or beer...or maybe NRA AND beer!

Short of packing heat, half of all y'all should move to a more "progressive" neighborhood. :D

You guys mayt be laboring under the misconception that these drivers are rational and that if you wear high-visibility kits they will try to avoid you. The reverse may be safer: camoflage.

It is not just the rednecks in pickups...

Got buzzed repeatedly by a group of young women last night who kept yelling at me saying all kinds of nasty hurtful things like "nice legs!" and "you have a great ass !"

Won't say I'd prefer getting buzzed by the beer swilling, homophobic, NASCAR loving, pickup driving rednecks I usually encounter.

And people in Jettas... they have it out for us.

Figure I could dress as a nun and some driver would still find fault with my being on the road.

Best deterrent I have found is a little pink helmet and streamers on the handlebar ends and when I take those and the little girl who owns the pink helmet and has the streamers on her bike people give us acres of room.

There's no winning here. Change your jersey and you'll get buzzed by angry liberals driving volvo's instead.

a fiberglass rod attached to your frame , with something that would scratch the paintjob is the most effective buzz deterrent. It may slow you down a bit,but it slows the yahoos down a bit too.

It doesn't work. I have an Olympic Team replica jersey with stars and bars and had a guy ask me once "Who do you think you are? Captain America?"

Rednecks are like mean kids on a playground. They will find any reason at all to hate you, even if you're one of them. It's a pack mentality. No manner of dress or color will undo the mighty wrong of a man in lycra.

Out here on the east coast I have a particularly redneck town I ride through and when wearing this jersey I'm not harassed nearly as often:

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/82000016/images/4/primal.cycling.jersey.wage.peace.front.jpg