Advocacy & Safety - Santa has a Pistol?

Loved my ride today... right up until I was almost hit by one of the friendly motorists in Cleveland, TN.

The near misses happen a lot here, usually a hand gesture or an exchange of the international sign of disgust is the end of it.

Oh but this time, I met up with a pistol totin' red neck Santa Claus (fat, white beard) who wanted to discuss why I had no right to be on the road.

The guy was going around me with traffic and I was about 2 feet inside the white line (we actually have lines painted on some of the roads). The sound of the truck overtaking me told me the guy was really close (if you've been riding very long, you know when they're gonna make a close pass) I thought life was about to leave my body, I swerved and was not struck. I waived my arm, but didn't give the international sign of disgust (some of these guys are very easily offended on New Year's Day).

The guy stops his pickup in the road. I got off my bike and approached Santa's sleigh to protest. As I yelled at him through the sliding back glass of his pickup he tells me to get that thing off the road...it's not registered or liscensed like his pickup and was not made for the road. And, with who was apparently Mrs. Claus in the seat next to him, he starts waving a Glock at me through the sliding back glass of his pick up.

That was enough for me, so I got his liscense number, walked back to my bike and called the cops on my cell phone. I have to pick up the police report Monday.

stay tuned.

Damn. I'm glad you're OK after almost being killed twice! If someone almost blows you off the road, then stops and waits for you, there is a good chance that they are up to no good. I would approach cautiously--or not at all.

Yes, I have a new perspective now.

Loved my ride today... right up until I was almost hit by one of the friendly motorists in Cleveland, TN.

The near misses happen a lot here, usually a hand gesture or an exchange of the international sign of disgust is the end of it.

Oh but this time, I met up with a pistol totin' red neck Santa Claus (fat, white beard) who wanted to discuss why I had no right to be on the road.

The guy was going around me with traffic and I was about 2 feet inside the white line (we actually have lines painted on some of the roads). The sound of the truck overtaking me told me the guy was really close (if you've been riding very long, you know when they're gonna make a close pass) I thought life was about to leave my body, I swerved and was not struck. I waived my arm, but didn't give the international sign of disgust (some of these guys are very easily offended on New Year's Day).

The guy stops his pickup in the road. I got off my bike and approached Santa's sleigh to protest. As I yelled at him through the sliding back glass of his pickup he tells me to get that thing off the road...it's not registered or liscensed like his pickup and was not made for the road. And, with who was apparently Mrs. Claus in the seat next to him, he starts waving a Glock at me through the sliding back glass of his pick up.

That was enough for me, so I got his liscense number, walked back to my bike and called the cops on my cell phone. I have to pick up the police report Monday.

stay tuned.

You did the right thing. Get his license and file a complaint. Cyclist are a cut above that guy. Don't fall to his level. We ask for a lot of road respect. Unfortunatly we have to earn it a lot more than other vehicles do.

Having said that, Take Care and watch you backside. That route may be his also.

Well, almost the right thing. Yelling at the guy was not good. Fortunately, the guy was only nutty enough to wave a gun to scare you - not shoot at you. There is no gain in confronting a motorist.

The better move would have been to either turn down a side street, if available, turn around and go the other way, or just stop way behind the guy until he decides to move on. Few motorists will venture more than a few feet from their vehicle. Get the cell phone out and have it ready. Just showing the phone is likely to prevent a confrontation.

Guys like that are the prime reason I do not carry a gun.
I know if I pull it out it wont go back cold.

Damn Santa was pack'n some heat. Must have been dropping off Charleston Heston's Christmas present ;)

I find that when yelling/protesting at a motorist, it's best done while I am on seated on the bike. That way they know I am just yelling and mean nothing more. When someone approaches a car on foot, intentions are not clear and can be interpretted as possible violence and people will (over)react in whatever way they see fit.

Is that what they call Southern Hospitality? Yikes, I thought "Mass-holes" were bad.

Secondly, consider getting a concealed weapons permit and carrying your own handgun for defense. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Needless to say, get thorough training first if you're not already an experienced gun owner.
Great--2 jerks dead by the side of the road, shot by each other in a blazing shootout. Eugenics in action!

Doesn't Glock make an all plastic gun?
I spend quite a bit on my carbon fiber Kestrel.
I would hate to have to carry an all steel gun around.
That would be like wearing a brown suit to a cocktail party.

Loved my ride today... right up until I was almost hit by one of the friendly motorists in Cleveland, TN.

The near misses happen a lot here, usually a hand gesture or an exchange of the international sign of disgust is the end of it.

Oh but this time, I met up with a pistol totin' red neck Santa Claus (fat, white beard) who wanted to discuss why I had no right to be on the road.

The guy was going around me with traffic and I was about 2 feet inside the white line (we actually have lines painted on some of the roads). The sound of the truck overtaking me told me the guy was really close (if you've been riding very long, you know when they're gonna make a close pass) I thought life was about to leave my body, I swerved and was not struck. I waived my arm, but didn't give the international sign of disgust (some of these guys are very easily offended on New Year's Day).

The guy stops his pickup in the road. I got off my bike and approached Santa's sleigh to protest. As I yelled at him through the sliding back glass of his pickup he tells me to get that thing off the road...it's not registered or liscensed like his pickup and was not made for the road. And, with who was apparently Mrs. Claus in the seat next to him, he starts waving a Glock at me through the sliding back glass of his pick up.

That was enough for me, so I got his liscense number, walked back to my bike and called the cops on my cell phone. I have to pick up the police report Monday.

stay tuned.


So what happened. I'd love to hear a story of vindication.

I heard that Bianchi used to have machine gun mounts on their bicycles, anyone have one of these? I think this would solve all problems.

I heard that Bianchi used to have machine gun mounts on their bicycles, anyone have one of these? I think this would solve all problems.

They were mounted on the chain stays to keep the center of gravity low. The lugged mounts were beautifully machined and very pleasing to the eye. Typical for many Italian engineering endeavors there were problems. The manufacturer never solved the problem of firing sequence versus crank position on a variable speed bicycle. Sadly many cyclists feet were lost before Bianchi decided to shelve the project.

I have a couple RPG's up on Ebay. Optional bike mounts available.

I have a couple RPG's up on Ebay. Optional bike mounts available.

The back blast may be an issue when riding in a peleton...

They were mounted on the chain stays to keep the center of gravity low. The lugged mounts were beautifully machined and very pleasing to the eye. Typical for many Italian engineering endeavors there were problems. The manufacturer never solved the problem of firing sequence versus crank position on a variable speed bicycle. Sadly many cyclists feet were lost before Bianchi decided to shelve the project.


:D

this looks to be a painfully slow process, but i will press charges for aggravated assault

i went to the police station yesterday - they were closed
i went today, but the reports for the holiday weekend had not been processed
tomorrow i should have the report in hand and then file charges to get the criminal process started
i don't know how long things will take after that

The police station was closed? How could that be?

The police station was closed? How could that be?

Crime takes a Holiday.

the slow(but rough) hands of justice

after about 15 phone calls and 3 trips to the police station and waiting patiently while they "unlost" it, i have the police report for my assault

the date is wrong on the report and there are a lot of grammatical errors in the police account, but anyway... the investigator called me and i have an appointment to make a statement next Thursday

from there it sounds like the judge or magistrate will issue a warrant to pick the guy up...then i'll have to pick him out of a lineup... then there may be a prosecution for aggrevated assault

the slow(but rough) hands of justice

after about 15 phone calls and 3 trips to the police station and waiting patiently while they "unlost" it, i have the police report for my assault

the date is wrong on the report and there are a lot of grammatical errors in the police account, but anyway... the investigator called me and i have an appointment to make a statement next Thursday

from there it sounds like the judge or magistrate will issue a warrant to pick the guy up...then i'll have to pick him out of a lineup... then there may be a prosecution for aggrevated assault
Good luck! I think you'll need it--the police there sound vey incompetent and unprofessional. I'd love to be a criminal in your town!

Update...

I talked to the detective today. He took a sworn statement from me about the incident. He said that the guy would now be questioned, and that I would be called in to pick him out of a photo line up.

i'll keep posting updates if anything happens.

Thanks for the update. Good luck.