"Angry Birds" were out in force today!
03-02-14, 04:01 PM
#1
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"Angry Birds" were out in force today!
Was it the weather??? Folks got cabin fever and taking out on others???
Whatever it was it was out in force today. I'm out doing a long ride on NC's very rural backroads where there is little traffic. A lot more head of cattle per mile than cars....
About 45 minutes into my ride someone behind me in their car just starting blowing their horn. They went slower than they had to and continued to blow the horn repeatedly as they passed me. Heck, I was so close to the edge of the road already that they could have eased past me and barely be on the yellow line. It attracted so much attention some folks came racing out of a church I was passing to see what was going on. I learned a long time ago to just ignore it. My pastor suggests saying a quick prayer to the effect of "bless those poor folks".
A few hours later a couple folks in a SUV passed me and a can of something came flying over my head.....I've had stuff thrown at me and fortunately most of the time thankfully folks can't throw worth a lick and I don't get hit. I don't like people throwing stuff at me. If a can of soda does hit me in the side of the face it could be tragic. I was hoping they might stop a store up the road but no such luck. I did pass another rider a couple miles later and asked him if he had something thrown at him and sure enough the same thing happened to him.
Then a few miles later two cars were following me a slow rate of speed. I was wondering if it was the car that was throwing stuff and were going slower just so they could have a better chance of hitting me. It turns out to be different vehicles this time. It was two cars of teen agers that slowly pulled up beside me, legs sticking out the windows, and then they quickly accelerated with the two cars drag racing for about a mile.
Other than that stuff it was a great day to ride and I had a very nice ride. 105 miles with 6000 ft of climbing with temps approaching 70.....
Whatever it was it was out in force today. I'm out doing a long ride on NC's very rural backroads where there is little traffic. A lot more head of cattle per mile than cars....
About 45 minutes into my ride someone behind me in their car just starting blowing their horn. They went slower than they had to and continued to blow the horn repeatedly as they passed me. Heck, I was so close to the edge of the road already that they could have eased past me and barely be on the yellow line. It attracted so much attention some folks came racing out of a church I was passing to see what was going on. I learned a long time ago to just ignore it. My pastor suggests saying a quick prayer to the effect of "bless those poor folks".
A few hours later a couple folks in a SUV passed me and a can of something came flying over my head.....I've had stuff thrown at me and fortunately most of the time thankfully folks can't throw worth a lick and I don't get hit. I don't like people throwing stuff at me. If a can of soda does hit me in the side of the face it could be tragic. I was hoping they might stop a store up the road but no such luck. I did pass another rider a couple miles later and asked him if he had something thrown at him and sure enough the same thing happened to him.
Then a few miles later two cars were following me a slow rate of speed. I was wondering if it was the car that was throwing stuff and were going slower just so they could have a better chance of hitting me. It turns out to be different vehicles this time. It was two cars of teen agers that slowly pulled up beside me, legs sticking out the windows, and then they quickly accelerated with the two cars drag racing for about a mile.
Other than that stuff it was a great day to ride and I had a very nice ride. 105 miles with 6000 ft of climbing with temps approaching 70.....
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03-02-14, 04:40 PM
#2
aka Tom Reingold
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When people do stuff like that, I try to assume there's a good reason for it. Some people are well meaning. Some are cyclists and don't know how to get a cyclist's attention from their cars. And of course, some are mean. What I do is smile and wave. They may think I've totally misunderstood them if they are trying to express anger. And you know what? That's a good thing? It means they saw a happy response to their anger. They will know that they haven't gotten me angry. At least they know their expression of anger doesn't always get them the fight they're looking for. Maybe they'll even give up. I'm not counting on it, but this is how I do my part in trying to dissipate anger and spread good will.
If someone really really urinates me off, I mutter an insult under my breath, never audibly.
If someone really really urinates me off, I mutter an insult under my breath, never audibly.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
03-02-14, 05:44 PM
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Yes sometimes I wonder if the law of numbers plays a role?
Most rides are no problems and then I will have 2 or three consecutive rides with incidents that I wish did not happen!
What some people do sitting behind a steering wheel can be bizarre of course dangerous and illegal--as if they care!
Most rides are no problems and then I will have 2 or three consecutive rides with incidents that I wish did not happen!
What some people do sitting behind a steering wheel can be bizarre of course dangerous and illegal--as if they care!
03-02-14, 07:09 PM
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Nice spring weather does seem to bring them out, especially when that weather happens during the winter. I guess one can just be thankful their aim is generally poor and that they are the very rare exception rather than the rule. On the bright side, at least you know they see you and thus won't run you over while texting.
03-02-14, 07:29 PM
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I have had similar incidents. They do seem to happen in streaks. I had a guy throw his coffee at me. Missed but mad me mad. It can be frustrating but I can usually get past it and enjoy the ride.
03-02-14, 07:52 PM
#6
feros ferio
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You guys are on the right track. The best (not necessarily easiest) response is one which avoids escalation. A smile and/or a friendly (multi-digit 
) wave can be disarming
) wave can be disarming
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
03-03-14, 04:24 PM
#7
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Haven't had this to happen to me. Yet? Dread the day it does because I will be Peee Ooooo!! No sure if I could enjoy the rest of my ride... Getting mad just typing my response to this hypothetical scenario..whew!! Would remembering the licensing plate and filing a police report be the appropriate response?
