thdave

I was riding home last night as the sun was setting on a cold, snowy afternoon and I'm near home pedaling along on a 4 lane road that's somewhat busy, I got yelled at by a guy in a monster wheel type Dodge Ram pickup in a bizarre way.

I've been cussed out a half dozen times so I'm that's not the issue. But never in the winter, (I figure) since the cager would have to roll down his window and suck in the cold air. This time was different as this guy was very well prepared. He turned on a PA system that he seemingly directed right at me, and out came the loudest and clearest "get off the f-ing road" I've ever heard--and I was wearing a balaclava! (I was further humbled since my mitten prevented me from giving him the traditional response.)

This guy can push a button and cuss out anyone in the damn whole world. It's redneck heaven for this dude! I hope this isn't standard equipment on new trucks.

rhm

Ooofa! It's not a good development, that's for sure.

Twice this week (and it's only Wednesday) I've heard muffled things yelled at me from car windows. I can usually go a year or more without anything of this sort, so something must be up. I think it ticks them off to see someone out riding in the cold, though why that would be... the mind fairly boggles.

DogBoy

Wow, I'm feeling ripped off. My truck is absent this feature! Maybe its because I have a GMC...made to be "PROFESSIONAL" grade Seriously though, I find this more funny than offensive.

Artkansas 

Yeah, I've encountered a few of those boys. They've got a new toy and just have to play with it. I guess a car horn just isn't eloquent enough for them.

Mr IGH

As I understand the law, in Illinois it's illegal to have a PA in the car unless it's an emerency vehicle. No matter if it's legal to have one, I can't imagine that's a legal use of a PA. Next time I'd get the plate number and call him in. The fact that you know he has a PA is proof he used it....

Fast Cloud

Sorry, but I have to agree here...Maybe it's just the way you described it Dave, but I'm . I'm sure that freaked you out...

thdave

At first I was ticked, then I was shaking my head at what I heard but now I'm with you--it is funny.

Pig_Chaser

A gloved hand held up will usually be interpreted correctly in this situation.

Chris_in_Miami

Or you could use the international made-for-mittens version...

thdave

Love it, Chris!

(but I won't risk it in the winter--I might fall going no handed whilst riding on icy streets, which would give untold satisfaction to the monster wheel truck driver)

CliftonGK1

Not that I'd ever use it for hollering profanities at cyclists, but I've got a PA system hooked up to a toggle on the CB in my Jeep. It's nice to have when you're queued up in a line of traffic and there's some prick who knows the lane he's in has to merge but he's more important than the rest of us so he's zipped up to the head of the queue instead of getting over when the rest of the drivers merged, and he's stuck there trying to nose his $90K Mercedes in front of you. My response to that is to pick up the mic and announce, "Take a look at my Jeep. Does it look like I care if you hit me? I'm not letting you in. You should have queued up like the rest of us. Your Mercedes does not make you any better than us."

CliftonGK1

There's always the backhand swept forward under the chin manouvre, which lets you keep one hand on the bars.

poopisnotfood

Has anyone ran into the trucks with the Train Horns? I darn near shat myself when a truck wailed on it coming up behind me. Evidently the hide the airtanks under their truck somewhere. I was somewhat amused after I made sure I didn't soil myself.

NoRacer

It's not a new development--it's retro, usually an option that comes with a Citizen's Band (CB) radio.

CliftonGK1

Ran into? OK, I guess I'll have to admit my hillbilly streak: I have a 125dB twin trumpet air horn on my Jeep, along with the PA speaker.
It's the "Last Resort" horn, and I have it wired to a separate button from my regular horn. The big chrome external train horns usually run off a tanked compressor inside the vehicle, but the little plastic ones you can hide under the hood have a self contained compressor module which installs with them.

caloso

He musta picked it up at the Mt. Prospect cop surplus auction.

Glynis27

Did the Dodge Ram happen to be diesel, navy blue and with exhaust stacks like a semi? Had that guy yell at me last year over his PA, but I couldn't understand anything he said. He even turned around twice so he could pass me 3 times. This was also in Ohio.

apricissimus 

This happened to me once... A box truck bearing down on my ass leaning on his horn as I was struggling up a hill in my tank of a winter commuter. When he finally decided to pass me in the wide open lane to his left (wtf?), I held out my mittened hand to him, and I can only assume he knew that I was giving him the finger by my body language

genec

Probably has a CB with a PA feature. Only thing you can do is get an Airzounds to respond in kind.

CliftonGK1

Intention is everything. I found that with my lobster mitts, I hold up all 3 of my mitted fingers then very deliberately show the driver as I fold down my thumb and pinky/ring finger. Sure, my index and middle finger are extended, but for the intent with a pair of lobster mitts on, that is my middle finger.

bigbenaugust 

My dad had one on his similarly monstered-up Ford (at the time, a '92 F350), and he might still on his '06 F150, but I think he's only used it to harass his children in parking lots.

CB HI

You could shoot out a tire and watch him tip over as the tire goes flat.

Jtgyk

Find out what radio station he listens to and follow him around with a "Mr. Microphone" and make comments on his driving and heritage.

atbman

I always try to soften the aggression by doffing an imaginary cap.

In the UK, sadly, this is sometimes mistaken for a gesture which implies that the person concerned is a d-ckhead.

neil

Sounds like a feature, not a bug.