P4D 

As you were headed down the 17th street underpass and I was headed up. I understand you were trying to pass the slower traffic and following your friend, but rounding a curve while descending and coming all the way across into the far side of the opposite lane was dangerous...and other adjectives. How I managed to avoid you in a head on collision and not spill or wipe out is a small miracle. It took me 2 miles to get my heart rate down, it was that close.

Please, for the sake of us all, don't do that again. Nothing is important or urgent enough for that kind of stunt, and its just not cool. You are going to hurt someone, and that's not cool either.

CritEastwood

Welcome to weekend warriordom on the SARTP. It's a regular jackwipe-o-rama out there on the weekends, which is why I avoid it like the plague. I'd hate to have to run down some fool and kick the carp out of them for being dangerously inconsiderate.

Accordion

It ain't just SART. I was ending a 67 mile ride to Long Beach today and on the last three miles on the Mountain To Sea Trail in Irvine right near the Harvard Irvine PD Station some jackwagon is following his friend on rollerblades and I kid you not they have blocked the ENTIRE bike lane in tandem and at the very bottom of one of the underpass hills. So I'm jamming down at 17mph and I see these two yahoos and NEITHER ONE MOVES!!! So I hit the brakes, come to a complete stop as far to the right as possible and let them both pass. I just shook my head and headed up the other side. Had that been one of those idiotic 20mph pacelines on the bikepath somebody would be in the hospital.

P4D 

We had stopped mid-way to watch some soccer and take a break. One of those pace lines went by so fast we could feel the head pressure of them a good 3 seconds before the got to us. They were certainly going more than 25mph. I can't believe those guys never wreck badly, and riding the other way and coming onto them must be a real treat.

rooftest

Someone'll pull that usually every few months or so on the MUP. I stick my left Elbow out to ensure that he gives me a bit more room.

CritEastwood

I yell at them in my Drill Instructor voice with a hearty WTF.

Last week some gangy bangy kids on the SARTP in Stabba Anna got all riled up when I did that to the jackwagon in their group who darted across the path in front of me, right after looking at me heading his way at about 25mph. When one of the others Foxtrot Uniformed me, he was advised in so many words that if he felt the need to Foxtrot, he should also fulfill his Oedipal desires at the same time. Of course they didn't like that recommendation, but what could they do if they caught up to me anyways? It was a great laugh.

rooftest

The guys who make eye contact, then steer into your path. I never quite understand them.

twobadfish

I'm _really_ not a tough guy or anything, but dude... I would have let the collision occur. Then I would have proceeded to explain why what just happened, happened.

Uncle Jams Army

I tell my friend who is hesitant to ride on the street roads that I find SART 10 times more dangerous than the road, particularly on weekends. Little tots particularly freak me out the most because you never know what they are going to do.

Luckily, I ride SART during my lunch hour or early mornings on weekdays. Not much traffic.

P4D 

I was only going about 13mph, but Mr. Dangerous was going faster, 17+. The head on hit would have been ugly for both of us, and I wasn't hungry for pavement or concerte right then. Plus, I was on my favorite bike and dont want to see her hurt. And, my hospitalization copay sucks, and bail is expensive.....

rooftest

I'm sure that you could have really beat the hell out of a whole gang by yourself , but what really busted your story was the "I told them to go **** their mothers!" part. If they were really Mexican gang-bangers, they would have tried to kill you. No joke.

longbeachgary

Little kids do that all the time. They go where they're looking. I always yell at them "don't look at me."

snowman40

I think I passed them. Do you know about what time? I was out yesterday about 1030-1145, the traffic was heavy, but most seemed to be ok. The more annoying ones were the ones that felt it imperative to pass their traffic with me coming right at them. I know I ride far to the right, but come on. Wait just 3 seconds...I know I hate waiting behind someone who is slower than I am at the moment, but I at least wait until the traffic heading the other way is clear, and I check behind me (if I'm being held up, I'm 90+% certain someone else is) before I accelerate and pass.

It is just nuts sometimes.

snowman40

Small dogs are worse....kids tend to be predictable in that manner.

jmX

Yup, SART on the weekdays is great! Even on the weekends it isn't that bad unless you're by the beach or by the Yorba Linda park. It's not that much of an inconvenience to slow for families or the random person taking up the oncoming lane. I just save my intervals for weekdays where I know they will mostly be uninterrupted.

I'm glad we have access to such a great bike path.

Personally I need to work on announcing myself as I pass. I'm sure I've pissed a few people off because I surprise them a bit. Dunno why I don't do it all the time.

CritEastwood

You were there?

You don't know me and probably never will.

That's too bad for you.

Maybe you could get cjbruin to come out from under his bridge for some speculation as well.

It'll be fun.

Accordion

I've got two grand into my bike and I've been around long enough to know how THAT story would have played out. "Yeah my friend and I were rollerblading and this guy comes flying down the trail in OUR lane and doesn't stop and hits me head-on! Ask my friend, he also saw THE WHOLE THING!" In this litigious society we live in I wouldn't think twice about avoiding any collision for the sake of proving a point.

Accordion

Well the problem with your story is that if they were gang-bangers and you brought the mother into it you would have ben shot at - no question about it. If they were maybe 8 years old or didn't hear you correctly then maybe not.

If your story IS true then please tell us what kit you were wearing that day because I don't ever want to wear anything like it for when they lie in wait and take care of old business. Ganstas are all vindictive like that you know....

CritEastwood

Why are you responding to toosadfish anyways? He lives in Fantasyland (UT) and has no idea what he's talking about when it comes to happenings in this area.

CritEastwood

what is this "kit" you speak of?

You weren't there either.

Tell you what I'll do though. Before I depart Southern California, I'm going to ride up and down the SARTP and harsh on the fly at every baggy pants wearing shaved head kid, letting them know they don't belong on the SARTP and all cyclists are their enemy.

twobadfish

Good point.

rooftest

I sure am crying. That's just what I need - to meet one more *******.

twobadfish

???

cjbruin

Yeah, never getting to know you is a huge loss.

CritEastwood

You get an "F" in playing nicely.