TimmyT 

No offense, but he's following the law and minding his business including being courteous and waving people around. He's in the right and has the right of way.

Take a read through Bob Mionske's Bicycling and the Law: BicycleLaw.com - every cyclist needs bicycle law
It's worth the read for everyone who rides on the road.

Jarrett2

I live south of Dallas and ride FM (farm to market, country) roads almost exclusively. In fact, a couple of friends and I did about 140 miles on them last Friday and Saturday through multiple towns and counties. No honks or anything, but we don't ride in the middle of the road unless there are no cars for miles.

If there are cars, we put it on the shoulder or ride just on the white line if no shoulder exists. If it is too tight, we pull over and let folks pass. Or find an alternate route.

If you are riding on FM roads and taking up the lane, people are going to get pissed. Rightfully so, I think.

Instead of getting a gun, pick better routes and make better decisions out there would be my advice.

Get a gravel bike. There are thousands of miles of empty gravel roads in Texas to ride. Sure it is a little slower and rougher, but the threat of being run over by an angry or inattentive driver drops significantly.

We did 30+ miles on them this weekend and it was the best part of our century that day:

bikemig 

+ 1 on the gravel road idea. Kind of sucks having to get off roads but you gain the freedom to ride without having to deal with much if any traffic.

mzr

This, exactly. Out here in rural Texas is just straight-up terrible for cyclists. If you get someone to respond, responses will vary from indifference to blaming the cyclist for whatever happened. It'd be great here, if it weren't for the people.

clubman 

We have a 1 metre (3 ft rule) in Nova Scotia but I don't trust that I'll be given that berth. If traffic is noticeably fast, I suck it up and ride the bad shoulder. It's a skill set you should have anyway. It's important to not appear to be too entitled to the road except when it's your only safe route and the traffic flow is going to allow it.

I've had more than my share of urban road rage encounters. As a young turk, I foolishly chased down a lot of jerk drivers with my U-lock in hand too. Fortunately (IMO), we don't have to worry about concealed weapons up here. Please don't engage me on that.

Hypno Toad

This is more extreme than any encounter I've had, but not by much. I've lost count of the number of drivers that have used a vehicle to threaten me, worst was a man driving a dump truck... and it happened to be a city truck, the city I live in, I pay taxes for that truck and driver. I did call the city and police to file a complaint.

I ride with a GoPro on nearly every ride today, because of these issues. I'm not a fan of the camera, but I've had a few times that I have either IDed a dangerous driver to police or on one occasion it 'calmed' the upset person to know that they were being recorded.

Lastly, you should know that this kinda ragin' redneck will pick a fight with you if your in a car or on a bike.

Homebrew01

He should get really strong and ride at the same speed as cars ??

Your planet must be all rainbows & unicorns ....

Anyway, back to reality, I think better to call 911 right off the bat if possible. If it defuses, and nothing happens, fine, you tell them "never-mind".
If it escalates, then you may wish you had called at the beginning before it's too late

Jarrett2

I guess we're lucky down here as our LEO's seem to look out for us.

Coincidentally, a driver hit a female cyclists here last night.

She went to the hospital and got released with bumps and scrapes a couple of hours later.

He's in the jailhouse on three different charges.

Jarrett2

I just politely say, "Do you really want people to know you got your ass beat by a man wearing spandex?"

Hypno Toad

And with the GoPro, I'll post it to YouTube for all your friends to see.

Velognome 

Annual Spring time Rite of passage. It's more fun when a School Bus crowds you against park cars.

Sorry, but I read two sides to this encounter.

1. The guy is a dangerous emotional jerk, it's Spring, apparently the rut is full on!

2. In my area, riding in the right tire track, legal or not, is problematic for both cyclist and motor vehicle operators. I make it a rule to ride as close to the fog strip as permitted or if a clean shoulder is present, then on the should just right of the strip.

crank_addict

Warning to car drivers who harass cyclist. Police and law enforcement of all levels also ride. Just because they may be on a bike and sporting kit, you don't know it or how bad they can make your day - future.

You see, they carry these things called a phone or radio that dials with extra rapid back-up and locked authority. Your little drive further ahead will have a rude awakening when pulled over. I know of one case where someone tossed a bottle at an off-duty leo while cycling. Oh its a great story! That guy got the book thrown at him and ended up in jail. LOL

Hypno Toad

I 100% disagree with you. The other car passed truck and rider without issue. The guy in the truck was looking to make a point and used his truck to bully somebody on a bike (big man).

Slamming the brakes and cutting off the biker, that is road rage. Getting out and swearing at the biker, that is road rage.

You are fortunate to live in a place where you have never experienced this kind of road-rage, and I hope you never have to deal with these anger-fill morons.

seypat

I'm not saying that local law enforcement doesn't care. Well, they really don't. I'm saying there are places that don't have much law enforcement period. You can't whip out the phone, call 911 and someone is there in 5 minutes. For instance, I was raised north of Dallas in the Wichita Falls area. Left around 30 years ago so maybe things have changed. Because of the size of Wichita Falls, they had a police force and a sheriff's department. But the neighboring counties around them only had a sheriff's department at the county seat with 2 or 3 deputies. Maybe 1 or 2 State Troopers as well. That's it, period. These are big counties as far as area size. Even if you call 911 it may be an hour before someone can get there. You are out on lonely roads by yourself no matter what kind of vehicle you are in/on. Most of the locals are packing rifles and shotguns for hunting and varmints. You don't know if the car with trouble down the road is a setup to get rolled. Same for hitchhikers or the person stopping to give you some help. That's why the locals stick together and know each other. No real witnesses either. I don't condone packing, but this might be an instance. Even the pepper spray might not save your life. If anyone has seen the movie No Country For Old Men, there are plenty of places there like that.

cyclotoine

Just aweful, I am sorry to hear that. Remember you did nothing wrong. I was riding chip seal yesterday and doing the same thing in the right hand tire lane and everyone went around me with no problems, when there was oncoming traffic I'd move over until traffic had cleared. If there was no oncoming and the view was clear I'd stay in the lane and let the cars go around. Everyone seemed fine with it, but there are those people who aren't happy with themselves who have to take it out on others.

Ed.

Had that happen to me. Contacted the school and police with the details and the guy was fired.

I have not had too many issues of that sort, but have thought of getting a T-shirt with a picture of a 1911 in a Weaver hold on the back, and under it, "Hey, let's all play nice"

Lazyass

I don't think they're reading this thread, man

Homebrew01

OP said that section of road was bad to the right of the tire groove, so I assumed it was not his standard practice to ride there all the time.

Drillium Dude 

You just inadvertently pointed out another issue that puts cyclists on the back foot in any hand-to-hand situation: cleats. They put one at a serious disadvantage.

Too many crazy people out there today with little to no impulse control. Sometimes I think it's just a matter of time before I meet the really crazy one and...

Not going to stop riding, though I may be more selective in the future about where. OP: glad everything ended without damage to you or your bike and you got home safely. Nothing you did caused that, and likely nothing you could've done would've avoided the confrontation. That dude wanted to pick a bone with someone that day!

DD

wphamilton

It can happen for no reason, through no fault of the cyclist or rider. I had it happen south of Dallas, years ago, but I was driving a pickup at the time. Out of the blue, a pickup roars around me and cuts sharply across my front slamming the brakes. After about 30 seconds of him literally screaming obscenities, leaning across his seat gesticulating, he either got it out of his system or realized that I was probably armed (I was), and he took off fast spinning gravel.

I have no idea what brought it on. I was doing 65, late night no traffic, no prior interaction at all, and it wasn't even my pickup so it couldn't have been personal. The country bar a little ways back was the only explanation I could find other than random mentally disturbed meanness. Based on the sterotype (his age group, the stupid but fashionable cowboy hat, spotless beater truck and proximity) and irrational beligerence I went with "bar patron", made the call and let the police sort it out.

But anyway there are enough of those types on the roads that it can be purely random. Rare but it happens, and anything or nothing at all can set them off.

USAZorro

This makes a good case for dropping a couple bills for a Go Pro. It won't make you immune to idiot drivers, but it can help with justice and legal revenge.

shoota 

Get right the hell out of here with that nonsense.

Little Darwin

I had one idiot (not in a pickup) yell at me once to get on the sidewalk. In hindsight, I decided if anyone ever yells that at me again, my response will be "I am not walking" But my response was much less polite.

After stopping in the middle of the lane he lectured me about how bicycles don't belong on the road, and I corrected him, but he held to his position saying he had a CDL, so he knew I was wrong... After he took a few seconds to celebrate his "victory" he started to drive away, so I started rolling. He then slammed on his brakes, I managed to stop before a collision or having to swerve around him. I simply said firmly, "That, sir, is assault." and after a second he drove off.

satbuilder 

In 1971 I was hammering up Villa Maria Road on Bryan, when I caught a half filled can of Pearl square in the chest. Launched from a mid '60's Ford Falcon.
Doesn't sound like much has changed in Texas.

prathmann

Fortunately I've found that the phone call and loudly announcing the license plate number is usually sufficient to help diffuse the situation even if there is never any physical response by law enforcement. It makes the other party realize that they are no longer anonymous and might be held accountable for their actions.