So, I had a driver run me off the road...
 

Out on a nice 63 mile ride on my Univega Nuovo Sport yesterday. I am about 30 miles into the ride and pedaling out of the city I just passed through on what are called FM roads here in Texas. It's not a very busy road, just light traffic. Its not a smooth ride, it has that darn chip seal that vibrates you. Anyways, the shoulder was maybe 24" wide and the chip seal was in way worse shape on the shoulder mixed with loose gravel here and there and cracks.

I can hear a few cars coming up behind me and a few coming towards me off in the distance. I am riding in the right tire track. The guy comes up behind me and starts blowing his horn at me. I nicely wave him to come around me. The cars opposite direction pass and he is still behind me taunting me and blowing horn. The car behind him goes around him and passes. He then zooms ahead of me almost hitting me with his mirror and then slams on his brake's and I almost plow into his bumper at about 18 mph. I am on the brakes and hitting the grass and he gets his wheels off in the grass and stops and I see his door open. He is yelling at the top of his lungs crazy obscenity and body language. "One foot is all you have to get over!" He yells, mixed with twice as many expletives. I saw a passenger with him but wasn't pissed like he was. So, all I could say was "Three feet man, three feet" I said it in a normal/shocked voice.

I was just so deer in the headlights and shocked by this it just took me by surprise. It made me think, what the crap am I doing out here? Why am I doing this? Is this really worth it? Why can't I just enjoy my freedom like this guy is? After I turn back for home, shocked, pissed, mad, confused I roll it over in my mind over and over trying to figure out what could have been done different. I then start to think about how bad that could have turned out if he would have actually gone through with his rage and gotten out of the car. I had nothing, I mean nothing to protect myself with, except my fists and he was bigger than me and had another person. What if he had a gun or a knife? I can't imagine how bad it would have turned out fist fighting inches from on-coming traffic. I guess now I need to start carrying something I can whack someone with. Anybody else ever had someone get this much rage and do something similar while out riding? I am just contemplating what I could have done different and thinking about future rides and whether it's really even worth it. Thoughts?

needs paragraphs.

Nice job pointing that out.

I'm lucky to live in a part of Central Florida where we have paved trails less than a mile from my house. Once on the trails I can ride 10 miles in one direction, and 60 in the other. In an average 30-40 mile ride I have to cross roads maybe 4 times. The other roads that are crossed the paved path has bridges (which are fun training to sprint up and over)...

I prefer only to ride on the street during a sanctioned event... but not everyone has these paths nearby.

Some people are just jerks and that guy sure sounds like one. You waved him by and he chose to harass you anyway, so he was looking to pick a fight. With the shoulder in rough shape , you were in a tough spot.

If I found myself in this situation, with someone continuing to blow the horn at me-- I think somehow I would have pulled over and let him go by, which is what I do with other drivers when they tailgate me, etc...

Time for a helmet attached GoPro.

The local Toyota National HQ is moving to Texas. They don't know what they are in for.

I can't say that I have had that experience thankfully. Let's face it, you can be a great fighter and a tough individual but there are just too many mifits, wackos and unsavory people in this country that couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag but feel a whole lot tougher in a car or with a gun or other weapon and with that they trump any tactical knowledge that you may have. I can't say that you did anything wrong at all. Hell, if he had attacked you fight like your life depends on it though. Be safe out there and it is best to try and be the cool head in any situation unless you are faced with no choice.

I ride the FM (farm to market) roads in SE TX all the time and have encountered a few of these yahoos but not enough to dampen my spirit... yet. Your encounter is pretty extreme.

I'll profile for a minute and say the vehicle was probably a pickup... likely a Dodge and probably an HD diesel (offending someone here as I type). That would be your classic FM Redneck down here in Texas. They tend to hate cyclists, have a chip on their shoulder toward society in general and are happy to show the world how right they are every chance they get.

I tell my wife I may die from cycling but it won't be in an accident. It'll be one of these clowns who shoots me some day. Ride on!

Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. find that that there is usually one or two people on each ride who are a-holes and just don't give a crap about anyone else. It is amazing that someone cannot even be bothered to lift off the accelerator or take a split second to assess a passing situation when it comes to someone else's safety or even their own for that matter.

I just carry on and most people do not get to me. As for protection, I often carry a Kimber Pepper blaster just in case. http://www.amazon.com/Kimber-PepperB...pperblaster+ii

My sister is moving here from South Texas... I think she's in for a shock

That's a great idea! Would work against aggressive dogs as well.

Man that sucks. Fortunately I haven't had an experience like that in many years but back in the day we used to get harassed like crazy. There are lots of fitness cyclists where I live now and the drivers on the whole are quite tolerant. Texting is more of a threat.

Not sure what to suggest other than look for roads with less traffic, maybe try to ride in a group, and take down license numbers. I have turned people in to the authorities and I know they called the person and gave them a warning. I can't recommend responding the way my buddies and I did years ago, which involved lots of middle fingers and expletives. We were pretty young and somewhat stupid, the incidence of road rage was lower, and fewer people were packing.

You can always second guess your actions that led you to the place where something negative occurred, but while reflection can be positive, it sounds as if you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time through no fault of your own, like getting held up at an atm. Hopefully it's an abberation that isn't repeated.

If you were out of the Metroplex in the boonies, it shouldn't be too hard to track down the individual. Go to the local Allsups/convenience store and describe the vehicle. You'll get a "that's Billy Bob or Jay Don so and so." Show up at his house with some pipe wielding MFers and adjust his attitude. Most likely an adolescent trying to impress the passenger. Just joking about the pipe beating. In all seriousness, his attitude needs to be change before someone gets hurt, whether it's him or someone else. They might have been out drinking trying to find some trouble to get into.

Maybe you could have taken out a phone and called 911 as soon as possible. Give them your location and his license plate #.
At least there would be some kind of record in the system.

Sorry to hear that. I hope getting down on paper helps you process it. When I encounter drivers like that I remind myself how much better my life for being on bike versus their sordid existence in a car. Ride on!

there are always ******** like that - and it can happen when you are on a bike or in a car. I had a road rager come at me when I was driving my old datsun 521 pickup truck because I think he felt I was accelerating too slow off a difficult freeway interchange exit. he pulled in front of me, screeched to a halt so I had to, then got out and came at me. I just backed up, pulled out and went around but I was worried he was going to throw himself in front - but he just punched my truck(while screaming) as it went by. madness.

I have to say the worst I ever had was about three months ago while walking my mother and little daughter in her carriage. I was going through the crosswalk on a green, with the walk sign and some mid 20's (not much younger than I) creature whips a right turn in front of the carriage by about 3 inches while on the cell phone only to have to stop behind a car, at a red light about 15 feet ahead. I swear the rage I felt when I see a middle finger and raised out the window at me hear, "F U", after I yelled, "You almost hit her!!, all the while as he continues chatting on his cell phone. This at the same intersection where a distracted driver struck my mother as she was walking through the crosswalk last year. Sometimes you just can't help it and I boil with anger thinking of it even now. Mom walked the baby to the sidewalk and I walked over, grabbed that wrist holding the phone and assertively grasped his larynx while I explained to him the folly of his ways and how if she had been hurt or God forbid worse today would be his last day with the ability to experience respiration. Like I said before this probably was not the smartest course of action but sometimes things have to be handled differently with some individuals. Even the most even tempered individuals sometimes lose their cool and I wasn't proud of it later on once I calmed down. Maybe he will think twice next time or maybe not and the same goes for me...

The vast majority of drivers here in NYC are actually pretty good. Some are oblivious and awful drivers but I have yet to experience anything close to rage or anger from drivers moreso the opposite... as long as they see you.

I don't know why these topics pop up in the C&V forums but yes have been in similar situations to worse. This one though really sticks in my head. While riding solo, legally in a designated bike route I had a lunatic intentional merge into me. Antagonistic driver of a car who shredded my left bar wrap, glove and my hand. And yes, I stayed up.

Most furious I yelled expletives and fist gestures while said car driver raced off. Driver decided it was war and did a u-turn, charging back after me. No match and I had only a short moment, decided to merge off and ditch behind a business.... of which I was in fairly remote rural country. Had I been more in an open area, I think it would've been a dire situation.

Two things. You're at the losing end of a 3,000 lbs. speeding maniac.

If you carry and life is threatened, you might have a reason to use.... depending on State and jurisdiction. You still would have to deal with later consequences, likely lose in court unless you spend a huge amount on lawyer fees. But I highly doubt you'd even be able to get any shot off with accuracy, let alone the time to retrieve and be calm enough.

The other is taking the vehicle plate number and reporting. Though that usually is a losing situation as well. If lucky enough, you would need someone on your side as witness plus capture on video - front and rear. Though in my situation above, the driver of the car had NO LICENSE PLATES.

In the end, count yourself lucky and do your best to get over the ordeal.

I would have snapped but that's just me. If a guy cuts in front of me and slams on his brakes then as far as I'm concerned he's trying to injure me and it's on. If he would have got out and come towards you then the cleats on the bottom of your shoes across his face would work nicely.

I always carry a folding knife, in a sheath that hangs on my belt, and since my shirt usually rides up above it, it's prominently displayed, on the traffic side. I know, it'd be useless against a gun, and I hope it never becomes "needed" as a weapon, but I think it helps some. It just says in a very clear way, don't mess with me. ;) Many years ago, early '80s, I was hitchhiking in Texas, close to Salinas. An idiot kid in a Cadillac swerved close to me, and his passenger nailed me with a water balloon. It scared me pretty good, and ticked me off, but the joke was on him. He lost control of the car, from looking back at me while on a curve, and plowed straight into one of those steel light poles. Instant karma!!! :D

That's when I would just pull out my phone and say that you are calling the police. If he doesn't leave, then yeah...I'd call and say I was being harassed by a motorist with road rage. It's illegal in SC for a motorist to harass a cyclist. I won't let some moron with a rage issues affect my day.

I restructured your very well written story of the events. I hope you don't mind. Here are my thoughts:

You were riding in a busy road, much slower than the traffic using the road. That is wrong... don't do that.
You got yelled at by one of the motorist (yelling is NOT rage). That is because you messed up. Don't take it so personal.
Stop thinking so much about what could or might happen in the future and start taking care of what needs to be done in the present.

Ride the roads. Get yourself over when traffic approach's or at lease when the two-way traffic (and you) causes congestion. You will make mistakes! When people call you out for you mistakes.... apologize (like Mom taught you). Forget defending yourself from imaginary threats that might happen in the future. Pay attention to what you're doing... in the moment your doing it.

Enjoy your rides! Be polite to the people in cars. Wave at other cyclists. Eat an ice cream cone.

I am a big Unvega fan myself. You should post pictures of your Univega Nuovo Sport.

You must not have been to that part of the country. Out in the boonies there really isn't much policing going on. There might be a county Sheriff Dept with 3 or 4 deputies in a big county. All of the locals are connected in some way. It's a different world.

The Uniform Vehicle Code requires a cyclist to ride as far to the right as practicable. I underlined that word because it isn't "possible," "practical," "potential," or "passable." A cyclist is also not allowed to block or obstruct traffic. If you are moving at a reasonable speed for a bicycle, then you are not obstructing traffic.

The fact that the other car passed meant that you were not obstructing traffic. You were on chip seal, so it sounds to me that you were riding as far to the right as practicable. Note that you are not required under the law to ride through gravel or other potential hazards.

What I would have done (and have done), is take out my phone and start recording. Get a good shot of his plate and his face. Watch him shut the funk up. Post it on youtube and send it to the cognizant local LEO. Depending on the law, they can ticket him based on your video, particularly if he is identifiable, his vehicle is identifiable, and the location is identifiable. They can also visit his home to talk with him.

Never escalate it or accept blame. Merely say, "OK."

I'm sorry you had to go through this.

It's still a call to the police reporting the driver and license plate. Snap a picture or start recording video and you have evidence against them. Still, the threat to call the police is often enough to get people to leave without stooping to their level. Of course, another route to go in that sort of situation is to start carrying - but I don't like to escalate situations myself. Either way, you can't let someone else make you question if riding is worth it.