I had a strange thing happen to me on this morning's commute.

I just started my ride up Citrus, a six-lane wide city street. An 18 wheeler was parked at the donut shop on the other side. The driver yelled something at me that was entirely incomprensible. Not wanting to stop and chat, I just yelled back, "I don't know, sorry."

As I continued up the street to my first light, I heard a semi approaching far behind me. I thought nothing of it as I waited for the light to change, and made a left turn onto Badillo, a four lane wide street.

As I was making the turn, my imagination got the better of me. "Did that driver think I insulted him, by any chance?" I thought nothing of it until the semil also turned left onto Badillo...he was now two blocks behind me.

I figured I'd let him get about a half block back, then duck into one of the residential streets crossing Badillo...just to be sure. As I did, he quickly slowed and turned onto the same street.

My heart was beating pretty well at this point. I had him beat on low-end acceleration and manoeverability. He had me beat on size and top speed. I was also lit up like a Christmas tree with multiple lights and a reflective vest, so hiding was out of the question. When he was about 50 feet back, I turned into a parking lot, made a quick U-turn and rode in the opposite direction. Before turning back onto Badillo I looked back up the street and he just kept going.

Coincidence? I sure hope so.

But a semi on a residential street?

My imagination is pretty good at 3:45 in the morning. No one would have found my body for hours. Growing up in the city makes you a bit more cautious than the regular rube, I think. Probably nothing, But I was extra careful and I'm typing this now.

It sounds to me like your instincts were spot on.

Having grown up in Corona, I'd like to think that's not what happened. But at 0345, yeah, it seems likely. That's sad.

Of course, I often forget that I had a bike (and a wallet) stolen from me in high school in Corona, too.

who knows if it was coincedence or not, but you played it safe and are here to tell us about it.

He hate you!

You need to run all your lights through a single switch so you can hit "emergency stealth mode" when necessary.

The other thing you could have done was try to talk to him and ask what was up from a semi-safe place (I.E. other side of a jersey wall median or something). But I agree, at 0345 I would be a tiny bit unsettled...

It could easily have been confusion on his part too, maybe what he yelled was "Can you show me how to get to XYZ" and your "sorry" sounded like "sure".

I can just see the post on TruckForums now...

(I should add, Eubi, that I think you did the right thing. Even if their intentions were completely harmless, you couldn't know that, and they had a huge advantage if they wanted to hurt you.)

Thanks to whoever fixed the title of this thread. I stupidly hurt my wrist yesterday, and although I can cycle with no problem, hitting the "s" key hurts a bit!

Sketchy, veeery sketchy. Good move shaking the guy.

Sounds like you did the right thing. Usually if I'm not wanting to stop and chat, I usually just cup my right hand around my right ear to make it seem like I couldn't hear what he said.

Next time, try doing a "square" -- 4 right (or Left) turns in a row. If they are still behind you, you've got trouble! Your maneuver--turn into a parking lot, then quick turn out--was a classic, and well executed. Give yourself a pat on the back! A side street might have been an even better choice--he possibly could have blackaded the parking lot drive with his truck, effectively trapping you. Always make sure there is a second exit when you are being pursued.

When you're paranoid, you just know these things!

eubi is the neighbourhood 007.

Well even if he blockades the parking lot with his truck, that just leaves you at sort of a standoff... He'd have to get OUT of the truck to do anything to you at that point, which would seriously even the odds. While I totally agree that it was creepy, it also seems kinda absurd that some trucker would get it in his head to flatten a bicyclist (even if he thought you were rude) and go out of his way to do it. Those trucks aren't cheap to move around, and an accident on a professional driver's record is a WAAAAAAY bigger deal than for a regular person like you or me.

Of course that is all light-of-day sensible logic. If it were ME being followed around at 0345 by an 18-wheeler, all I would be able to think of is that incredibly stupid corny movie where the trucks were taken over by aliens and chased people around trying to kill them. And it wouldn't seem quite so corny...

And of course in the event that he's strung out on crank or dex or whatever you can't bet on logic at all. I'm not trying to disparage truckers, just saying that it's a documented problem in the long-haul industry. Do you want to be on the receiving end of a headline?

maybe he found someones wallet or purse and thought it was yours and he was trying to return it

Well done eubi, you did the cyclist's version of a "crazy ivan" on him, fortunately you didnt let him cruise into your baffles

As they say - better a little bit paranoid than a little bit dead.

Okay, that was really funny! Thanks!

I think you did the right thing. Were there any other people around the donut shop? This could have been a newbie over the road driver simply wanting to ask directions to a warehouse. In other words, the driver may have been lost. Or he could have been a serial killer. I've saw lost truckers in residential neighborhoods before..they were lost.

Since he was chasing you into a residential neighborhood...he was either a psycho, or was desperate for directions. Again, you did the right thing. Sounds like a psycho to me. You may be able to find him here.
https://www.truck.net
https://www.layover.com

That's about time you take a zippo or other wind-proof lighter and see if your "taco-bell afterburners" are in good working order.

I found off-roading it often gives them the idea...if I feel threatened I jsut cut through a yard or alley....I usually make it a point to apoligize to the lawn owner for putting a road tire sized gash intheir lawn and offer to help fix it up on the next weekend if I see them on my ride by. Most large vehicles don't like alleys.

Smaller vehicles, just go off-road if you can.

If you were in a car, well there's a whole slew of tricks for that...I had to teach my mom how to lose people a few years ago (long messed up story...bottom line stalkers suck..I had to follow her to and from work every day for 6 moths due to this a-hole)

No, I think he's Dennis Weaver...

I get the distinct impression I'm one of the few who gets the joke

Woah! thats heavy!! if my mun was being stalked, forget driving techniques, I'd tee her up with a S&W .38 snub nose, compact enough to carry in a handbag but with plenty of stopping power at close quarters.

I've given directions to truckers who were lost too, and you'd think they never get lost.

You are. Therefore it's a lousy joke.

Hahaha. Duel.

Originally a short story in Playboy magazine...later a movie starring Dennis Weaver, and directed by Steven Spielberg, I believe.

I was going to make reference to it in my original post, but figured it was too esoteric.

Everyone I told this to thought it was strange, at best.

I'm no commuting noob. I've been doing this for about 30 years, and this has never happened to me before.