I find this line of thought interesting. I don't think of a hostile motorist as an antagonist to be defeated, but simply as a potential danger to be defused. That's why I don't see any benefit in playing head games with a person who's already a little unhinged by his or her anger.

As a bike commuter, I got a disgusted response while on the train portion of my multi-mode commute. I'm sitting in the train, folded bike by my side. A woman gets on the train a few stops later, looks at me, shakes her head in disgust, rolls her eyes, mutters/exhales loudly. And to think, I wasn't even riding my bike and I got attitude. I can't call her a cager...what then? A 'tracker' since we were on the train? Some people just seem to be pissed off by the very act of existing on this planet. Oh well. I had a lovely commute.

Probably just angry you brought your bicycle on her train.

I just yell "Horseradish!" They think I'm nuts and give me a whole lot of room.

I find hostile motorists very antagonizing, so it's hard not to see them as antagonists. They're the ones who bring the challenge, I didn't ask for it. I'd rather not get yelled at all, but once we've gone down that road I just want the motorist to stop bugging me. I want them to go. I don't want to get involved in a heated argument while on the road. I've tried it, and it doesn't do anything except raise my blood pressure and threaten to ruin my day. That's their game, the head game that they've started.

I guess I think of it as a little like winning, because the situation has certain not played out in the manner that the motorist wishes. They're yelling at me because my presence upsets them, because they wish for a confrontation that they're sure of winning because they feel that they're in the right. By not engaging them in the manner that they wish, I deny them their confrontation and any subsequent satisfaction that they thought might stem from it. I win by not playing their game.

Exactly.

If they get no reaction, not even a confirmation that you heard them, that's even better.

I got - "What an a$$ hole on my birthday earlier this year. Next time my come back line will be - "But, I love you man!"

Well, you never know what's going on with these people. Maybe the guy caught his wife cheating with some cyclist (and why wouldn't she?) and is taking his anger out on you. You should always get the plate number and make a record of the incident. You never know - this guy might actually hit a cyclist and you can then be a witness like with the California doctor who got convicted because other cyclists had complained about the guy before.

If you feel you must shout at them shout their license plate number. Oddly enough this usually shuts them up since they then realize they have lost their anonymity.

I don't think that a hostile motorist's intentions and desires are obvious, even to himself; so if there is a "game" that the motorist aims to "win," I'd have no idea what the rules of the game would be, or what would constitute "winning." This is why I see no point in shouting out snappy comebacks, or otherwise aiming to confuse or embarrass a person who is already unhinged by his irrationality. I keep my mouth shut and keep riding in a predictable and confident manner.
You and I would probably deal similarly with an angry motorist in most cases. If there's a difference in practice, it would have to do with cases in which you, but not I, would decide to rise somehow to the "challenge" brought on by a complete stranger who will vanish down the road in a few seconds.

Perhaps the "game" analogy is misleading, so I'll call it what it is: a confrontation. Can you not figure out why motorists are confronting you? Are you unaware of the prevailing attitude of motorists regarding cyclists upon their precious, precious roads? The vast majority of them aren't "unhinged", they're just indignant and vocal. All of us experience this mindset at some point, and as a fellow human it shouldn't be too hard to understand their motivation.

Do you ever see people engaging in some activity and think, "they're doing it wrong!" We all do. Sometimes it's amusing, sometimes it's infuriating. As a resort rat, I bristle at seeing skiers and boarders riding with a reckless disregard for other people's safety. I know how to share a ski slope safely, and I know when people are doing it wrong. Because it isn't my job to enforce mountain safety, I keep my thoughts to myself as long as nobody hurts me or my riding partners. Not everyone does, though. That's akin to what many motorists are thinking when the see a cyclist on the road, they're thinking that they know that cyclists do not belong there because it's dangerous, it's an inconvenience, etc. Most keep it to themselves, but not everyone does.

I'm not out to embarrass, chastise, enrage, or unhinge anyone. I'm just trying keep my own anger in check while being repeatedly harassed by a bunch of know-nothing, self-righteous blowhards with 3000 pounds of in-my-face hostility. I've tried just ignoring all of it, but I'm not Ghandi, Jesus, or Bhudda. I'm just an average guy who has a hard time habitually ignoring constant abuse, but still recognizes that giving into my own anger will have no positive effect. So my coping mechanism is to respond to negative energy with positive energy. It defuses my own anger, and keeps me from becoming unhinged. Thinking to myself that I've "won" the confrontation is how my own self-righteousness manifests. Because I know that my place is in the road, and I know how to engage in reasoned and reasonable discussion. And people who tell me otherwise using the unreasonable tactics off honking, cursing, gesturing rudely, and screaming arguments from a moving car are doing it wrong.

I've been blowing lots of kisses lately, how could you stay mad at that?

I used to think that as well. But now I realize that even that is not good because you are interacting with an abuser - they want a reaction from you and any acknowledgment of their existence or behavior is giving them power. Don't give them the satisfaction of knowing you even heard them or know they exist. The best response is none at all. Be deaf and dumb.

That's just a shorter way of saying what GriddleCakes said.

People in autos are just mad that can't be out riding a bike.

No, I was saying that I do wave back. I can't just ignore abusive cagers, I've tried. It works for a bit, but eventually my frustration and righteous rage builds up and blows. So I respond kindly to their rage as a way of defusing my own anger. Ain't nothin' I can do about their anger, that's their problem. Ignoring is great if you can do it, but pretty much anything you can do to not escalate the situation would be a good tactic.

That's cute and hilarious, and would totally kill any rage I might theoretically be sending your way. But I'd be afraid of trying that around here, lest I get stomped by some reactionary redneck. Maybe dragged behind a truck, strung up on a fence, and left to die. My state is too red for me to risk even falsely flying that flag. I'll stick to the friendly wave and occasional peace sign, thanks.

Yesterday I got some kid from the backseat of a car yelling something and then try to spit at me. Wasn't even close to hitting me. That was interesting...

That is undoubtedly the most sane approach to dealing with the situation. HOWEVER, now I have a little mad I want to vent because of Mr Cager's screaming at me. Haven't gotten the "Get on the sidewalk!" yet but I'm saying "Get on the BUS!" when i do.

seriously, with the redneck factor up there, im surprised you havent been run over, strung up in a tree and gutted. st. cloud isnt exactly the shining beacon of tolerance, on the wind swept prairie. the only time ill enter st cloud is if i can dial 1911 and have 2 spare mags

if im not ignoring them, smiling and the the head nod seems to work for me. then again, as a clyde, i dont get honked at or yelled at too often.

my buddy has this theory that people expect kids to be on bikes, as bicycles are still seen as childrens toys in many peoples eyes and are surprised to find fully grown adult men standing next to their car, at the next light.

small children on school buses seem to make the most noise, spit the most and throw more crap my way than any other demographic. the city kids seem to be the worst.

i love bikes and i like commuting, but i hate critical mass rides. a pack of unruly hispters pissing off every car within 10 blocks isnt my idea of how to get a message across. deliberately stopping traffic, for not a short time, makes me want to run them over. i think it makes all cyclist look like hipster doofuschleps and i dont want to be grouped with them...ok, rant off

Truly!

I normally do the friendly wave with a big smile. But next time someone yells "get on the sidewalk" I'll add "I'm not allowed!"