My partner and I just got our worst altercation with a cager. We were doing our normal nightime routine ride in this neihborhood that is fairly free of cars and all residential. The street we were on is a very wide street that is wide enough for it to be two lanes in each direction, but since it is in the resident, it is actually single lane.

We were riding far right and this red Pickup truck buzz by us extremely close and gave us a long honk. I turn my eye toward the truck and the truck then slammed on his brakes sliding his tires for several feet on the pavement. There was the passenger and the drivers. Both must had a really bad day as they started to scream and holler at us about riding our bike on the road. We went up on the sidewalk asap for safety. My partner asked them what is their problem and that must have blew the driver head gasket. I had my helmet flashlight on the back window at all time when I saw the car door moving and that's when I pulled out my taser and pepper spray just from instinct and had the laser pointed at the door as I heard the passenger tell the driver something.

The driver quoted "What, you guys carry guns?" (he thought it was a gun). We just kept silent from this point on to see what this will become. The driver then closed his car door and smoothly drove off and shouted, "get off the road." We watched them as they went down one block and turned right. The corner house had some people watching this out their window and saw everthing was ok and went back to whatever they were doing. Later as we rode our normal route, we notice that same truck parked in front of a house that was on the same street that the truck turned right. We noted the license plate. Too bad that when the truck slammed his brakes earlier, he stopped just far enough for us to not able to get a clear view of his plates.

We reported this to the police and they told us that it will be consider as a road rage so they will not have it officially filed after the person on the phone checked with her supervisor. Too bad but at least I got some name of the person that I spoke to on the phone and a crime investigator supervisor was informed.

Good stuff =)

Glad your ok.

Glad you're okay. I love how he just jumped to the conclusion that you had a gun.

What? No f-bomb. What are they teaching the children in middle school these days?

I'm glad you're okay. Nice move with the Taser.

This, in the Bay Area? Tell me where... I can deflate some tires if it's near my route.

I think the combination of my bright MG light must have partially blinded them enough to see nothing but a red dot emitting from my palm. However my MS light was reflecting off enough reflection off the wall of the house behind me where the passenger saw my arm movement. I wear my C2 taser in a quick draw holster openly on my side on my belt. The grip is somewhat deceiving looking like a grip of a gun. It's black color and the grip has an inner tube for better grip. I had cop looking twice at it when they drive pass me in daylight, but they never gave me any hassle about it. I've never thought in my life that I will have a need for it. I bought it only because of couple of mishaps I had from years back.

What no keys? He was just stopping to ask if you do pinstriping.

That sounds a little too exciting. Your taser might have saved you a really bad night. I love how the guy assumed it was a gun ... and how you didn't correct him.

I am glad you are OK.

I think I'm going to start carrying my laser pointer now. In the dark a meathead like that will think it is a gun.

^ And if you get bored, you'll be able to entertain cats and dogs with it.

I pretty sure some other bicyclist probably already done that to that driver who he have previously may have victimized.

Yeah, like use the laser dot to guide all the neighborhood dog toward the driver of the car and watch the dog chew him up like a last meal.

If you have a bright and easily detachable head light, it can possibly be used as an effective defense tool by pointing it into their eyes. But something like a Mag light can be used a club and probably is more blinding

ummmm whats a "cager?"

Next time tell him 'all cyclists carry guns its common knowledge', might make him think twice next time

Good thing he actually didn't have a gun; you'd most likely been shot.

An individual that willingly encloses themselves in a cage called a car or truck.

You did ok. Although I think it is a good point to taze the sh** out of such lowlifes, it would have probably led to more problems if you had pulled the trigger. All in all, it is appalling sometimes what people will allow themselves - to go off like that at someone who they do not even know is beyond lowlife. They might think more before mouthing off from now on.

This is a clear cut example of why it is safer in a country where concealed weapons are legal. If that was Australia, the dudes in the car would be on top of you in a flash, because they can very easily see they have the weight advantage. Guns = safety.

An armed society, is a polite society.

What I do feel discomforting with the incident is that this hardly ever happens when I'm out with other women. Driver usually gives us room and space. It happens when I ride alone or with another male friend. I kinda now getting a better feeling if what you guys must have to put up with on a daily basis and having to put up with more of these crap. My thumbs goes up for all of ya guys for not giving up.

This little nugget has always struck me as absolutely absurd, since when do you need a gun to defend yourself from polite people?

No, an armed society is a violent society in which the individual needs lethal force to ensure their own safety. There is nothing polite about such a society.

If that truck you later found in front of the house in the area was the guy who confronted you, he wasn't overly bright. Never get in an altercation blocks from your own driveway.

I wish bikeforums had a "Like" button. I'd click it on this comment.