DougG

Well, not really “road rage”, but the guy was definitely upset at me for no reason. I was riding along a rural two-lane road, not a thoroughfare by any means, being back in an area where most of the roads are dirt. The road was narrow, so I was riding where I couldn’t be passed except by going over the centerline. The traffic was so light that I think I was passed only about four times in three miles. But this one time I was going up a slight rise so that the car coming up behind me had to slow down for a short distance until we crested the hill and he had a clear view of the oncoming lane. He then pulled past me a bit close and really laid on the horn, which startled the heck out of me and got my heart pumping for a while.

From the look I had at the back of his head and the type of car he was driving, I can only assume that he came out of one of those nouveau-riche subdivisions that are being built in the area. You know – the ones built for people who think it’s quaint to live “out in the country”, but then expect the “country” to conform to their citified ways of doing things, which apparently means acknowledging that they have ownership of the roads. This guy is used to being Mr. Big at his office or law firm or whatever, and the idea that he was being delayed by a few seconds from getting to wherever he had to be at 8:30 on a Saturday morning was just too much for him to bear.

So what is it with people like this? I was really enjoying riding along a quiet road in perfect weather, well off the main roads and not bothering anybody. This idiot took away a bit of that enjoyment by reminding me how vulnerable we are out there. I still had a great Saturday morning ride, but can’t understand what it was about my being there that ticked him off that way. I guess I should just get used to it.

alicestrong

So what is it with people like this?

Well...for one thing they're ignorant ( provide them with a copy of the vehicle code, please...somebody).

Secondly, they're obnoxious...

I'm glad that you didn't let them ruin your ride...

BSLeVan

Good grief, that's quite a bunch of assumptions based on the back of his head and kind of car he was driving. Sorry you had the experience of an inconsiderate individual, but how do you know he wasn't something completely different than what you assume? Maybe he was a farmer coming back from meeting with his lawyer to finalize a divorce. I mean the possibilities are limitless. What he did was not kind, thoughtful or safe, but really.

solveg

I have to admit I often don't know what to do when a biker is taking up a bit of lane and I don't want to pass. Especially in the city around the lakes, because sometimes the oncoming traffic is steady and you just can't pass. Everyone is going slow, but the biker is going really* slow. The cars pile up behind you. I wish they'd move over to the bike path, even though they have every right to be there.

Even when I'm in a car, if I notice I'm going slower than the people around me and they can't pass, I'll pull over, stop and let them pass. If I was on a bike going up a hill, though, I'd figure they could wait a minute. Especially if there was a ditch on the side of the road and I couldn't move over and let the guy pass.

I know, I know, cyclists have equal rights... but if it can be helped, I won't make someone wait behind me, no matter what vehicle I'm on.

solveg

Not that this excused the horn part or the coming close to you. That's just rude and unsafe.

Terrierman

Sticks and stones.

maddmaxx 

I'd let him by because in the world of rage he is only a short distance away from doing something really harmful.

DougG

Sorry -- I was just trying for a bit of sarcasm . But this road is not paved all the way through, and the farmers and other natives who live on the dirt roads drive dusty pickups, not shiny BMWs, so it was a good bet that he came out of one of the new developments along the paved portion of the road.

In any case, what he did was uncalled for, IMHO.

DougG

Not to prolong this thread, but this was a really short hill and he was only behind me for a few seconds before being able to pull around. Also, the shoulder is very narrow and rough and not a good place for pulling off.

FWIW, later in the ride I did find myself on a much busier road, facing a very steep hill where I would definitely not want to be holding up traffic (especially after seeing a double-bottom gravel truck whip by in the other direction). I got well of onto the shoulder and walked the bike to the top of the hill.

bobby c

Just got back from a couple of weeks in Italy and what a difference biking is there (at least my experience). One thing was that they use their horn more when coming up to a cyclist from behind - usually just a couple of taps to let him/her know they are there. If the road was narrow, they would pass by crossing the center line into uncoming traffic. The oncoming traffic would move over to the shoulder - no big deal. If there wasn't room to do any passing, they would just sit behind the cyclist until there was room. So much more civilized.

Baroque

Remember that car commercial awhile back, where it shows a street full of different types of cars, and the drivers are shouting messages through megaphones......one driver was shouting "I'm compensating for my shortcomings". This is the same guy who just blew his horn at you

alicestrong

If you want to give him the benefit of the doubt, maybe his infant daughter was in the backseat nearing death and he was on his way to the ER...




But probably not...

stapfam

I think the OP's opinion of this driver was probably spot on- We have them in the UK too. Mind you- it could have been DG in a hurry to get home to be able to Get Ruby out again so it is possible for the Ignorant $£&*^%"! to have a honest reason to be annoyed at being held up for 20 seconds on his drive.

stapfam

Same in France- I even had one driver follow me for about 5 minutes alonf a twisty bit and then pull along side me to look at the bike as I was riding. He passsed a comment about "Nice Bike" and then sped off into the distance.

bobby c

From the pictures, he should have said 'Nice legs'.

cyclezealot

wonder what doug means by bit close. Many motorists just think we have no rights to the road, so don't be surprised it won't happen again. I 've had far worse, like them jerks trying to force me off the road on a couple ocassions. Be careful tho. tick them off they might really flip out.
Sure is different here, in the south of France. I have held up motorists on a steep climb, narrow road; instead, when they get to finally pass me- I get applauded for making the grade.

Digital Gee

The truth is, stapfam really likes me. Really!

Cassave

Vehicle horns are for issuing a warning, to avoid an emergency. They aren't for scolding
other road users.

I don't care why someone blows their horn at me during a pass, they're an
a**hole for doing it.

stapfam

Like these you mean.

Mind you. It does take about 12 miles to get the calves pumped up to this extent.

DnvrFox

It may be cultural.

Here in Colorado, blowing a horn is an unusual event.

In CA recently, folks blew all the time, and in Washington DC it is a time-honored tradition. They blow just to hear it go off, I guess.

Perhaps he is a former resident of a "blow your horn" city?

Digital Gee

OTOH, I rarely hear a horn, at least not one directed at me when I'm on a bike, and I'm in the urbanest of urban areas. Go figure!

DnvrFox

San Francisco, specifically.

SSP

That would cause me to exercise my middle digit.

solveg

That can be part of the 50+ test: thinking it's still safe to give another car the finger.

SSP

I'm 54 and still do it when anyone f*cks with me intentionally.

I've also chased down a carload of teenagers who thought it would be fun to hit me with a big rubber band while I was riding 22 mph in traffic (they blew a stop sign in order to get away from the crazy old guy ).

And I've been toe-to-toe trading F-bombs with dumb*ss rednecks in the middle of the road.

Guess I don't have the temperament for the "smile and wave" approach...