Do you have any reason to believe the OP did anything to justify whatever piss poor behavior some motorist(s) lobbed at him/her? I don't understand why you would post the above comment here.

Agreed. I think the best thing to do is totally ignore them, offer no reaction of any sort. Zero satisfaction for them.

Wow, I never thought of this but it makes perfect sense! Thanks.

Very well phrased.

You are correct that the "getting back at them" part is the key. We have to let go of that. When we choose to retaliate and participate in the altercation we have handed them the victory that they were working towards. We have ruined our own day by allowing ourselves to get drug into the chaos of their lives.

Smile and wave. Let them enjoy their misery all by themselves.

This is my strategy as well and it works brilliantly 100% of the time. Not 99%, but 100% of the time. You are refusing to give them what they are so desperately seeking. Conflict.

I have also noticed that my calm inaction seems to send them further into their rage orbit. Am I a bad person if I admit that I find that part entertaining?

100 miles? Yikes! To and from work? How long does that take?

Yes.

you bike 100 miles "everyday?"

I sense that you may have enjoyed that guilty pleasure on an occasion or two?

Hey, a win is a win, right?

Since I ignore them, I wouldn't know what their reaction is. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

I'm a passive antagonist.

Nah, by car. I spend a good two and a half hours with all sorts of lovely drivers every weekday. My point was that my experience is that some drivers are just dicks to everyone, not just cyclists, I can't really be bothered by hotheads shouting, gesturing, or showing any other sort of annoyance anymore, whether on a bike or not. I had the joy of following a diesel truck "rolling coal" seemingly next to every Prius it passed this morning, for example.

Of course, that is assuming they are just blowing off steam at me, not acting in a dangerous manner.

This is what works for me, your experience may vary...
1. I'm vigilant to be riding in the best possible situation, be courteous to the other drivers, ensuring that I am following the law and best practices of cycling. That way, I KNOW I'm (probably) not doing something wrong or dumb.

2. If a situation does happen, I try to remember that their reaction is not personal to me, it's personal to THEM. You're just some person on a bike, "inconveniencing them, their time, their drive"
If you're following step 1, it has nothing to do with you. It has everything to do with them, because all their thoughts are about them. Typically someone who lashes out like that is in a selfish mindset.
So, if I'm doing well with #1, then I'll usually feel pity for those that lash out without a proper reason, for they do not have a more enlightened mindset to think of others.

As for dwelling on it:
I sometimes have this problem as well. The most effective actions for me is to go into my "calming routine." I think about and check my muscles one at a time to see if they are tense, if so, I relax them... Shoulders, neck, arms, hands, face, back, hip-flexers, etc. "I'm a leaf on the wind..."
Then I'll pay attention to my breathing, to ensure it is slow, smooth, and rhythmic; and at the tempo that is best for what I'm doing. Try to slow your breathing, it will help to slow your heart rate.
Then I think about my cadence and how my cadence and breathing are syncopated

After that I'll move my thoughts onto the rest of the route, ride, or whatever I wish.

I encounter far more "special" drivers while driving a semi than I do riding a bike.

Really good, thought provoking responses, I appreciate it! Usually I can put things like this on "ignore" and carry on, it's the truly crazy stuff that gets under my skin. Luckily they are pretty few and far between around here. Maybe six incidents in four years? Should be good to go for awhile since one just happened yesterday, lol. As "therapy" I purchased some chain lube and a couple patch kits on Ebay last night. Strangely calming!

I've had maybe 2 not so close encounters with vehicular traffic. I say not so close as I read the traffic around me. If I see or feel a car is speeding up to race me to an intersection, I figure he is going to turn in front of me. So I back off a step and let him go. But for the most part, I follow and obey the law on my bicycle and find drivers are very, even more than courteous to me out on the road.

For the life of me, I can not understand the stupid mentality some cyclists have when it comes to traffic. They know what is going to happen but they set themselves up against a losing battle knowing they could get seriously hurt. Totally stupid in my opinion. What's that old saying? Dead right!

I've seen a few cyclists do stupid things then complain about it. I have a hard time feeling their pain when all they had to do was think for a second, what a much better world this would be if they could slow for a split second to let a hazard roll by with no friction.

Now ask me about other cyclists! Yes, I have almost been hit by other cyclists blowing stop signs and red lights! Idiots! I can see why some drivers don't like some cyclists.

I notice that drivers are unaware of the speed and rules of the road in general. I've had drivers tailgate with me going the speed limit. They tailgate more when I am in the Suby than the truck.

Here bicyclists can use any road except interstate. Cyclists do no have to use side walks or bike lanes just because they are available. Cars are suppose to give three feet distance. Cyclists can ride two abreast but not impede traffic .

Seems that many wait until they are upon me before slowing and then accelerate aggressively as to throw exhaust smoke in my direction.

Where I live is a conservative area. While I live hear myself, I think there is a bit of prejudice toward us because they think we are from the city.

To be fair, cyclists are partly to blame. Once a race director demanded a home owner clear the road of gravel. That's just dumb. He handed her a scoop shovel.

There are no bad encounters. Only people attempting to kill you, mostly thru distraction. They don't know you. I try to avoid putting myself in the situation. Mostly thru daft avoidance. Some keep trying. I take a different way. Some follow. I try to get to public place and take a break. Some people are just LowIQ. Mostly I hope that soon enough they will come across somebody that's bigger, meaner and has less to lose, than I. I am trying to smile more, antagonize less as I age.

goosfraba

and don't forget to breathe

I had an odd encounter today. I can't say it was that disturbing, but it left me a bit thoughtful.

I was locking my bike when I saw a group of young kids (10-ish) coming towards me.

One commented that he had a bike like mine, but it got stolen.

I'm not sure if that was just a comment to his friends, or if it was meant to get some kind of reaction out of me.

While I do buy used stuff, the bike I was on was a horrible Frankenbike that I assembled from parts 2 years ago. There is nothing quite like it. I'm sure he would have been too young to ride it 2 years ago when I bought the bare frame... and the last time it was built up, it would have looked very different than it does today.

Perhaps the kid just meant he had a road bike of sorts at one time...

To me this is just another example of the "rat race" of today's society. 24 hours just is not enough time for the avg human and a simple cyclist on the road as your heading to work is unfortunately probably enough to set the day off. Especially if it is a routine scenario.

I remember when I used to drive to work these people in the morning rush hour had a cup in one hand, driving fast and furious with the other..I would say to myself...."They must love their jobs, they cant get to work fast enough".

Whats the ultimate answer.....Retire lol.

I attempt to take the high road, before the holidays had a woman honking and swerving all over, we were both rolling up to the red light. Window down, I shouted" Merry Christmas Jesus loves you" and pedaled away. She had nothing. I took the high road and left her pondering. All good.

Yelling is one thing but when they point their vehicle at me or swerve in front of me it has ceased to be a vehicle and has become a weapon.

All bets are off at that point and I dial 911.


-Tim-

then there's always the serenity prayer ...

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.

or ...

A wonderful petition in and of itself but it reaches its full meaning when the rest of the prayer is prayed...
Accepting hardship is the difficult part for me.


-Tim-

I had a happy childhood & then I got to college ... and had to stand in line to register for classes. kids today - "huh? what?" then I moved out on my own ... hahaha yeah got used to hardship. man everything was a struggle. now, as a mature adult, hardship is an old & constant friend

I don't pray, don't believe, so I just holler----"you idiot"----and then let it go. Works for me.