bradw

I rarely make comments to other cyclists about their cycling habits, unless it looks like they are creating a dangerous situation. Twice in the last year I've hollered at bikers heading straight at me down the wrong side of the road.

But today I really learned I should keep my mouth shut. I was stopped at a traffic light when I noticed an older gentleman (maybe 50s-60s. I'm 46) rolled to a stop, dismounted his bike, and then proceeded to cross the intersection diagonally while traffic came straight at him. He seemed upset that cars were heading toward him, and I shouted something like "get off the road!" No anger in my voice, but maybe some annoyance.

He heads straight toward me and launches into a tirade. "Are you telling me how to ride my bike? I ride more miles than you, and I ...." When I pointed out that it wasn't a good idea to cross in front of oncoming traffic, he tells me something about a red light and the chain falling off of his bike. When I said that didn't make sense, he got even more irritated with me and moved in even closer. I thought he was going to jump me, and even though I didn't think he was a real threat, I raised my fist, thinking he would back off. Instead he picks up his bike bike, tells me he's an ex-Marine, and he's tougher and stronger than me, and I can't hurt him. All this time he's constantly maneuvering his bike to stay in my line of sight.

I then realized that there was something different about him, and I should just move on. I pointed out that he was now blocking traffic in another lane, he said "f*** you", and then the light changed and I moved on.

I doubt that anything I've ever said to a bonehead on the road has had any positive impact. And in today's situation, I was really worried. Worried that I would have to get into a fistfight with an old guy who wasn't playing with a full deck. And I was embarrased for myself. I'm really not a tough guy, and I haven't punched anyone in anger in almost 35 years, but this would have been a humiliating fight to get into.

So unless it looks like another cyclist is actually going to collide with me, my lips are sealed.

catatonic

ah, you just found an old grouch.

I really only yell at folks who are making asses of themslves. Such as racing on the sidewalks.

If they are night riding, have no light, and have a nice bike so we know they can afford a $20 set....I'm gonna go off on them. That kind of stupidity has no place on the road. at laest all the drivers at that intersection could see your old grumpy guy crossing.

operator

His comment does make sense though.. Perhaps his chain fell off and he had rolled into the intersection..?

Bryan T

Boy, you never know, huh?
I learned a long time ago to just let people blaze their own trail
of whatever, unless they pose a threat to my safety.
You ain't gonna change anybody's mind about anything, and these days
people are especially sensitive about being "told what to do."
If he was level-headed and actually was in a bind with his chain, he probably
would have said so...sounds like he was just plain nuts.



By the way, he wasn't a "rider" of a "Trek", was he?
Oh, he said Marine...not ex-Navy...

bradw

No, he rolled to a controlled stop before the crosswalk in the left turn lane and then dismounted without any problem. He may have had a red light (no left turn), and he decided to walk left into oncoming traffic, making a diagonal across the intersection, even holding up his hand to signal for the cars to stop. You don't proceed across traffic against a light, especially when there are cars bearing down on you.

His lack of reasoning and hair-trigger temper indicates he may have had other problems. That's why the whole thing is embarrassing to me. I should have caught on a left him alone.

And people doing blatantly stupid things generally don't want to hear about it, even if they are of otherwise sound mind.

royalflash

"Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most, like it the least."

Lord Chesterfield

Smaug

THEN you realized there was something different? THEN?!?!?!? Dude, no offense, but I would have realized that the instant I saw the guy walking into traffic. ha! Just kidding with you...

Seriously, I don't think you were wrong to say what you did... I probally would have done the same thing.

DnvrFox

The guy is truly missing a brain cell or two.

You did nothing wrong - you really tried to save his life.

It just happens now and then that you come across people like this.

If he had been killed, you would have felt worse.

Just a part of living.

shokhead

Sometimes it pays to mind your own business and only say something to someone smaller then you.LOL

djbowen1

I told some older gentleman last week that his helmet was on backward ( it was, i wasnt just messing with him) and he told me nastily " no your helmets on backward, dont tell me how to wear my helmet". i was shocked, the dumb arrogant old man was so nasty. now i just mind my own business, whenever i try and help people are too damn nasty.

timmhaan

bradw - you did well. you tried to save a guys life and avoided a fist fight at the same time. those are both positive things. don't let it sour you too much.

jarhead#42

He probably has C.O.P.I.N.D syndrome . It is from exspousure to weaponized herbicides like agent Orange . Its a Mood disorder . Thats my Guess .
jarhead#42

pyze-guy

Hee hee, that's funny.

Chris L

I once had another cyclist tell me I was going to burn in hell one night, and it was he who started preaching at me. However, I don't think you need to beat yourself up too much (pun intended) about this. You're a better man than I am, because you tried to help someone who is apparently 98 cents short of a dollar. I would have just let Darwinism take care of him. I guess it goes to show it's not just young people who think they're invincible.

wabbit

Yesterday this guy was on our wheel on the way home, but I noticed he was a bit squirrely and didn't seem to sit on his bike very well. He was a bit chubby andI got the feeling he was a recent newbie. Anyway he showed bad form, passing us very fast on the left without any warning and my friend kindly told him he should warn people he's coming. He just said nothing. I see a lot of roadies do that, going very fast, and they really should know better. It annoys the crap out of me.

Pat

Well, I suppose you made a mistake with this guy. I mean some people do dumb things and all it takes is for someone to call the stupidity of their action to bring them to their senses. But there are some people who are not reasonable and they do unreasonable things as a matter of course and they resent anyone telling them what to do. I think you ran into one of those. I think you were wise in just letting it drop. Some of those people out there are not really playing with a full deck. I knew a golf pro once and he ran a golf course. I dropped by one Sunday after my ride and a couple of old guys (over 70) had had a fist fight out on the course over the speed of play. After he told me the story, one of the guys came in sporting a banged up face, skinned knuckles and a huge shiner. I mean is golf really THAT important? Also, who cares if someone is playing a little slow? It is Sunday morning. I marvelled at it. One would think that by the time one got to 70 years old, one would develop the social skills necessary to avoid problem solving with ones fists and face. But apparantly that is not the case.

Arnie

Never pick a fight with an ugly guy....they have nothing to lose
Ya know...we are suppose to be friendly with fellow riders but i've
found the more expensive the bike the more arrogant the attitude..
I'll keep riding my ole Trek 4100 and continue being friendly out there.

shokhead

Your living in the 50's.

lala

I think I'll continue to say to those dummies heading straight for me in my lane:
"dude, you're on the wrong side of the road." it won't change their habits, but I gotta say something.

shokhead

They know they are wrong.

Nelf

When encountering old kooks in the future, you might want to keep in mind that it makes for a much more entertaining story for me to read, if you deck the old nutjob then get on your bike and ride victory laps around him while pumping your fist in the air and yelling at him.

HalfHearted