I've noticed this before, but figured it was just my over-active imagination...

It seems like some days, every car on the road is out to get me. Other days, everyone is patient, passes when it's safe and only when there is ample clearance (some even wave when they go by!). What's weird about it is, I'd expect some of each, every ride, but it just doesn't seem to happen that way.

This evening, everyone was super-courteous. Maybe it's the phase of the moon, maybe it's the day of the week. Maybe it's the way I'm riding, or the color of my jersey. I dunno.

Anybody else noticed this, or have I inhaled one too many hallucinagenic gnats that have migrated north from Mexico?

Yep, you never can tell what the motorist will be like. It may be the weather, their schedules or anything else. It is just another mystery of life.

I've noticed a big difference based on the time of day. At 6am, I get cheers and whoops when a couple of guys in a jeep see me plugging away. At 8pm, they're just as likely to throw a beer on me.

I also find a time of the day thing, too. Additionally, the time of the year is also a factor. Summer seems to be much worse, it might be the tourist season (which triples the population here), or the heat might just fry their brains!

Chris

Any observations are worth studying. We cyclists can be very observant compared to sleeping motorists.

Although I know there are specific reasons for changes in attitudes of drivers (such as things you've already mentioned, the moon, etc.), my gut feeling is that there is a pack mentality. If enough motorists exhibit forebearance, the pecking order might work in our favor.
Let's hope to keep it that way!

I've noticed the time-of-day factor, too. People tend to be much better drivers in the morning. Once I mentioned it to someone who had been a traffic reporter on a helicopter. They said (paraphrasing, here) "Absolutely!, there are lots more wrecks, fender-benders and tickets given out in the afternoon / evening."

I know what you mean. ;)

Whoa, what is this, Dead Thread Week? Nothing at all wrong with doing it, but did you really dig up that 14 year old thread just to make that reply? Is there something you want to tell us but can't figure out how? :)

You are getting better at checking dates.

Yeah, it has taken me a while, but I'm finally remembering to glance at the original date line.

I think 90% of the cars I see are courteous. 10% try to brush by.

And, the more bikes on the road the better. So, if a car sees another car pull over into the opposite lane, they'll be less likely to continue to do brush-by passes.

I just keep right, keep well lit, and there isn't much I can do about the cars. Usually there is very little space I can go further right.

Hmmm. . . sounds like a challenge. Deadest thread resurrection. Oldest thread, AND you must get a response from the OP.

But yes, some days are bad. Riding home on New Years eve, in the middle of the afternoon, is a real treat. I don't know if people are drinking already at that time. If not, they sure seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere and start drinking.

Most of the traffic I deal with is very curtious. Not today. Honda CRV 60+ on the white line, maybe 18 inches of shoulder.

What I want to know is how you're finding these ancient threads. I've gone searching for threads in 2003, and they seem to be gone.

Sometimes odd posts pop up with searches including Google Searches.

But, choose a sub-forum.
Go to the bottom of the page.

Choose:
Show Threads from the Beginning
Sort Threads by (choose Thread Start Time or Last Post Time)
Order Threads in Ascending Order.

The first thread in the Road Bike Forum appears to be a 1999 thread:
http://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...er-1200-a.html (with a 2005 response).

Are other sub-forums older? 497 seems like quite a large topic number.

There are a few that have an older last-response time. For example the Spandex Thread from May 2000, but unfortunately it has been locked so you can't dig it up from the dead.

I suppose the question is whether one should resurrect an old thread vs a new one.
If someone from 1999 asked what bike they should buy (in 1999), then one should either suggest a vintage bike, or leave it alone.

There, may, however, be a benefit of bringing up what seems to be a reference related thread for further comment. So, if one is curious about derailleur threads, 10x26tpi vs 10x1mm, then it might make sense to append a comment to an old thread.

Something like this safety thread has some general interest, and one gets new members, but it could probably be left to die.

I know all that CliffordK. It's just that BF went through a change a number of years ago, and many of the old threads were lost. I have looked and looked for the particular threads I'm after, but I think they were lost in the change.

For me every ride has one ******* no matter how courteous everyone else is being....you know the type...totally willing to risk your life so they can get to the red light that's a block away a few seconds quicker. Going to an idiot spin class probably.

I've noticed the same thing man. In my area there are quite a lot of cyclists both local and people that come from out of the area to ride California's central coast wine country rural roads. Most drivers are friendly to cyclists and give them plenty of place and only pass when safe, but there are the bad apples too.

Generally it never seems to fail, at least once or twice every ride some A-hole cuts it too close when passing going too fast.

Seems like this should count... :D