Patriot

There I was, on my way to work as usual, riding my nice custom Centurion commuter to work. The sun had come out, the temp was about 65F, and the new Jackson Ave off-ramp for the new Tacoma Narrows bridge is complete, so I got to use the nice new road.

My ride/commute was perfect. I had a good run. My heart rate was up to a good steady beat, and my energy was high from the four Eggo waffles and Mrs. Butterworths I stuffed in my tummy before I was off to work. The Gatorade was mixed just right, and my newly cleaned Look cleats were as quiet as a mouse(for once).

As the final leg of my ride approached, I was caught in some pretty busy traffic, as usual. 19th st in Tacoma is a busy road with no bike lane, so staying on the side is more than just a courtesy, it's a must for anyone wanting to stay alive.

As I road along the overpass of Hwy 16, there is a construction zone which constricts the road to only two lanes, with cones making it very narrow. I stayed to the right so far, I was almost running over the cones, and there was no other way to get through. The traffic was moving about 20mph, and I was going about 18mph, as the cars were creeping past me.
None the less, as I was skimming the cones through the short zone, I here an enourmous horn right behind me. It was a duelly tow truck. The guy scared the living cr@p out of me, as he layed on the horn for about 3 seconds flat. I mean this thing was like an airhorn on a tractor trailer. Incredibly loud.

I'm thinking, ok I get the picture, but I'm not really holding you up. The guy none the less slams on the gas and tries to pass me, and literally starts forcing me into the construction zone full of gravel. He darn near ran me over. As he goes by, he just grins at me, like he doesn't even give a ***** about whether or not I got killed.

That just burnt my undies to a crisp. I was so ticked off. And believe me, it takes alot to get me really ticked off. I kept up with traffic to the next light, and as I approached the next light about 1/4mi down the road, I saw his truck just ahead of me.

The guy was stuck at the light between cars, and for a moment a true desire for revenge swelled to the surface from deep within me.

I then remembered, I had a used CO2 cartridge in the back pocket of my jacket from a flat last week. For a minute, I thought, "You know, I could take that little sucker, make a fist with the tip sticking out, and just backhand that guys passenger window as I go by. Nothing would make me feel better than to shower his lap with tiny bits of glass right now."

But alas, my civility came about. I figured, "You know, what goes around, comes around, and he'll get his, eventually."

The light turned green, and he took off, and I did not approach him. I figured I'll just keep my distance. No need to get into a b!tching match.
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Fast forward a couple minutes.................

As I'm still zipping further down same street, I eventually see some traffic backed up ahead. I'm thinking, "Boy, I'm glad I'm riding today."

As I approahed the next intersection, I see the problem. There is this duelly tow truck in the middle of the intersection. The tow truck tried to sneak through the tail end of a light (it was red), and got broadsided by some guys nice new Ford F-150 who came through fast on a fresh green light. At least, that's what the guy waiting at the bus stop said.

OOPS!!!

At that moment, I remembered an old scripture I have read so many times, "Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord."

I just couldn't help but snicker the rest of the way to work.

platypus

karma's a bitcsh, huh?

DiSrUpToR

what do you mean, almost psycho?

GuitarWizard

That's why I don't really get vindictive.....what goes around, comes around.

hi565

ahaha
hahahahahahahahahahaha


You should have rode by and waved with a huge ass grin on your face.

That would have even made my day!

CastIron

I love those (sadly rare) moments of karmic payback!

Fwiw: I have a similar construction choke point on my commute. I take the whole friggin' lane. It's now my favorite part since I usually get to whip it up to the speed limit. I'm faster and folks quit f#cking with me.

baj32161

+1,000,000,000!!!!!!!!!!

mister

**** that. You should've stuck around at the scene and waited for the cops then tell the cops how the guy was driving like an idiot, nearly ran you off the road and you were trying to get his plate and low and behold you found him TC'd in the intersection.

jeremyb_nz

Just about every ride we go on some dickhead has to toot their horn or yell abuse at us when they get just behind us, really gets on my tits, they're just lucky its not busy and we can't catch them or they'd get an ear full, we bailed up some kid one night who did it to us and he wasn't so tough when he had to stop at the lights

SSP

If the road is narrow, and you're going nearly the speed of the traffic, you'll be a lot safer taking the lane (a mirror helps). I find that by *not* riding so far to the right, cars treat me with much more respect.

FWIW, I would have stayed at the accident scene and reported your earlier interaction with the tow truck driver to the cops. You should also get the tow truck company's name and phone number, and call them up to complain about their driver's behavior.

Glad you're OK, and thanks for posting a good bit of karmic justice.

Everman

You should have broke the guy's window, then that poor guy in his new truck wouldn't have hit him

SSP

Maybe the tow truck driver ran the light trying to get away from you! He probably told the cops about the "psycho biker" that was trying to chase him down.

hi565

oh ooooooo woh....Thats a good idea

daytonian

I drive a pickup as my primary vehicle and even I hate those huge diesel dually chumps. They usually go by by and make their turbos hiss as they accelerate because their d&$ks are being compensated with motor size.

Glad he got hit.

Biggziff

+100

I would have had to stop and talk to the cops at the scene and definately report his behavior to the tow company.

Drag

+1,000!

crghill

I stopped in and bought a bottle of Halt at the LBS today. I was wondering, does this also "halt" humans. I haven't had a confrontation yet, but I doubt it will be long. My LBS guy says he's been in an actual altercation or two. I'd rather pepper spray some J.A. than get into a fist fight.

CastIron

It's effective on humans. How much depends on the individual. Direct spray in the eyes will cause them to close involuntarily. Having said that, don't rely on any single means of defense. There's always someone out there who can deal with what you've got.

Mariner Fan

Glad the bastard got his. Man, I hate those kind of people.

reneuend

+1 for cyclists!

jtree

yep. he owes it to the next cyclist to report the guy.

cohophysh

so that is the b#$%%tard that caused the traffic headache...man you have big kahunies for riding in the area you were, especially with all the construction with the new bridge, offramps etc. Glad you were ok and what comes around goes around!

goldfish

i agree, you should have reported him to the cops when they showed up.

but, either way, i'm glad that ****face got his truck FUBARed.

DXchulo

Awesome story, Patriot. Patience is a virtue. Sounds like your patience saved you a big headache while his lack of patience caused one for him.

I hate when people try to squeeze through lights when it's too late. It's getting to the point where I don't trust green lights anymore. I wish cops would crack down on this sort of thing. It's more dangerous than speeding.

oboeguy

Wow, dude sure "got his"! Good job letting go of your anger! Revenge is a dish best served cold and all that, eh? I like the CO2 idea, though, I'll keep it in mind.