night time harassment
 

to the two separate gentleman this evening that felt compelled to "yell things" at me while i rode my bike home. 1. not only is my car nicer than yours, its actually nicer than both of them put together. 2. it must really take some testicular fortitude to harass a guy on his bike. 3. since im being honest here, my bike is nicer than your car too lol

so i was riding my bike home tonight, a got a little crap about it (actually the first, and two incidents on one ride)

i know theres threads on this but i dont think any of it covered riding at night...

would any of you take it a bit more serious since its in the evening?... (i did only get verbal)

and do any of you ever say anything back?

Has nothing to do with riding at night, jerks will be jerks 24/7.. I have actually had the opposite during night rides, just a lot fewer cars on the road to harass you. It doesn't pay to say anything back, you will just be giving them what they want. Politely wave and say have a nice day and you will be the better for it. Last time I checked 3000-4000lb car always wins against a 22lb bike.

It doesn't matter how nice your bike is, the car always wins! When I ride (Bike, motorcycle, or car) my primary objective is to return home safely! It doesn't matter who's right, especially when those of lesser intellect and heavier vehicle are involved!

ya it must have just been my testosterone, i was coming home from boxing class haha, what kind of surprised was that both of them were at stop lights when the said something and all i thought about was i could easily turn around be right next to them and have a few words..... but that wouldnt prove anything... bla bla bla... ugh, cant wait to get old and slow down haha

22lb bike????

a sub 13lb bike will win because the carbon can turn into a fight jet.

but seriously, a 22lb bike???

i was riding downtown once, and a bunch of people in a mustang started yelling at me (couldnt understand, but it was obviously not polite things). i caught up to them at the stoplight and stared at them. then they yelled again when the light turned green...i caught up with the again at the next stoplight. i stared again, and they nothing. then the light turned green and i gave chase to them...but i realized what is the point of this and what exactly am i going to do?

moral of the story: carbon asplodes and is considered a deadly weapon. dont fight using your carbon bike in the sun.

whiney rants, addressed to people who will never read them, are boring.

They saw you. That's what counts.

I was taking a jog at night once and a bunch of college students threw a glass bottle at me...

How they knew I was thirsty... I'll never know...

get the brightest and biggest set of lights you can - i dont know why but i find riding with a few thousand lumens attracts less attention and more road space. I guiess the perception is that im bigger and more powerful/tougher than i actually am - who knows

Can you see my signature line? Can you see the little smilie there? Watch what the smilie does ......

Yep, it smiles and waves. :)

These things happen. You were just yelled at. So what. Like Rowan says, at least they saw you.

No, I would not take it any more seriously in the evening than I would at any other time of day. And no, I would not say anything back. At most, I might smile and wave.

It happens. Smile and wave.

When it happens twice and its the same car call the cops.

^^^^This. always, all the time, in every situation. Never, does a testosterone laced response win when dealing with drivers.

I say flip 'em off and let the chips fall where they may. If the brake lights come on, give 'em the bird with the other hand too.

No one's gonna **** with a guy who can ride no-handed.

Awww, you missed us!

he's probably hoping someone will relay the message.

OP. just get used to it. If it bothers you that much you need to learn to use your ignore feature. It can be found by looking in the opposite direction of the offensive user.

If it happens in stop-and-go traffic with at least two 4-way lights ahead and they're not in the right lane; clipless cleats leave good scratches on people who say such in cars.

+1

Repeated for emphasis.

So what happened?

Sometimes I pretend or (or actually do) write down their licence plate number or take a picture of it with my cellphone. That really bugs those types of drivers here. I think because it's a bike-friendly town I'm in.

actually i was just trying to make a bit of a joke, didnt mean to come of "whiney"
nothing really happen the second guy did look back and hang out of his window a bit at (he was opposite of me) and kept staring as if he was trying to stare me down more than anything i think this is what evoked an aggressive reaction from me. if it was just words whatever.... but he made it seem like "something" might happen what i cant say but i just felt like he wanted to escalate things.....

+1 for noticing me you guys are right about that. during the day i dont think i would take things as serious, but at night and not that i live in a bad area specifically, but my town doesnt have the best of reps anyways a lot of stupid here.

and more than anything i appreciate your guys views on this, but as i just said about for me being dark makes things a bit different. but thats just me

All of my bibs have a retractable rear panel. A push of a button rolls down the back for a full moon.

No response or smile is my suggestion.

Some posters with their response seem to be making the assumption that the occupants of the car were not whacked out on drugs, and not going to pull a pistol, ball bat, tire irons, shotgun - and put you in the hospital seriously or kill you, or attempt to do so.

And/or otherwise making an assumption that these are rational individuals and not total scum of the earth.

That could be a fatal assumption.