1st altercation with motorist...

[Dave 123]

Pulled out of my road this morning, past a left turn, then on along side a row of parked cars. As I went alongside the said cars a car pulled out behind me from the left turn... on he came squeezing between me and the cars. I put my hand up as if to say "come on mate.... a bit rough"
He pulled over, wound down the window "What's yer f88997g problem mate eh?" I told him that he wasn't prepared to wait maybe 3 seconds to let me through but he was prepared to pull over for an arguement.
I then rode off expecting something to happen, it did. He wound down his nearside window and screamed "f876 off!" at me.
The funny thing is, is that he was actually a lardy, beery, overweight tosser in his 50's ( now don't post saying that's an accurate picture of you!) and wouldn't have got far in a fight with many people (let alone a fit, hard as nails 40's male model.... ish..... ok, not at all!) But it's funny how angry people get behind a wheel. I wonder how often road rage backfires on people, as there is always someone bigger and angrier than you.

Anyway, tomorrow could be fun, or I could go and crap through his letterbox tonight...

Dave.

 

[Adasta]

Next time, use primary position.

It won't make an angry person any less angry, but it does discourage dangerous overtakes.

 

[dawesome]

Primary's all very well till you hear the engine bearing down on you. I've ducked for cover by steering left when I can hear the driver isn't slowing down.

 

[Adasta]

Primary's all very well till you hear the engine bearing down on you. I've ducked for cover by steering left when I can hear the driver isn't slowing down.

That's intimidation. Giving in means the driver wins. Unless he was actually going to ram you, I think staying in primary is the best option.

 

[StuartG]

That's intimidation. Giving in means the driver wins. Unless he was actually going to ram you, I think staying in primary is the best option.

It is not a competition - it is about safe riding. Primary is a statement to the vehicle behind. If he ignores it what is the point of being heroic and dead? He who is afraid of losing face deserves to ...

 

[Adasta]

It is not a competition - it is about safe riding. Primary is a statement to the vehicle behind. If he ignores it what is the point of being heroic and dead? He who is afraid of losing face deserves to ...

Since when did death come into this? All I said was that you should maintain primary despite intimidation.


I'm not sure I understand your point. Are you advocating submission to intimidation to encourage safe riding?

 

[StuartG]

The point of difference is probably in your phrase "unless he is actually going to ram you". You can't know that. What you can know is that there is an irate motorist behind you. An irate motorist is an unpredictable driver. That's the last thing I want behind me. That's why I will, with gritted teeth, defer. Its a pragmatic decision about MY safety. When it gets personal (losing face) then it becomes dangerous.

I have a feeling we are not that far apart but the way you expressed yourself was, perhaps, not he best <duck>

 

[Dave 123]

From my position I assumed I was primary enough, but he fancied coming on through regardless, and I suppose that's when it all gets "interesting" like this morning. If someone wants to be a prick they'll be a prick on your back wheel then accuse you of XYZ.... this is probably a never ending one. Whatever we do we're buggered!

 

[Adasta]

The point of difference is probably in your phrase "unless he is actually going to ram you". You can't know that. What you can know is that there is an irate motorist behind you. An irate motorist is an unpredictable driver. That's the last thing I want behind me. That's why I will, with gritted teeth, defer. Its a pragmatic decision about MY safety. When it gets personal (losing face) then it becomes dangerous.

I have a feeling we are not that far apart but the way you expressed yourself was, perhaps, not he best <duck>

Yeah, that's what I meant! Get out of the way if you fear you're going to get knocked off. I'm no martyr...

 

[Gooner Mad Dog]

This morning I was in quiet road in primary position approaching right hand turn onto the busy Lea Bridge Rd , the car driver was irritated by that, even though he would have to stop n give way at junction some 70 yards ahead. His response was to overtake me at high speed wheels screeching only then to brake like mad at junction. Some drivers just do not like being held up for a few seconds and will over react when they deem it to test their car cocooned masculinity.

I think to take a stance in centre of road is probably safer however there is no accounting for how some drivers react to it, some take it as race? some take it as a chance to swear out of window? some may try to unerve you by driving a foot from? either way you will catch them up at next junction....

ps perhaps there are stickers we could carry and pop them on their car with suitable comment like "Bad Driver", " Re-Cycle Me", "I lost cyclist won", "I am a hero in my own car" etc

Steve

 

[stowie]

This morning I was in quiet road in primary position approaching right hand turn onto the busy Lea Bridge Rd , the car driver was irritated by that, even though he would have to stop n give way at junction some 70 yards ahead. His response was to overtake me at high speed wheels screeching only then to brake like mad at junction. Some drivers just do not like being held up for a few seconds and will over react when they deem it to test their car cocooned masculinity.

I think to take a stance in centre of road is probably safer however there is no accounting for how some drivers react to it, some take it as race? some take it as a chance to swear out of window? some may try to unerve you by driving a foot from? either way you will catch them up at next junction....

ps perhaps there are stickers we could carry and pop them on their car with suitable comment like "Bad Driver", " Re-Cycle Me", "I lost cyclist won", "I am a hero in my own car" etc

Steve

Yay - another inmate resident of Waltham Forest!

I find cycling around Walthamstow generally OK with drivers - although there are clearly a small selection of utter twats. I do remember cycling on Hoe Street along the narrow part between the Market and the Station, for a car to overtake me as I was moving around a parked car. All OK, except that there was an oncoming bus, and the two of them ended up nose-nose. If he couldn't see an oncoming bus...

 

[Gooner Mad Dog]

Hi stowie, you in E17 also? Agree with you locally its ok and for pleasure cycling easy access to Epping Forest, Chingford and Lea Valley am more of a commuter cyclist ie for financial reasons but I do enjoy....

 

[jonathanw]

idiots like that are better of in front of you....and then gone. Don't give him a second thought. You're fine (and fit...allegedly) and he's angry and uptight

 

[growingvegetables]

... He wound down his nearside window and screamed ....

A good time to use the full power of an Airzound? Drowns out the douche's witter ... aye, and it's satisfying to boot.