A couple of idiots but afraid I didn't cover myself in glory

[confusedcyclist]

It's a natural way of reacting to aggression, don't beat yourself up. When I get close passed, or some muppet overtakes and left hooks I can't help but give the driver a piece of my mind. Maybe you shouldn't, but taking appaling behavious lying down is no good either. You can't talk sense to these morons, best to stand up for yourself, as long as you are not putting yourself or others in danger.

 

[Andy_R]

What would have really freaked the first guy, is when you pulled up at the lights, you should have said "giz a kiss sweetheart"

 

[Apollonius]

Quote facts. If necessary make them up. Something along the lines of:
"Under the Schwartz-Metterclume declaration of May 1876 it was clearly determined that velocipedes were under no obligation to use contiguous passageways. This was upheld in all subsequent legislation and endorsed by the Institute of Advanced Motoring."
This surprises the car driver who will assume you are poor (and thus thick) or banned. Taken aback, they will drive off bemused.

 

[Drago]

While I try to avoid confrontation, I must admit that sometimes I'm tempted to lift the offenders car onto its side strongman style. Alas, those that have a pop have thus far been in large cars, but one day maybe...

 

[The Jogger]

Well done you, it's all they understand!

 

[MarkF]

OP, you were silly and I speak as an ex-bouncer. You never know the "capability" of another unknown man, you could easily have had your face smeared all over the road, and for what? Really? Unless you are used to fighting and especially, used to being hit, then don't get into these situations. It's macho dreaming, once smacked hard your average guy goes into shock, then his problems really start.

 

[vernon]

11 stone i will have you know!
Cheers Ed

And what's the brain to brawn ratio?

 

[Accy cyclist]

Sadly as you get older you become weaker and more vulnerable. Once of a day i'd have stood up to the nobbers like the OP did, but nowadays i have to put up with just scowling at them,and maybe giving a J Arthur Rank signal if i have an escape route.

 

[John the Monkey]

Driver in not knowing Highway Code shock.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

And what's the brain to brawn ratio?

You ask that of all the pies

 

[Roadhump]

Understandable you should be annoyed and tempted to react, but best to not let it get personal and just let it go; anyone who behaves like that is obviously a half-wit and whatever happens to them they won't be 'cured' of their half-wittery. A few hours later it won't matter half as much to you - that's what I have found anyway, after being verbally abused by d***head car drivers.

You just don't know who you are dealing with, but regardless of how good you are at fighting, I would only ever do so as a last resort to protect myself or someone else, even if I was good at fighting, and even if I liked it.

When I hear of those cases where people have been killed in a momentary fracas, often as the result of a single punch, it scares me silly. I can reel off at least 4 cases near where I live that have happened in the last few years. 2 involved good mates who fell out whilst drunk - both single punches, another involved a dispute at a cash point and another involved a bloke getting a few thumps after intervening when some girls seemed to be getting harassed by a couple of lads leaving a night club. In the last case a young bloke who had a very good professional career in front of him is now doing life imprisonment for murder and 2 families have been devastated. Might sound dramatic but that really is the potential of getting involved in a fight. Unless you have to fight it is much better to be an alive and free chicken than a dead or imprisoned hero.

 

[Keith Oates]

The comments above advising on taking the sensible and placid route is good advice but in the heat of the moment it's not the first thing that enters your mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Accy cyclist]

Listen to uncle Kenny!

Promise me, son
Not to do the things I've done
Walk away from trouble if you can
Now it don't mean you're weak
If you turn the other cheek
And I hope you're old enough to understand
Son, you don't have to fight to be a man


=

 

[w00hoo_kent]

@Accy cyclist Unless they take turns on Becky, naturally.

I wouldn't get involved if I was riding with my wife, she'd kill me (caveat, if they had put her in danger rather than just being arses I'd probably not be so sensible). I don't get much shouted abuse (that I hear anyway) if I do I tend to just point out the law to them and suggest they read the highway code. The ones I swear at are already long gone on their dodgy manoeuvre anyway. I have to admit if I'd had someone shout abuse at one set of lights, and then caught them up because they were stopped at the next set I'd find it hard not to point out the situation of quite who was getting in the way to them...

 

[JoeyB]

That's Eastleigh for you!