I am an (almost) ex-cyclist....

[GrumpyGregry]

Back in August I lost the plot. Over a period of ten, or so, days I had a number of life-threatening encounters with angry men in cars. One of these is subject to an ongoing police investigation so I'll say no more other than I was assaulted and he got assaulted right back. One complete stranger on a bicycle over Dorking way took me out by undertaking when I was in primary and then swerving into me to avoid a pot hole. Physically he came off worse but my bike got trashed and he is being a dick about it.

A relatively trivial 'close encounter' with a motorist at the end of that month saw me throwing my bike into the hedge, literally, "OH FOR ****S SAKE!" stylee and sitting down on a kerb sobbing with rage and fear. I just want to get to work and home again not fight some ruddy road war.

I've tried to commute a couple of times since then but have faced panic and anxiety in unmanageable amounts within minutes of setting off. And have bailed as a result. My recreational riding is almost completely curtailed. I've tried off-roading but on Sunday my ride was ruined when I met up with Mr Shouty and his Shouty wife/partner on a local bridleway and was then, mere minutes later, nearly run off the road by a nobber in a 4x4. Sunday road rides in company leave me in a hot mess as I need a Falklands style exclusion zone around me.

What needs I do to get back on the horse?

 

[Crackle]

I wish I had an answer to hand but I don't. Time is normally the answer I find. No need to get back on too quickly. For some that works, for others, it doesn't. Do something else: Run?

 

[Mile195]

Oh no - sorry to hear that. Don't let it get you down though... Sometimes it just goes like that. You have no incidents for months and months, then a run of bad experiences. That's just normal.

If I were in your position, perhaps you could go on a few "well-planned" recreation rides. By that I mean get out the TFL London Cycling maps, and plot some routes along cycle tracks, through parks and back streets, and do it on a quiet sunday morning when there's no-one else around just to get you going again.

Try not to take these incidents to heart too. I don't often have encounters that make me genuinely angry, but when I do, I spend 5 minutes imagining what I might do to their car if I found it parked somewhere dark, then I forget about it and move on with my day. Take consolation in the fact that if that's how those people drive all the time, eventually karma will get them - someone will take their wing out in a multi-storey or they'll have a catastrophic head gasket failure for putting their foot down too often, so you don't need to get upset about it instead.

If I were a more highly strung person then many things happen every day that might get my back up. But I tend to just take the attitude "We're all just trying to get somewhere", and think about something more pleasant. Sounds fluffy I know, but it works for me. Try and do the same thing to a certain extent, but whatever you do don't give up doing something you enjoy because of others!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I wish I had an answer to hand but I don't. Time is normally the answer I find. No need to get back on too quickly. For some that works, for others, it doesn't. Do something else: Run?

Yep, already running. I ran round Sydney the week before last. That was a blast.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Quiet country roads on a Sunday morning will still attract nobbers but there'll be less of them, I find it my most enjoyable cycling. I'm never surprised by how inconsiderate and ridiculously stupid some motorists can be but I try not to let it wind me up.

 

[rich p]

Yep, already running. I ran round Sydney the week before last. That was a blast.

Is he still a fat bastard?

 

[numbnuts]

Don't let the b*****ds grind you down

 

[Linford]

What caused the altercation on the bridleway ?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

What caused the altercation on the bridleway ?

The three cyclists that passed them at high speed before me. "Your mates..." as Mr Shouty termed them.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Quiet country roads on a Sunday morning will still attract nobbers but there'll be less of them, I find it my most enjoyable cycling. I'm never surprised by how inconsiderate and ridiculously stupid some motorists can be but I try not to let it wind me up.

As do I. But when they have you off your bike I find it impossible not to become emotional.

 

[HLaB]

Doesn't sound good but don't let the b'stard take away the benefits to you in terms of health and wealth and the additional benefit of pleasure will soon come back.

 

[Linford]

The three cyclists that passed them at high speed before me. "Your mates..." as Mr Shouty termed them.

I've got to be honest, I'd be inclined to agree with them, state that they are no 'mates' of mine, and that not all cyclists are the same.
Pedestrians and horseriders have a right of way over cyclists on bridleways, and a cyclist must always give way to them (or in the very least slow right down when passing)

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've got to be honest, I'd be inclined to agree with them, state that they are no 'mates' of mine, and that not all cyclists are the same.
Pedestrians and horseriders have a right of way over cyclists on bridleways, and a cyclist must always give way to them (or in the very least slow right down when passing)

I'm with you. And the Shouty types had my sympathy until they got all shouty at me. Nobbers.

 

[Tim Hall]

Ah. Doing owt on Sunday? Fancy a ride and a natter? Beer optional.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Ah. Doing owt on Sunday? Fancy a ride and a natter? Beer optional.

Optional?