Losing your temper.

[Onthedrops]

Almost true. Should read: Bradford, enough said.

Taxi drivers on the whole are ok, but young lads in high powered cars...

Taxi drivers are one of the worst round here. Gotta question if they have a license!
Agree about the young uns though. Generally blacked out windows, loud exhaust and seat reclined so far they can hardly see over the dashboard.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I went ape s on a rider today. Some knobbers tried to draught me, without letting me know they were there, then one of them tried a hero pass, got about a cigarette papers width from my bars, and cut in in front. I quickly got to a position where I could control the situation, then I let him know what I thought about his ( and his knobber mates) riding, in no uncertain terms. It's not difficult, if you want to be a hero, that's up to you, but don't Close pass, make the pass quickly, and then don't slow down after you pass, especially when a bus is trying to overtake. Absolute idiots.

 

[winjim]

A great example of this was on one lesson, someone pulled out in front of me from a side road. I was about to give it horn and lights and sweary, but my instructor pointed out, "He's in front now, don't make him slam his brakes or we'll crash" Whilst this is not actual traffic regulation, it works.

That's pretty much what the Highway Code says and is covered in the theory test. If somebody is driving badly, just let them get on with it and keep a safe distance. You'll do nobody any favours by retaliating. Everybody makes mistakes and misjudgements. Part of good roadcraft is allowing for and forgiving the mistakes of yourself and of others. Of course some people are just nobbers but shouting at them is unlikely to change that so why bother?

I used to be a shouty cyclist, then I realised I was only shouting at those who I wasn't scared were going to thump me for it, which meant I was only shouting at people weaker than me. I realised that this meant I was just being a bully so I stopped. Now I'm the image of serenity and I feel much better for it.

 

[slowmotion]

I've made extravagant displays of displeasure and shouted a few obscenities but I don't really lose my temper and rant. It's not ideal, but a near-Death experience tends to unbalance the equilibrium.

 

[Sharky]

When i am close passed, nowadays, I just wag my finger at the car for as long as he is in sight. I mean like you would when one of your kids have been naughty. Now i doubt the car driver would look in his mirror, but it has quite an effect on the cars behind. They have seen the close pass and are now aware and they all treat you with respect when they come to overtake.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

No I don't lose my temper, the only person who gets het up is me and why should I let some rectum I don't know upset my blood pressure.

I find near misses and bad driving around me pretty rare so either I've got my technique sorted out to moderate potentially bad drivers around me or I have a very high idiot threshold.

Either way I pedal to be happy and it seems to work.

 

[hatler]

One way I found to reduce fist-waving moments was simply to ride more assertively. Don't give motorists the opportunity to (unwittingly) drive like a prat. Then there is nothing to be angry about.

Now, I know that's mildly idealistic, and there will always be twats who do something stupid despite one's best endeavours, but reducing the occurrence frequency is good.

 

[snorri]

There is just no point in wasting energy shouting at passing cars on rural roads, the traffic is moving too fast and no one has open windows. If still feeling aggrieved when I get home I 'phone the police, that's happened three times, always with satisfactory results.
I've only been shouted at once and that was whilst foreign touring and I had unwittingly done something very wrong.
I was grateful for the shout which alerted me to my perilous situation.

 

[flake99please]

When i am close passed, nowadays, I just wag my finger at the car for as long as he is in sight. I mean like you would when one of your kids have been naughty. Now i doubt the car driver would look in his mirror, but it has quite an effect on the cars behind. They have seen the close pass and are now aware and they all treat you with respect when they come to overtake.

I tut while doing the same thing.

 

[raleighnut]

I used to get angry (to the point where I've 'chinned' a couple of guys) but beyond the age of about 35 just started to calm down and now 20yrs on can't really be bothered getting 'wound up' anymore.

 

[Globalti]

I lost my rag badly in the car, when someone undertook then cut in in front of me. I gave him full beam and horn for about 30 seconds until he suddenly swerved left and off a slip road so I guess he was shocked at my reaction.

What was more shocking though was the effect of the adrenaline on me; my heart raced so fast that I had chest pains for 24 hours afterwards. If I had been unfit I reckon I might have had a heart attack. Nowadays I don't let it happen, I keep an eye on tailgaters and if they try to undertake I pull forward to shut them out. Aggressive, yes but much more satisfying.

 

[Will Spin]

I admit to losing my temper occassionally, it doesn't end well and ruins the ride for me. As I get older I find it easier to control my temper and the number of incidents has decreased. This I think may be due to better experience and being able to ride assertively but not aggressively.

 

[Salty seadog]

I don't lose it really more show signs of incredulity and disappointment.

It's also good to show appreciation of considerate driving and anyone who I have made wait behind me or gives me priority gets a smile and thumbs aloft.

 

[Starchivore]

Angry, but never lost it - best not to. You don't want to be personally abusive in response either - inflames the situation IMO. I tend to say, mouth, 'WHAT WAS THAT', with upturned palms or similar, a close pass gets a 'turning right arm' give me more room, for the driver to contemplate in rear view mirror. Commercial vehicle - company gets an email.

Yeah I’m similar. An upturned palm and bemused shake of the head is one option, and holding my right arm out bent at the elbow and doing a pushing kind of motion to indicate that they should have passed wider. I don’t know if people look in the mirror and see this usually or not.

 

[Globalti]

Gestures are wasted on most motorists as they are too dozy to realise what they've done or they come from a country where discourteous driving is the norm.

Gesturing like an idiot just makes you look like an idiot; I find a disdainful stare more effective and less antagonistic.