Putting Yourself In The Firing Line . . . Why?

[Milkfloat]

It is all supposition anyway because we do not have the cyclist's story.

 

[winjim]

This is a forum member's wife we're discussing. Maybe a little respect is called for?

 

[jonny jeez]

I feel the need to share an experience my wife and I have just had in the Square at Wickham, Hampshire.

Having just had an enjoyable pootle on the Meon Trail, we loaded our bikes on the rack and set off for home via the square.

My Mrs was driving and pulled over in the square for me to recheck the bindings on the cycle rack. As I got out the car I realised a cyclist had pulled alongside the drivers side window and was trying to engage in a conversation with my Mrs, all 5' 2" of her and he hadn't realised that I was there (all 6'1" and 20 plus stone of me). My wife, sensibly, declined to open her window and gesticulated towards me.

I then walked around the car and asked this chap what was wrong. Before responding that my wife had not indicated correctly at a junction, he clearly nearly shat his cycling shorts at the sight of my considerable Geordie frame bearing down on him.

I advised him that the news that someone (my wife in this instance) had neglected to correctly provide a directional indication was "devastating" and that it might be best for all concerned if he went about his business without further delay.

Don't get me wrong I am not condoning my wife's error but that is what it was . . . . an error.

My issue is twofold:

1. This guy clearly was unaware of my presence and felt it right to approach someone who he believed to be a lone woman in order to remonstrate with her without any authority to do so . . . to what purpose?

2. The attitude demonstrated that he must never have made a mistake in his life coupled with the fact he potentially placed himself in vulnerable and dangerous situation (I could have been a mad axe man) for no other reason than to exercise his opinion on a momentary poor standard of driving.

I would venture that as he was not placed in danger or compromised by my wife's failureto indicate, means that he had no business to follow our vehicle and attempt to confront her.

I would also suggest that the speed at which he departed (in the direction from whence he had come) after I offered my advice to him indicates he is more comfortable about bullying women than engaging in meaningful debate with a grown man.

As leisure cyclists, both my wife and I are very aware of fellow cyclists and it is this sort of behaviour by these self appointed pompous, driving standard controllers that results in acts of road rage.

He is probably shouting at some poor woman in Fareham as I type!

Rant over. . . .

None of us really know what happened, you either as you and your Mrs were unaware of the cyclist.

So...why not, just accept that the guy felt that you put him at risk...enough to confront the you or the driver...and just apologise, sincerely.

Why did you need to potentially escalate the issue with what sounds like sarcasm, this would have enraged me still further if I felt I had been put in danger by another persons lack of awareness. Whether the guy was "picking" on what he thought was a lone driver or not, I suspect a clear acceptance of your fault (by your own admission you were at fault) would have diffused the situation.

There is a video on the web of a driver who cuts across the path of a rider and nearly causes him to be Tboned. The rider stops and goes to confront the driver who in turn gets out and is viably shaken by his lack of awareness and is more concerned about the rider than escalating the situation to a confrontation, they virtually end up hugging.This drivers intuition and personality diffused what could have quite rightly turned into a really bad situation. If I find the link I'll post it.

In short, sure you are 6 foot some, 20 Stone and a Geordie but being physically large, or even intimidating doesn't make you right all of the time.I would have thought a guy of your stature and physical advantage would have been a relatively confident person who can take the high ground in moments of threat...I know I can.

Next time I would suggest you apologise, then if the offended party refuses to accept that or becomes nasty, flatten them....but at least try to be the big guy first.

That's my observation anyhow

 

[bladesman73]

This is a forum member's wife we're discussing. Maybe a little respect is called for?

funny that,if the op's wife had shown some respect to other road users then this incident wouldn't have happened. Also why does it matter who's wife it is, its a cycle forum not the masons.

 

[Moderators]

Even after a warning from one of the moderator team some of you can't hold back the spiteful comments.

We have removed some content and think that it is time this discussion came to an end.