Sorry guys, I have done it again.

[BentMikey]

While understandable, this is what people have been trying to get you not to do.
If you have an incident on camera, then use that to report it, confronting drivers as often as you do will only end one way in the long run.
Friendly, patronising wave as you pass them would be better,

It's better to blank them and pretend they don't exist, whilst watching out of your peripheral vision. Don't engage at all, because even the most innocuous gesture can and is likely to be interpreted negatively. (And I'm not particularly good at not engaging myself).

 

[BentMikey]

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/driving/road-rage.aspx

 

[fossyant]

The guy is obviously one angry little twit.

Best advice is ignore him completely, and put pedal to the metal and get going. You can't argue with idiots. Never works, especially with angry idiots - I assume this is Rhyl centre.

Difficult I know, but it is your age - just let it go. They aren't going to take any 'response' from a young lad. I keep saying this but young lads are hot heads - I was one once.

You did right to head for the police station.

I was nearly run off the road by one angry V5 Golf driver - only because I stuck my arm up at him (no fingers) - he chased me and swerved at me, and I'm over 12 stone and (was) 40 ! He only buggered off after I said I had his reg. The police took it seriously, paid him a visit, but because it was one word vs another, they could do no more. What happened though was they put 'more' intelligence onto the car - the officer told me it had 'history' for poor driving and if I reported it they'd get more - so when he really caused a problem, they'd have him. So no need to argue, just report them. Words like intimidating, feared for safety etc help (PS the officers will help you with the 'correct wording').

Report it, I recon the car has a 'history' already.

 

[fossyant]

Oh and always make sure you ride ascertively and make like a vehicle.

A colleague spotted me a few weeks back at a weekend out training - no where near work routes, 8 miles from my home and miles from where he lives. He said he 'recognised' my agressive riding style . He's also a cyclist BTW. It was me as well. Just so happened the traffic was very heavy due to road works near a village - out came commuter mode !

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

The thing I find with car drivers is they can be bullies towards cyclists.

 

[Hip Priest]

The thing I find with car drivers is they can be bullies towards cyclists.

Some certainly can. Most are alright.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I don't understand why you left the station either.

However tell your neighbour from me that telling someone who has gone into a police station to report something to go away again and phone up instead is a horrendous 'bat' and she should be ashamed.

I've said it before and I'll say it again Matt. Be careful, one day you are going to get hurt. If you have a tossed behind you, you have no control over them. Best to silently realise they're a tosser, and let them pass when safe to do so. Once they're in front, there's little they can do to place you in danger.

Positive riding, primary positioning and the like ONLY work to keep you safe if the drivers around are normal, competent and courteous - which the vast majority are. If they are dangerous, careless drivers then sometimes primary positioning and positive riding might make things worse - just let them pass.

Problem is, you should really only be having these problems once in a blue moon - surely the population of Prestatyn can't be skewed that far off the national average of driving standards!

 

[dawesome]

Some certainly can. Most are alright.

Yes, most car drivers are fine, I must pass or be passed by over a hundred on a busy commute and there's only an incident at a couple of pinchpoints twice a month or so.

You don't remember the incident-less commute!

I'm not saying Matt does this but it would be very easy to provoke a response from drivers if you escalate things, some people's egos mean any reproach will be met by aggression.

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

Some certainly can. Most are alright.

Yes.

 

[Hip Priest]

One of the reasons Matt meets a lot of idiots might be his age. He's young, so some drivers may try to bully him, whereas they'd think twice if he was a big bloke.

 

[Hip Priest]

I remember reading somewhere about a bloke who started wearing those joke-shop sleeve tattoos. He found drivers gave him more room and no-one dared mess with him.

 

[Matthew_T]

I think my age and size plays a big part. I am not only thin (jealous?) and short, but young. I am only just an adult so cannot use the "hit a minor" excuse.

Because of my age, I backchat a lot of the time. I always want the final word which is why I usually escillate things. I need to calm down.

Strangley, after I have had an incident and found advice on here, I am much calmer and more aware of what drivers are doing.


Back to cycling; In this situation, I wasnt going to allow him to bully me off the road. I held primary and just ignored the beeping. I shouldnt have said anything to him at all (maybe under my breath when he had passed).
Once again it is easier said than done in these situations.

 

[gaz]

Once again it is easier said than done in these situations.

Indeed. just try your best each time and soon you will get there.

 

[ianrauk]

I remember reading somewhere about a bloke who started wearing those joke-shop sleeve tattoos. He found drivers gave him more room and no-one dared mess with him.

Works for me and I have the real thing. Two full sleeves.

Actually it doesn't... it's bollocks. It makes no difference.

 

[fossyant]

I think my age and size plays a big part. I am not only thin (jealous?) and short, but young. I am only just an adult so cannot use the "hit a minor" excuse.

Because of my age, I backchat a lot of the time. I always want the final word which is why I usually escillate things. I need to calm down.

Tell me about it - I have an 11 year old.