t's a funny old world and cowards

[stephenjubb]

I remember a few months ago a white van man had a lot off when I was on a cycle lane and it bothered me to the point where I wanted to have a lot off back, had the sense not to and carried on, gave him no reaction. I was still feeling angered for an hour.

I realised what was the point it was only me who sufffers with negative anger feelings so decided in future to anything go that happens whilst cycling.

Tonight riding on road "White Van Man" passes and passenger yells "Go f*** your bike". Didn't react, thought you always get the odd one.


25 mins later, car going past, girl in teens throws milk all over me and bike. Initially speeded up to try and catch up with them but after 2 seconds thought it was daft idea. Silly minority teenager.

Strange how none had the courage to stop and do it to my face. Cowards.

2 mins later a 15 year old girl walking with 3 friends stepped towards me whilst I was cycling past and said "Had I had a nice bike ride" which took me by surprise to which I replied "I have thank you". how pleasant and surprising. weird how it happened straight afterward.

I wonder if I'm mellowing about the above (never had really had a go back), or I was tired and couldn't be bothered??? who knows.

I'm glad of one thing though. This forum to post my experiences and to work through them rather than bottling it up.

Thanks for reading and listening.

cheers
steve jubb

 

[garrilla]

a burden shared, etc.

 

[cheadle hulme]

well done for taking it easy, I'm not sure I would if someone threw milk at me though.

 

[hackbike 666]

Where do you commute dude?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I'm fully with you, Steve. I try not to react to moronic provocation during my riding, and ninety nine times out of a hundred, such things bother me nowt. But on that one hundredth time I do react and feel bad about it afterwards. To have had several incidents during a single ride is unlucky and would have tested the patience of a saint.

 

[hackbike 666]

+1

 

[Jim_Noir]

Sometimes it's hard to let it go. Tonight I had an old guy open his door on me, I was quick enough to kick it shut. He then, rather than say sorry for almost putting me in the path of a bus, told me I should watch where I am going!

Then about a mile on, a guy in the Merc jumped a red light and almost t-boned me. He put his phone down, took the cigarette out his mouth, opened his window and said "I'll kick your effen head in you p***k" The speed away. This wound me up, caught up with him at a set of lights. Jumped of the bike and went up to his door... Fooker had locked the door. Then I saw sense... if I did get him out the car then who would be the one in trouble!

I think of cycling as my relaxing sport, shame other folks out there are trying to kill me

 

[Funtboy]

Hmmmmm. I'm as laid back as they come in normal life but commuting in London is slowly changing me. Can't seem to bite my lip anymore!

 

[upsidedown]

I lost it the other morning after a ridiculously close pass, chased him down to the lights and shouting etc, completely unlike me. I think it's the fight or flight thing when you're not expecting something, when you see it coming it'e easy to be objective about it.

 

[HLaB]

I'm fully with you, Steve. I try not to react to moronic provocation during my riding, and ninety nine times out of a hundred, such things bother me nowt. But on that one hundredth time I do react and feel bad about it afterwards. To have had several incidents during a single ride is unlucky and would have tested the patience of a saint.

+1 sometimes I've reacted but other times I've found this place is good to let off steam, typing instead of a shouting match.

 

[Jim_Noir]

I think the fact when they do something then blame you is really what gets me. A simple sorry would defuse the situation.

 

[hambones]

I had the classic screaming teenager in a car as it passed last night in an attempt to make me fall off. I just smiled at how big and clever the lad was.

That is it as far as incidents go - nothing else to report in 3 years of cycling. No close passes, no aggravation, nothing! I often think how unlucky some of the posters on this forum are!

 

[HLaB]

I think the fact when they do something then blame you is really what gets me. A simple sorry would defuse the situation.

Yip. I don't know if its a sex thing but I find women drivers are more likely to put their hand up and admit a mistake and that dissolve the situation whereas male driver either arrogantly ignore you or give you verbal and rarely admit to a mistake.

 

[thomas]

Yip. I don't know if its a sex thing but I find women drivers are more likely to put their hand up and admit a mistake and that dissolve the situation whereas male driver either arrogantly ignore you or give you verbal and rarely admit to a mistake.

I had a women yesterday put her hand up to go onto say I was in the middle of the road, when I wasn't, so I told her how she should overtake in the future..blah blah.

My first line to her was something like how bloody close was that...then I calmed myself down and was actually reasonably civil & kept my cool.

 

[Jim_Noir]

Yip. I don't know if its a sex thing but I find women drivers are more likely to put their hand up and admit a mistake and that dissolve the situation whereas male driver either arrogantly ignore you or give you verbal and rarely admit to a mistake.

Oddly we were just talking about this in work. Cars and the internet are instant big baws for males, more so on 30 something’s, but take the car and the internet away and will they even look you in the eye.

I do think that woman make unintentional mistakes in cars, but males do it deliberately.