Get off the Road II - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

07-20-2004, 07:36 AM

My friend from BC was in town (windsor ontario) and we went for a bike ride
around the city. About 30 minutes into it, we got a "get off the road". The
driver promptly got the finger.

I'm not usually that reactionary, usually I just laugh at them. But this guy
was such a typical dick-head, with his girlfriend and kid in the back seat,
gunning the gas and stomping on the brake.

How else are you supposed to deal with these people when you dont' have time
to explain the rules to them?

3 Weeks ago, I had a big silver jeep FLY past me in a narrow underpass
(although it is 4 lane, the person decided to stay on my lane and not move
AT ALL). So I put up my hands in a "what the ****" style jesture. The guy
sees it in his rear view mirror, locks up the brakes and comes to a stop
taking up both lanes. I completely froze, not knowing what to do. I couldn't
do a U turn, and I couldnt' hop on the curb to pass him. He gets out and
starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to beat
his wife, or just got done doing so.

I rode to a nearby bike shop to call the police, but the owner was slightly
stoned and didn't want the cops there

Ended up calling them when I got home, and gave them the licence plate. They
told me to fill out some form, which I found an hour later online in PDF
format, which required me to print it up and fill it out, and then ride it
back to the police station. When I got there, the cop had no clue what to do
with it.

Mike
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Badger_South" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>
> Great ride this morning - little brother is now waking -me- up with
> coffee at 05:15 to go ride on his new Trek! Hahaha.
>
> One dunderhead rides by swerving a little to yell out his passenger
> side window for me to 'Get on the bike path'.
>
> Plenty of room for him to pass, 35mph road leading to expensive homes
> and a dead end into a development.
>
> First time he says it, I ignore him. Second time, I utter a germanic
> expression as he speed off. (I couldn't even understand what I said
> given the wind and stuff).
>
> So about 10 min later I turn down the final turn, and he's waiting for
> me! Remember I'm a big guy, bodybuilder, 18" biceps, gotta be
> formidable looking (but horrible for climbing,<g>) to a Cager, right?
>
> Nope this little milquetoast has his window down and says 'you're
> mentally challenged'.
>
> I turn around and explain to him that Va law says cars must share the
> road; bikers have same rights as cars; pass safely, etc.
>
> He says 'you cussed at me with my daughter in the car'. (!)
>
> I said, seeing him holding up his cellphone (?), 'Go ahead call the
> police'. Him: "I will". Me "go ahead". Him "mentally challenged".
>
> At that point a grin widely and say "have a nice day!"
>
> Totally forgetting about this moron, we speed off into the morning and
> race the sun back home for the Tour! Great AM ride.
>
> At week 2, I'm getting stronger every ride. Amazing.
>
> -B
> Yeah, I thought 'dumbass', and 'wimp', but was so psyched to bike it
> wasn't worth anymore of my time, heh, heh.

07-20-2004, 08:18 AM

Carry a gun/cell phone. In this circumstance I would have drawn first one
and then the other.

"Mike Beauchamp" <news@mikebeauchamp.com> wrote in message
news:cdjaki02rl1@enews2.newsguy.com...
| My friend from BC was in town (windsor ontario) and we went for a bike
ride
| around the city. About 30 minutes into it, we got a "get off the road".
The
| driver promptly got the finger.
|
| I'm not usually that reactionary, usually I just laugh at them. But this
guy
| was such a typical dick-head, with his girlfriend and kid in the back
seat,
| gunning the gas and stomping on the brake.
|
| How else are you supposed to deal with these people when you dont' have
time
| to explain the rules to them?
|
| 3 Weeks ago, I had a big silver jeep FLY past me in a narrow underpass
| (although it is 4 lane, the person decided to stay on my lane and not move
| AT ALL). So I put up my hands in a "what the ****" style jesture. The guy
| sees it in his rear view mirror, locks up the brakes and comes to a stop
| taking up both lanes. I completely froze, not knowing what to do. I
couldn't
| do a U turn, and I couldnt' hop on the curb to pass him. He gets out and
| starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
| right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
| punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
| jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to
beat
| his wife, or just got done doing so.
|
| I rode to a nearby bike shop to call the police, but the owner was
slightly
| stoned and didn't want the cops there

|
| Ended up calling them when I got home, and gave them the licence plate.
They
| told me to fill out some form, which I found an hour later online in PDF
| format, which required me to print it up and fill it out, and then ride it
| back to the police station. When I got there, the cop had no clue what to
do
| with it.
|
| Mike
| [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
|
|

07-20-2004, 08:18 AM

Carry a gun/cell phone. In this circumstance I would have drawn first one
and then the other.

"Mike Beauchamp" <news@mikebeauchamp.com> wrote in message
news:cdjaki02rl1@enews2.newsguy.com...
| My friend from BC was in town (windsor ontario) and we went for a bike
ride
| around the city. About 30 minutes into it, we got a "get off the road".
The
| driver promptly got the finger.
|
| I'm not usually that reactionary, usually I just laugh at them. But this
guy
| was such a typical dick-head, with his girlfriend and kid in the back
seat,
| gunning the gas and stomping on the brake.
|
| How else are you supposed to deal with these people when you dont' have
time
| to explain the rules to them?
|
| 3 Weeks ago, I had a big silver jeep FLY past me in a narrow underpass
| (although it is 4 lane, the person decided to stay on my lane and not move
| AT ALL). So I put up my hands in a "what the ****" style jesture. The guy
| sees it in his rear view mirror, locks up the brakes and comes to a stop
| taking up both lanes. I completely froze, not knowing what to do. I
couldn't
| do a U turn, and I couldnt' hop on the curb to pass him. He gets out and
| starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
| right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
| punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
| jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to
beat
| his wife, or just got done doing so.
|
| I rode to a nearby bike shop to call the police, but the owner was
slightly
| stoned and didn't want the cops there

|
| Ended up calling them when I got home, and gave them the licence plate.
They
| told me to fill out some form, which I found an hour later online in PDF
| format, which required me to print it up and fill it out, and then ride it
| back to the police station. When I got there, the cop had no clue what to
do
| with it.
|
| Mike
| [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
|
|

07-20-2004, 08:18 AM

Carry a gun/cell phone. In this circumstance I would have drawn first one
and then the other.

"Mike Beauchamp" <news@mikebeauchamp.com> wrote in message
news:cdjaki02rl1@enews2.newsguy.com...
| My friend from BC was in town (windsor ontario) and we went for a bike
ride
| around the city. About 30 minutes into it, we got a "get off the road".
The
| driver promptly got the finger.
|
| I'm not usually that reactionary, usually I just laugh at them. But this
guy
| was such a typical dick-head, with his girlfriend and kid in the back
seat,
| gunning the gas and stomping on the brake.
|
| How else are you supposed to deal with these people when you dont' have
time
| to explain the rules to them?
|
| 3 Weeks ago, I had a big silver jeep FLY past me in a narrow underpass
| (although it is 4 lane, the person decided to stay on my lane and not move
| AT ALL). So I put up my hands in a "what the ****" style jesture. The guy
| sees it in his rear view mirror, locks up the brakes and comes to a stop
| taking up both lanes. I completely froze, not knowing what to do. I
couldn't
| do a U turn, and I couldnt' hop on the curb to pass him. He gets out and
| starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
| right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
| punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
| jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to
beat
| his wife, or just got done doing so.
|
| I rode to a nearby bike shop to call the police, but the owner was
slightly
| stoned and didn't want the cops there

|
| Ended up calling them when I got home, and gave them the licence plate.
They
| told me to fill out some form, which I found an hour later online in PDF
| format, which required me to print it up and fill it out, and then ride it
| back to the police station. When I got there, the cop had no clue what to
do
| with it.
|
| Mike
| [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
|
|

07-20-2004, 08:18 AM

Carry a gun/cell phone. In this circumstance I would have drawn first one
and then the other.

"Mike Beauchamp" <news@mikebeauchamp.com> wrote in message
news:cdjaki02rl1@enews2.newsguy.com...
| My friend from BC was in town (windsor ontario) and we went for a bike
ride
| around the city. About 30 minutes into it, we got a "get off the road".
The
| driver promptly got the finger.
|
| I'm not usually that reactionary, usually I just laugh at them. But this
guy
| was such a typical dick-head, with his girlfriend and kid in the back
seat,
| gunning the gas and stomping on the brake.
|
| How else are you supposed to deal with these people when you dont' have
time
| to explain the rules to them?
|
| 3 Weeks ago, I had a big silver jeep FLY past me in a narrow underpass
| (although it is 4 lane, the person decided to stay on my lane and not move
| AT ALL). So I put up my hands in a "what the ****" style jesture. The guy
| sees it in his rear view mirror, locks up the brakes and comes to a stop
| taking up both lanes. I completely froze, not knowing what to do. I
couldn't
| do a U turn, and I couldnt' hop on the curb to pass him. He gets out and
| starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
| right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
| punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
| jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to
beat
| his wife, or just got done doing so.
|
| I rode to a nearby bike shop to call the police, but the owner was
slightly
| stoned and didn't want the cops there

|
| Ended up calling them when I got home, and gave them the licence plate.
They
| told me to fill out some form, which I found an hour later online in PDF
| format, which required me to print it up and fill it out, and then ride it
| back to the police station. When I got there, the cop had no clue what to
do
| with it.
|
| Mike
| [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
|
|

07-20-2004, 08:18 AM

Carry a gun/cell phone. In this circumstance I would have drawn first one
and then the other.

"Mike Beauchamp" <news@mikebeauchamp.com> wrote in message
news:cdjaki02rl1@enews2.newsguy.com...
| My friend from BC was in town (windsor ontario) and we went for a bike
ride
| around the city. About 30 minutes into it, we got a "get off the road".
The
| driver promptly got the finger.
|
| I'm not usually that reactionary, usually I just laugh at them. But this
guy
| was such a typical dick-head, with his girlfriend and kid in the back
seat,
| gunning the gas and stomping on the brake.
|
| How else are you supposed to deal with these people when you dont' have
time
| to explain the rules to them?
|
| 3 Weeks ago, I had a big silver jeep FLY past me in a narrow underpass
| (although it is 4 lane, the person decided to stay on my lane and not move
| AT ALL). So I put up my hands in a "what the ****" style jesture. The guy
| sees it in his rear view mirror, locks up the brakes and comes to a stop
| taking up both lanes. I completely froze, not knowing what to do. I
couldn't
| do a U turn, and I couldnt' hop on the curb to pass him. He gets out and
| starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
| right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
| punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
| jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to
beat
| his wife, or just got done doing so.
|
| I rode to a nearby bike shop to call the police, but the owner was
slightly
| stoned and didn't want the cops there

|
| Ended up calling them when I got home, and gave them the licence plate.
They
| told me to fill out some form, which I found an hour later online in PDF
| format, which required me to print it up and fill it out, and then ride it
| back to the police station. When I got there, the cop had no clue what to
do
| with it.
|
| Mike
| [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
|
|

07-20-2004, 08:24 AM

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:36:21 -0400, "Mike Beauchamp"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> He gets out and
>starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
>right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
>punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
>jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to beat
>his wife, or just got done doing so.

Wow. Well, easier for me to laugh, being uh, large, and a fighter by
trade; so nobody's gonna intimidate me, even with a tire iron. (it's
good to be cool, b/c yeah, you don't know who is gonna pull a piece).

I just have to get off the bike and stand there and take a deep breath
- people see me and shrink away. Only happened once on the bike. I
laughed at that time, too. ;-p

But they don't realize...they may be 'mad', but you're keyed up on
adrenaline and in the aerobic zone and could kick most guy's ass who
get out of a car, still sleepy, being like twice as fast as them,
reflexes up and stuff.

But I was very happy at how quickly I was able to blow it off, and it
didn't even rate an extra heartbeat, returning to the ride and bike
talk and pacing. That makes me feel good - pfft, dumb cager. Next
topic. ;-p

-B

07-20-2004, 08:24 AM

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:36:21 -0400, "Mike Beauchamp"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> He gets out and
>starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
>right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
>punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
>jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to beat
>his wife, or just got done doing so.

Wow. Well, easier for me to laugh, being uh, large, and a fighter by
trade; so nobody's gonna intimidate me, even with a tire iron. (it's
good to be cool, b/c yeah, you don't know who is gonna pull a piece).

I just have to get off the bike and stand there and take a deep breath
- people see me and shrink away. Only happened once on the bike. I
laughed at that time, too. ;-p

But they don't realize...they may be 'mad', but you're keyed up on
adrenaline and in the aerobic zone and could kick most guy's ass who
get out of a car, still sleepy, being like twice as fast as them,
reflexes up and stuff.

But I was very happy at how quickly I was able to blow it off, and it
didn't even rate an extra heartbeat, returning to the ride and bike
talk and pacing. That makes me feel good - pfft, dumb cager. Next
topic. ;-p

-B

07-20-2004, 08:24 AM

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:36:21 -0400, "Mike Beauchamp"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> He gets out and
>starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
>right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
>punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
>jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to beat
>his wife, or just got done doing so.

Wow. Well, easier for me to laugh, being uh, large, and a fighter by
trade; so nobody's gonna intimidate me, even with a tire iron. (it's
good to be cool, b/c yeah, you don't know who is gonna pull a piece).

I just have to get off the bike and stand there and take a deep breath
- people see me and shrink away. Only happened once on the bike. I
laughed at that time, too. ;-p

But they don't realize...they may be 'mad', but you're keyed up on
adrenaline and in the aerobic zone and could kick most guy's ass who
get out of a car, still sleepy, being like twice as fast as them,
reflexes up and stuff.

But I was very happy at how quickly I was able to blow it off, and it
didn't even rate an extra heartbeat, returning to the ride and bike
talk and pacing. That makes me feel good - pfft, dumb cager. Next
topic. ;-p

-B

07-20-2004, 08:24 AM

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 10:36:21 -0400, "Mike Beauchamp"
<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote:

> He gets out and
>starts yelling "YOU DONT KNOW HOW ****ING MAD I AM RIGHT NOW" and he comes
>right up to me (As opposed to you, I'm 5'6 150lbs.) practically ready to
>punch me in the face. I put the bike down and walk away. He gets in his
>jeep, skids the tires and drives away.. I assume he was either going to beat
>his wife, or just got done doing so.

Wow. Well, easier for me to laugh, being uh, large, and a fighter by
trade; so nobody's gonna intimidate me, even with a tire iron. (it's
good to be cool, b/c yeah, you don't know who is gonna pull a piece).

I just have to get off the bike and stand there and take a deep breath
- people see me and shrink away. Only happened once on the bike. I
laughed at that time, too. ;-p

But they don't realize...they may be 'mad', but you're keyed up on
adrenaline and in the aerobic zone and could kick most guy's ass who
get out of a car, still sleepy, being like twice as fast as them,
reflexes up and stuff.

But I was very happy at how quickly I was able to blow it off, and it
didn't even rate an extra heartbeat, returning to the ride and bike
talk and pacing. That makes me feel good - pfft, dumb cager. Next
topic. ;-p

-B