Road Rage - have you ever got out of your car?
Discussion
Nope, not worth it. Had some pretty close exchanges when I was younger, which could have gone south, but luckily nothing happened and learned the error of my ways since. You live and you learn. I don't even get angry anymore; you only get yourself riled up.
Defensive driving is the key. Just get on with it.
Defensive driving is the key. Just get on with it.
biggbn said:
Countdown said:
Is there anybody on PH who isn't 6ft 6" and regularly does martial arts, MMA, boxing or Tai Fu ? 
Some real scary dudes and total badasses around these parts... 
I prefer to use humour to avoid a confrontation. If that fails, I do a pretty good impression of Alan Wells....
My mate and I both did a little experiment. We rode for a few rides in our club kit and then in our Army kit. We both noticed a red cycling top with the word ARMY on it meant we got less close passes. Not because ""we're 'ard", but more I think people saw a person they could relate to, rather than "f
king cyclist". I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
TonyG2003 said:
Just one cycling incident. I was riding along a cycle lane filtering down the inside a long line of traffic and I came up to another group of cyclists in the cycle land except for one of who was riding in the road (ie. Not in the cycle lane) and slightly holding up a Landrover behind him. We were coming up to some stationary traffic soon. Anyway the cyclist and the driver started hand gestures and swearing at each other then the driver squeezes past the cyclist drives off, straight into the stationary traffic. The cyclist goes down the middle of the traffic lane and knocks back the Landrover drivers wing mirror. At this point I have to filter right to turn right.
By the time I get to the Landrover the guy is out ,swearing at the cyclist (who has ridden off) and more angry than anyone I’ve seen for years. Complete psycho who had lost the plot. just shouting “he touched my car I’m going to ‘kin kill him” over and over again. The guy is overweight probably in his 50’s (so am I although just the 50’s bit). I think he’s going to have a heart attack! He’s gone beetroot. He starts shouting a me “do you know him, I’m going on do you”. His family are in the car, kids crying, wife, father looking scared. I eventually calm him down. “No you aren’t going to kill him since you will go to jail and not see your kids”. Literally more than 5 mins standing in a live lane with other cars honking at us.
Anyway cycling is a small world and it turns out the “mirror hitter” is a friend of a friend, has form for this and has been banned from several cycling clubs. I found out who he was and we had a very frank chat about the situation he was putting others in.
The world is full of nutters. Stay in your cars!
Was it Jeremy Vine by any chance?By the time I get to the Landrover the guy is out ,swearing at the cyclist (who has ridden off) and more angry than anyone I’ve seen for years. Complete psycho who had lost the plot. just shouting “he touched my car I’m going to ‘kin kill him” over and over again. The guy is overweight probably in his 50’s (so am I although just the 50’s bit). I think he’s going to have a heart attack! He’s gone beetroot. He starts shouting a me “do you know him, I’m going on do you”. His family are in the car, kids crying, wife, father looking scared. I eventually calm him down. “No you aren’t going to kill him since you will go to jail and not see your kids”. Literally more than 5 mins standing in a live lane with other cars honking at us.
Anyway cycling is a small world and it turns out the “mirror hitter” is a friend of a friend, has form for this and has been banned from several cycling clubs. I found out who he was and we had a very frank chat about the situation he was putting others in.
The world is full of nutters. Stay in your cars!
Countdown said:
Is there anybody on PH who isn't 6ft 6" and regularly does martial arts, MMA, boxing or Tai Fu ?
Me!5'9", so laid back I'm horizontal, but I am a black belt in drinking beer so watch it!
Castrol for a knave said:
My mate and I both did a little experiment. We rode for a few rides in our club kit and then in our Army kit. We both noticed a red cycling top with the word ARMY on it meant we got less close passes. Not because ""we're 'ard", but more I think people saw a person they could relate to, rather than "fking cyclist".
I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
That's an interesting point actually. When I used to go out on my bike, when I had one, I used to dress in a normal trackie bottoms / jeans and a T-shirt, not the usual lycra the most wear, and usually, for my sins, no helmet. Never had anyone give me any abuse whatsoever, maybe because I didn't look like a Brad Wiggins wannabe?king cyclist". I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Thursday 2nd November 14:32
griffsomething said:
That’s genuinely shocking, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with so much pent up anger and rage before.
Literally gritting his teeth with hatred.
I think Mr LR and Mr bike need to get laid a little more often.
A long time PH member is he. Biker thinking they own the road though, here we go!Literally gritting his teeth with hatred.
I think Mr LR and Mr bike need to get laid a little more often.
TameRacingDriver said:
Countdown said:
Is there anybody on PH who isn't 6ft 6" and regularly does martial arts, MMA, boxing or Tai Fu ?
Me!5'9", so laid back I'm horizontal, but I am a black belt in drinking beer so watch it!
Castrol for a knave said:
My mate and I both did a little experiment. We rode for a few rides in our club kit and then in our Army kit. We both noticed a red cycling top with the word ARMY on it meant we got less close passes. Not because ""we're 'ard", but more I think people saw a person they could relate to, rather than "fking cyclist".
I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
That's an interesting point actually. When I used to go out on my bike, when I had one, I used to dress in a normal trackie bottoms / jeans and a T-shirt, not the usual lycra the most wear, and usually, for my sins, no helmet. Never had anyone give me any abuse whatsoever, maybe because I didn't look like a Brad Wiggins wannabe?king cyclist". I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Thursday 2nd November 14:32
biggbn said:
TameRacingDriver said:
Countdown said:
Is there anybody on PH who isn't 6ft 6" and regularly does martial arts, MMA, boxing or Tai Fu ?
Me!5'9", so laid back I'm horizontal, but I am a black belt in drinking beer so watch it!
Castrol for a knave said:
My mate and I both did a little experiment. We rode for a few rides in our club kit and then in our Army kit. We both noticed a red cycling top with the word ARMY on it meant we got less close passes. Not because ""we're 'ard", but more I think people saw a person they could relate to, rather than "fking cyclist".
I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
That's an interesting point actually. When I used to go out on my bike, when I had one, I used to dress in a normal trackie bottoms / jeans and a T-shirt, not the usual lycra the most wear, and usually, for my sins, no helmet. Never had anyone give me any abuse whatsoever, maybe because I didn't look like a Brad Wiggins wannabe?king cyclist". I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Thursday 2nd November 14:32
Castrol for a knave said:
biggbn said:
TameRacingDriver said:
Countdown said:
Is there anybody on PH who isn't 6ft 6" and regularly does martial arts, MMA, boxing or Tai Fu ?
Me!5'9", so laid back I'm horizontal, but I am a black belt in drinking beer so watch it!
Castrol for a knave said:
My mate and I both did a little experiment. We rode for a few rides in our club kit and then in our Army kit. We both noticed a red cycling top with the word ARMY on it meant we got less close passes. Not because ""we're 'ard", but more I think people saw a person they could relate to, rather than "fking cyclist".
I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
That's an interesting point actually. When I used to go out on my bike, when I had one, I used to dress in a normal trackie bottoms / jeans and a T-shirt, not the usual lycra the most wear, and usually, for my sins, no helmet. Never had anyone give me any abuse whatsoever, maybe because I didn't look like a Brad Wiggins wannabe?king cyclist". I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Thursday 2nd November 14:32
Believe me, my past career taught me in many, many ways that physical size is absolutely no deterent to people blinded by anger, alcohol, whatever...sometimes you become a person's Everest in an 'I'll show him' challenging way. I became a rather good communicator and it saved me many a roll about, and still serves me well in my new career!! Bottom line, stay safe everyone. Not everyone plays by the rules you may imagine apply and to misquote Iain Dury, there ain't half been some nasty b
ds....austinsmirk said:
alternatively- cycling rage. Purely as a cyclist, when people have nearly killed you.
I have, kicked wing mirrors off (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)
punched several windows through
tried putting my bike through a blokes windscreen- turns out having yr chain on the top ring, brought down hard on the windscreen A post is enough to fold the A post
ripped several sets of keys out of mopeds,/motorbike ignitions who have been flying up bus/cycle lanes, or illegally off road.
booted the rear qtr in of some car (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)- i'm in a cycle lane- lad doesn't want to queue in traffic so mounts pavement in front of me causing me to bunny hop sideways- I boot his car to warn of my presence. turns out looking back, I've folded his enter rear quarter in.
and only the other night, waiting patiently at the side of the road, for the 5 cars in front to move, not pushing, not trying to creep up the nearside, just stationary- the bloke behind me purposely rammed me- and then started gesturing to get out of his way. where he thought he was even going to drive to, given 5 stationary cars were in front, I don't know. we'd had no confrontation, I'd never been in his way on the road previously........... goodness knows what his issue was.
turns out he was a lot less hard after I started punching his bonnet to stop him moving- he locked himself in his car- as I'll admit it, I lost the plot and tried opening his doors to drag him out. Like a nutter I punched his window endlessly- it was flexing like plastic but wouldn't go through- till he drove off. I still chased him on my bike- but in fairness on 60 mph remote moor roads, he had the advantage re: escaping.
so there you go, seemingly over the last 30 years, there have been occasions where I have utterly lost the plot- purely because some bell end came near to ending my life in fairness.
In 1986 I was in the habit on my z500 of pulling up at traffic lights in any lane that took my fancy, and giving it the beans. One day, with mate on the back, I was going straight on from the left only lane. Unfortunately I hadn't figured how fat my mate was. The car at the front of the queue on the left lane decided to try and run me out of road. I hadn't realised this but halfway across the junction my passenger took exception to the car close to his right leg, so with steel.toe cap boots gave it a big swing and kicked his wing mirror off. At this point, I'd hit the power band and we accelerated smartly in front of him, but obviously he saw red. I caught up with slower traffic, and started overtaking it, as did he, which was aittle stupid as cars were coming in the opposite direction. Anyway, last time I saw him, he was trying to.pull out again, into oncoming traffic. I have no doubt that my mate would have been happier, if I'd stopped and let him bear the sI have, kicked wing mirrors off (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)
punched several windows through
tried putting my bike through a blokes windscreen- turns out having yr chain on the top ring, brought down hard on the windscreen A post is enough to fold the A post
ripped several sets of keys out of mopeds,/motorbike ignitions who have been flying up bus/cycle lanes, or illegally off road.
booted the rear qtr in of some car (metal cleated shoes make a right mess)- i'm in a cycle lane- lad doesn't want to queue in traffic so mounts pavement in front of me causing me to bunny hop sideways- I boot his car to warn of my presence. turns out looking back, I've folded his enter rear quarter in.
and only the other night, waiting patiently at the side of the road, for the 5 cars in front to move, not pushing, not trying to creep up the nearside, just stationary- the bloke behind me purposely rammed me- and then started gesturing to get out of his way. where he thought he was even going to drive to, given 5 stationary cars were in front, I don't know. we'd had no confrontation, I'd never been in his way on the road previously........... goodness knows what his issue was.
turns out he was a lot less hard after I started punching his bonnet to stop him moving- he locked himself in his car- as I'll admit it, I lost the plot and tried opening his doors to drag him out. Like a nutter I punched his window endlessly- it was flexing like plastic but wouldn't go through- till he drove off. I still chased him on my bike- but in fairness on 60 mph remote moor roads, he had the advantage re: escaping.
so there you go, seemingly over the last 30 years, there have been occasions where I have utterly lost the plot- purely because some bell end came near to ending my life in fairness.
t out of him. But I'm a cowherd and don't do violence as I loose. biggbn said:
TameRacingDriver said:
Countdown said:
Is there anybody on PH who isn't 6ft 6" and regularly does martial arts, MMA, boxing or Tai Fu ?
Me!5'9", so laid back I'm horizontal, but I am a black belt in drinking beer so watch it!
Castrol for a knave said:
My mate and I both did a little experiment. We rode for a few rides in our club kit and then in our Army kit. We both noticed a red cycling top with the word ARMY on it meant we got less close passes. Not because ""we're 'ard", but more I think people saw a person they could relate to, rather than "fking cyclist".
I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
That's an interesting point actually. When I used to go out on my bike, when I had one, I used to dress in a normal trackie bottoms / jeans and a T-shirt, not the usual lycra the most wear, and usually, for my sins, no helmet. Never had anyone give me any abuse whatsoever, maybe because I didn't look like a Brad Wiggins wannabe?king cyclist". I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
Although I think it was mostly because I expected to be abused from hearing loads of other stories.Then again, some people also used to say they got abused in MX5s with the top down and I've never had that issue either.
TameRacingDriver said:
biggbn said:
TameRacingDriver said:
Countdown said:
Is there anybody on PH who isn't 6ft 6" and regularly does martial arts, MMA, boxing or Tai Fu ?
Me!5'9", so laid back I'm horizontal, but I am a black belt in drinking beer so watch it!
Castrol for a knave said:
My mate and I both did a little experiment. We rode for a few rides in our club kit and then in our Army kit. We both noticed a red cycling top with the word ARMY on it meant we got less close passes. Not because ""we're 'ard", but more I think people saw a person they could relate to, rather than "fking cyclist".
I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
That's an interesting point actually. When I used to go out on my bike, when I had one, I used to dress in a normal trackie bottoms / jeans and a T-shirt, not the usual lycra the most wear, and usually, for my sins, no helmet. Never had anyone give me any abuse whatsoever, maybe because I didn't look like a Brad Wiggins wannabe?king cyclist". I told another pal about his and he said he would like to give it a try, but ONCOLOGIST probably wouldn't fit on his jersey. His point being, once you can humanise the other person, it makes it much less adversarial.
Although I think it was mostly because I expected to be abused from hearing loads of other stories.Then again, some people also used to say they got abused in MX5s with the top down and I've never had that issue either.
TameRacingDriver said:
TonyG2003 said:
Just one cycling incident. I was riding along a cycle lane filtering down the inside a long line of traffic and I came up to another group of cyclists in the cycle land except for one of who was riding in the road (ie. Not in the cycle lane) and slightly holding up a Landrover behind him. We were coming up to some stationary traffic soon. Anyway the cyclist and the driver started hand gestures and swearing at each other then the driver squeezes past the cyclist drives off, straight into the stationary traffic. The cyclist goes down the middle of the traffic lane and knocks back the Landrover drivers wing mirror. At this point I have to filter right to turn right.
By the time I get to the Landrover the guy is out ,swearing at the cyclist (who has ridden off) and more angry than anyone I’ve seen for years. Complete psycho who had lost the plot. just shouting “he touched my car I’m going to ‘kin kill him” over and over again. The guy is overweight probably in his 50’s (so am I although just the 50’s bit). I think he’s going to have a heart attack! He’s gone beetroot. He starts shouting a me “do you know him, I’m going on do you”. His family are in the car, kids crying, wife, father looking scared. I eventually calm him down. “No you aren’t going to kill him since you will go to jail and not see your kids”. Literally more than 5 mins standing in a live lane with other cars honking at us.
Anyway cycling is a small world and it turns out the “mirror hitter” is a friend of a friend, has form for this and has been banned from several cycling clubs. I found out who he was and we had a very frank chat about the situation he was putting others in.
The world is full of nutters. Stay in your cars!
Wasn't this guy was it?By the time I get to the Landrover the guy is out ,swearing at the cyclist (who has ridden off) and more angry than anyone I’ve seen for years. Complete psycho who had lost the plot. just shouting “he touched my car I’m going to ‘kin kill him” over and over again. The guy is overweight probably in his 50’s (so am I although just the 50’s bit). I think he’s going to have a heart attack! He’s gone beetroot. He starts shouting a me “do you know him, I’m going on do you”. His family are in the car, kids crying, wife, father looking scared. I eventually calm him down. “No you aren’t going to kill him since you will go to jail and not see your kids”. Literally more than 5 mins standing in a live lane with other cars honking at us.
Anyway cycling is a small world and it turns out the “mirror hitter” is a friend of a friend, has form for this and has been banned from several cycling clubs. I found out who he was and we had a very frank chat about the situation he was putting others in.
The world is full of nutters. Stay in your cars!
Does recycling rage count?
I visit the local recycling point at least every couple of days as I was sick of our recycling either not being collected by the council, or thrown all over the drive/pavement in windy conditions, so I do it myself, actually quite enjoy it as it gets me out after suffering some pretty dark moments in relation to mental health.
This was until an incident.
I always park on the end by the recycling bins as it's quiet round there and I'm causing no obstruction.
I park up as normal, admittedly facing the wrong way (it's at the end of a one way horseshoe, to exit I simply do full lock left in to parking space and reverse out, exiting the correct way) but I'd park in the very same place anyway regardless of which way I'm facing.
Just as I'm about to get out of the car, a Civic pulls in and slowly rolls to a stop, 30 seconds later, an old bloke gets out
"Are you going to be long? I want to do some recycling"
Am I in your way?
"YES"
Well as you can see, I was here first and I'm just sorting mine out, I won't be long
He comes closer, I'm 6ft and built exactly as he describes
"Well you've come in the wrong way, you fat" he says, fist clenching. He steps even closer, trying to be as intimidating as a 5ft 5 rake of a pensioner can be, I can't help but laugh in his face, at such a pathetic sight.
"Come on then dhead, you gonna move or do I have to move you"
Aye good fking luck trying to shift me mate, I'd back off if I were you.
He now starts flapping his arms as if he wants to fly away, increasingly turning the colour of beetroot. This makes me laugh more, only causing more rage, I decide it's best to retreat before I have to physically defend myself.
I get in my car, he's walking back to his, assuming he's won the battle I shout
No one has had issue with me parking like this as they have brains and know I'd be in the same spot even if the correct way, and had you not been a snotty old towards me, I'd have gladly moved out your way.
Well this added more fuel to the fire, he comes marching back towards the car, I'd already shut the door and started the car, he's stood in front of the car, arms flapping and asking me to get out the car, I'm now highly amused and in fits of laughter, he comes round to the drivers' side, bangs on the window and tries the handle, I give him a one fingered wave whilst laughing and drive off.
Normally I'd go all cowardly but this is the first time I've actually stood my ground so I was quite proud, even more so I'd been in control and not resorted to violence, but then guilt hit as really I should've just driven off sooner or just not gone in the wrong way.
I'd be interested to hear your views
I visit the local recycling point at least every couple of days as I was sick of our recycling either not being collected by the council, or thrown all over the drive/pavement in windy conditions, so I do it myself, actually quite enjoy it as it gets me out after suffering some pretty dark moments in relation to mental health.
This was until an incident.
I always park on the end by the recycling bins as it's quiet round there and I'm causing no obstruction.
I park up as normal, admittedly facing the wrong way (it's at the end of a one way horseshoe, to exit I simply do full lock left in to parking space and reverse out, exiting the correct way) but I'd park in the very same place anyway regardless of which way I'm facing.
Just as I'm about to get out of the car, a Civic pulls in and slowly rolls to a stop, 30 seconds later, an old bloke gets out
"Are you going to be long? I want to do some recycling"
Am I in your way?
"YES"
Well as you can see, I was here first and I'm just sorting mine out, I won't be long
He comes closer, I'm 6ft and built exactly as he describes
"Well you've come in the wrong way, you fat
" he says, fist clenching. He steps even closer, trying to be as intimidating as a 5ft 5 rake of a pensioner can be, I can't help but laugh in his face, at such a pathetic sight."Come on then d
head, you gonna move or do I have to move you"Aye good f
king luck trying to shift me mate, I'd back off if I were you.He now starts flapping his arms as if he wants to fly away, increasingly turning the colour of beetroot. This makes me laugh more, only causing more rage, I decide it's best to retreat before I have to physically defend myself.
I get in my car, he's walking back to his, assuming he's won the battle I shout
No one has had issue with me parking like this as they have brains and know I'd be in the same spot even if the correct way, and had you not been a snotty old
towards me, I'd have gladly moved out your way.Well this added more fuel to the fire, he comes marching back towards the car, I'd already shut the door and started the car, he's stood in front of the car, arms flapping and asking me to get out the car, I'm now highly amused and in fits of laughter, he comes round to the drivers' side, bangs on the window and tries the handle, I give him a one fingered wave whilst laughing and drive off.
Normally I'd go all cowardly but this is the first time I've actually stood my ground so I was quite proud, even more so I'd been in control and not resorted to violence, but then guilt hit as really I should've just driven off sooner or just not gone in the wrong way.
I'd be interested to hear your views
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