How do you react to being hit ?
Discussion
I read in one othe threads about a poor chap being clipped 3 TIMES in a single journey on the way home. I have been clipped once (to date!) and I have to admit I caught him at the lights and went fairly mental at him (4x4 driver on mobile phone whilst sipping a cup of coffee).
Now I have less sympathy with cyclists who jump red lights, wear no reflective/hi-vis kit, have no lights fitted and generally ride recklessly, but for all sensible cyclists doe sit not drive you insane ??
I have to admit that on certain roads I ride in the middle of the lane so that cars cannot attempt to pass due to the narrow gap, if you ride in a standard position the cars are grazing your elbows and knees. I know this is far from ideal but rather that than get shoved into the wall/lampost/other cars
Now I have less sympathy with cyclists who jump red lights, wear no reflective/hi-vis kit, have no lights fitted and generally ride recklessly, but for all sensible cyclists doe sit not drive you insane ??
I have to admit that on certain roads I ride in the middle of the lane so that cars cannot attempt to pass due to the narrow gap, if you ride in a standard position the cars are grazing your elbows and knees. I know this is far from ideal but rather that than get shoved into the wall/lampost/other cars
In addition to ^^^^^^^^
After the occasional close shave a partially full water bottle through an open window and/or a sharp kick to a body panel and/or bending back a door mirror may allegedly be approriate
The mirror gag is especially effective if followed by a chirpy "well if youre not gonna use them why not"
Especially if the offender is an old lady *joke* or the traffic is so dense as to facilitate an easy escape
It is something that I really wish I didn't do, but I absolutely lose it when someone threatens my safety.
The closest I have came to being knocked off was when some guy facing me turned right, only reason I didn't come off was my avoiding action - even still he hit my right foot hard enough to unclip it. I lost my rag, followed him into the car park and proceeded to scream bloody murder at him for 5 minutes in my best glaswegian "ahm gonnae stab f
k outta yoo" accent before taking a photo of him and his reg plate - after having calmed down I realised how stupid it was - I'm built like a cyclist and could have got a pasting for my troubles.
Its a difficult one - someone has basically played with your life, so I think you are well within your rights to go mental over it, but no real good can come of it and worst case you end up getting a kicking or under the wheels of the offending car if they take a dislike to you.
The closest I have came to being knocked off was when some guy facing me turned right, only reason I didn't come off was my avoiding action - even still he hit my right foot hard enough to unclip it. I lost my rag, followed him into the car park and proceeded to scream bloody murder at him for 5 minutes in my best glaswegian "ahm gonnae stab f
k outta yoo" accent before taking a photo of him and his reg plate - after having calmed down I realised how stupid it was - I'm built like a cyclist and could have got a pasting for my troubles.Its a difficult one - someone has basically played with your life, so I think you are well within your rights to go mental over it, but no real good can come of it and worst case you end up getting a kicking or under the wheels of the offending car if they take a dislike to you.
on the flipside i had a cyclist pull out on me whilst filtering on my motorbike, he then started screaming that i was trying to kill him etc and went to grab my mirror. He didn't get away with that one and i punted him into a parked car.
I'm all for people trying to defend themselves but if you're in the wrong don't expect the other person to take it lightly.
I'm all for people trying to defend themselves but if you're in the wrong don't expect the other person to take it lightly.
I just carry on ,it happens nearly every ride so dont let it bother me any more.
Some dick slammed his anchors in front of our group yesterday becasue we were two abreast at 8 in the mornong on an empty wide open road.I do think the attidue from motorists now its a trendy sport is getting beter on the whole
Some dick slammed his anchors in front of our group yesterday becasue we were two abreast at 8 in the mornong on an empty wide open road.I do think the attidue from motorists now its a trendy sport is getting beter on the whole
drfrank said:
I read in one othe threads about a poor chap being clipped 3 TIMES in a single journey on the way home. I have been clipped once (to date!) and I have to admit I caught him at the lights and went fairly mental at him (4x4 driver on mobile phone whilst sipping a cup of coffee).
Now I have less sympathy with cyclists who jump red lights, wear no reflective/hi-vis kit, have no lights fitted and generally ride recklessly, but for all sensible cyclists doe sit not drive you insane ??
I have to admit that on certain roads I ride in the middle of the lane so that cars cannot attempt to pass due to the narrow gap, if you ride in a standard position the cars are grazing your elbows and knees. I know this is far from ideal but rather that than get shoved into the wall/lampost/other cars
I went mad at someone on Friday, Just pulled out on a roundabout on me. To stop hitting him I had to pull along side him (driverside). He looked at me an I called him all the names under the sun!!! I had a strobe front light on (daytime) and a rear on all the time. No way he didnt see me, just didnt realise how fast my approach was.Now I have less sympathy with cyclists who jump red lights, wear no reflective/hi-vis kit, have no lights fitted and generally ride recklessly, but for all sensible cyclists doe sit not drive you insane ??
I have to admit that on certain roads I ride in the middle of the lane so that cars cannot attempt to pass due to the narrow gap, if you ride in a standard position the cars are grazing your elbows and knees. I know this is far from ideal but rather that than get shoved into the wall/lampost/other cars
Mr F
Ages ago some woman cut me up and actually hit my bike and knocked me off, it buggered my brake lever, I was okayish. Just. She drove on and I hoofed it after her and sure enough she got stopped at some lights.
After a little bit of too and fro where she wound her window up and gave me the finger, I just kicked her wing mirror off and rode off.
After a little bit of too and fro where she wound her window up and gave me the finger, I just kicked her wing mirror off and rode off.
Targarama said:
What if someone damages your bike? Has anyone got a driver to pay for repairs?
Isn't this a normal insurance case? Like in any other accident? So fill in paperwork and let the driver claim it on their insurance, get yourself over to nearest bike shop and let them asses the damage and give a quote.Reading these stories I'm glad to be living in Holland. Biking is much more accepted and drivers know what to expect.
Fecking hell, cycling on the roads scares me more and more every day, but it's so vastly quicker for me to get to work (7-8mins by bike, 20+ in car-Can be 40!!) that I persevere. I do get so annoyed by others trying to kill me though.
On the whole, confronting people just isn't worth it. Half the time they will back down and then you look like a ranty git, the other half of the time they will kick off. The odds aren't brilliant.
If someone's pulled a particularly stupid manouevre then there is always the option of them receiving a summons in the post. I appreciate this isn't an option for everyone and TBH I just haven't got the time at work to justify it for anything other than utter lunacy/deliberately dangerous driving.
On the whole, confronting people just isn't worth it. Half the time they will back down and then you look like a ranty git, the other half of the time they will kick off. The odds aren't brilliant.
If someone's pulled a particularly stupid manouevre then there is always the option of them receiving a summons in the post. I appreciate this isn't an option for everyone and TBH I just haven't got the time at work to justify it for anything other than utter lunacy/deliberately dangerous driving.
Targarama said:
What if someone damages your bike? Has anyone got a driver to pay for repairs?
When I got bounced off the bonnet of a Zafira last year the chap was very civilised and paid for the wheels to be straightened and the bike to be checked over. It was only a £40 bill, but we met up once it was fixed and he handed over the cash without a quibble.Might have been a different matter if it was a new full carbon frame needed though!
I must admit that if I reacted to every close shave I have on my daily commute, I'd be in a punch up nearly every day. I try and reserve my anger for only the most severe offenders..... like the arrogant aehole who pulled out infront of me on a roundabout in Kingston, this was a very very near miss and it was only due to my defensive riding that he didn't hit me. It was in light traffic, clear visability, plus I was wearing a Hi-Viz jacket. Abolutely no excuse. When I shouted all the names under the sun at him all I got was an arrogant smirk back. 500yards up the road I caught him at roadworks and nearly put my fist through his side window.
It's funny, cos off a bike i would never loose my cool like this, and never resort to agression to resolve anything, but when someone comes that close to hitting me on the bike it's like waiving a red flag at a bull!
ehole who pulled out infront of me on a roundabout in Kingston, this was a very very near miss and it was only due to my defensive riding that he didn't hit me. It was in light traffic, clear visability, plus I was wearing a Hi-Viz jacket. Abolutely no excuse. When I shouted all the names under the sun at him all I got was an arrogant smirk back. 500yards up the road I caught him at roadworks and nearly put my fist through his side window. It's funny, cos off a bike i would never loose my cool like this, and never resort to agression to resolve anything, but when someone comes that close to hitting me on the bike it's like waiving a red flag at a bull!
carreauchompeur said:
On the whole, confronting people just isn't worth it. Half the time they will back down and then you look like a ranty git, the other half of the time they will kick off. The odds aren't brilliant.
On the flip side (when driving) I've had one loony try and throw granite sets (Edinburgh cobbles) through my windscreen and another tried to slash me at a set of traffic lights at 6.45 am. These people are out there....
I try to maintain an equilibrium although it's not easy when pumped full of adrenaline
I got taken off once during 2 years of commuting in London. Bloke decided to use a bus lane to nip up the inside to a junction and took me out as he pulled left into the bus lane with no indication. I slid along the road for a bit but fortunately as it was dampish not too much road rash. Bike was OK I was mainly alright apart from big holes in my decent winter tights.
After the initial adrenalin rush of thanking the diety of the day that you're OK I did kick off having a good rant but nothing else. As folks point out the violence option despite being very tempting could turn around on you, plus as a commuter you're likely to use the same routes about the same times each day so you are likely to meet again. Think about this with the nutters we have around.
I did report the incident to the police and they were singularly unhelpful despite the obvious rips of my shorts & smattering of surface blood plus his car reg and times etc. They wouldn't even go round and talk to him. I did not extract any revenge on his car as that could link back to me in his own mind but I did find out what he did, builder, and I may contacted Revenue & Customs saying he'd offered to do a cash in hand job without the VAT...
After the initial adrenalin rush of thanking the diety of the day that you're OK I did kick off having a good rant but nothing else. As folks point out the violence option despite being very tempting could turn around on you, plus as a commuter you're likely to use the same routes about the same times each day so you are likely to meet again. Think about this with the nutters we have around.
I did report the incident to the police and they were singularly unhelpful despite the obvious rips of my shorts & smattering of surface blood plus his car reg and times etc. They wouldn't even go round and talk to him. I did not extract any revenge on his car as that could link back to me in his own mind but I did find out what he did, builder, and I may contacted Revenue & Customs saying he'd offered to do a cash in hand job without the VAT...
The few times i've been clipped or badly cut up and i've managed to catch up, i've given them a polite earful, generally I don't swear, as they could have children in the car, people need to be more aware, and not in such a fking hurry.
once, I tried catching up with a guy after being cut up forcing me onto a kerb, but he went the other way, but I gestured to him as he went, he stopped and reversed, the minute he did this, I spun round, lept off my bike (leaving it in the middle of the road) at which point he decided to change his mind and leg it.
He'd have probably given me a pasting, but I out psyched him
king hurry.once, I tried catching up with a guy after being cut up forcing me onto a kerb, but he went the other way, but I gestured to him as he went, he stopped and reversed, the minute he did this, I spun round, lept off my bike (leaving it in the middle of the road) at which point he decided to change his mind and leg it.
He'd have probably given me a pasting, but I out psyched him
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