Thought I'd share this with you, as an example of what self control can achieve!
Friday night, 5 of us riding down a country lane nearly at the pub. Two abreast, but moving to single file if we hear a car approach (enough room for car to pass comfortably).
We hear another car and drop into single file, but it whizzes past inches from our handlebars with a woman yelling out of the window at our leading rider about two-abreast being illegal. I mean really yelling, and forcing him into the verge. His instant recartion is to fold the wing mirror back as they slow up quickly together, and the wing mirror drops off, hanging by a wire!
A short discussion ensues accusing us of dangerous cycling for being two abreast, and damage to the car. Its nearly 9pm and the kitchens close soon, so we dodge round the car and pedal on.
Cue tyre spinning and revving, and they carreer past us again and swerve straight into the bank, almost taking out the lead rider again, nearly grounding the car and wrecking the front plastic bumper. Our lead rider, whos 6ft 3 and fit, is also incredibly tolerant and patient, and has another brief discussion about the perils of driving with intention to murder. We pass and head on.
Again, more tyre spinning and revving of their small people carrier and they shoot past, fast and close, this time swerving the other way and blocking the road. They threaten to call the police and give a torrent of abuse.
We ask politely what started all this, and their response is due to riding two abreast, which is illegal. Also one of our five had his rear light switched off, which in everybody's book is grounds to kill a cyclist of course. By now, two of my colleagues are filminmg the debacle in iphones and taking car details, and we also start to call the police (which they have threatened but haven't done). I would point out that they are a couple in their 40's, not fit looking, had a blue badge and a sticker on the drivers window asking to keep clear for disabled access.
We politely explain (albeit in quite loud voices) that we are all professional people - doctors, lawyers etc (a slight exaggeration, but not that far from teh truth) and that we would welcome police intervention as they would be far more interested in his driving antics and intent to cause bodily (and bicycly) harm than talking to us.
His manner is beginning to change, a definite calming as he starts to contemplate the seriousness of his situation. We continue to explain that his wing mirror was already broken (which it was, plastic housing already gone) and that his actions had done more harm to his car. After a few further minutes of being bombarded with logic from us all, he backed right down and asked if the whole thing could be forgotten. We ended with a handshake (he really didnt want to let go, and was visibly shaking), and let him drive off. With about £600 damage to his car.
Cyclists 1, Road Rage driver 0
Having given this some consideration over the weekend, I have now convinced myself that this was a planned attack (or at least opportunistic). You can see the press - vigilanty mountain bikers block road and attack defenseless disabled drivers, damage car. Good for a hefty insurance claim at least.
So be careful out there, and don't lose it - patience and logical discussion really throws red-misted eejits off course!
