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I really hate having to cycle on the roads, seems that drivers like to cut you up, refuse to give you right of way on round abouts and in general seem to think you're some kind of road nuisance that doesn't have any right to be on the road at all.
On the other hand I have clipped a few wing mirrors, run my pedals along bonnets just at the top of bumpers when cars pull out too far to make me swerve, and on rare occasions rammed my front wheel into the side of cars that pull out with laughing drivers.
Any one every lose the rag or do nasty stuff back to drivers that dick about, so they get the message?
Are you permanently angry?
I shot a man in Renault
......cars that pull out with laughing drivers.
"laughing drivers" ? ..........you see laughing drivers ? 😕
What does your shrink say about the "laughing drivers" ?
I don't have a shrink, I have bevvy!
Perhaps they recognise you
A lot of people now adays think dickin other people about is funny. Comes from being sick in the soul.
I'm not always angry I laugh more than most. How ever when it comes to cycling I don't like anyone or anything mucking about or spoiling it.
Lol at Scaredypants.
I think it comes down to whether or not it's intentional or if it's simply unavoidable.
If someone is doing something just to take the piss! should they not get an earful and taught a lesson so they don't do it again whenever possible?
I laugh more than most. How ever when it comes to cycling .......
Yep, getting on a bike soon wipes the smile off my face - cycling is a serious business.
But those laughing drivers who think that driving is just one big joke, are sick in the soul........[i]I'm tellin yer[/i]
ernie_lynch
You seem to have ignored a fair whack of that sentence!
I like cycling and enjoy it a lot. I don't enjoy drivers cutting me up or employing other bully tactics and thinking it's funny. Although not all drivers laugh while doing it, normally they smirk or simply do the usual blank look bullsh1t.
A lot of drivers do muck cyclist about and drive in a way intended to intimidate or cause offense.
Revvving engines, braking at the last minute when pulling up at intersections or round about's, driving very close to the rear wheel. As the title says this thread is about good times riding being spoilt by drivers.
Perhaps you're one of those rare people who finds all of the above mentioned and more reason to be cheery?
I think a lot of these problems would be resolved if cars were fitted with performance bearings.
What [b] bearing [/b] does this have on anything?
I shot a man in Renault
😆
A lot of people now adays think dickin other people about is funny. Comes from being sick in the soul.
Quite.
Thank all of you for the other thread on bearings, I hope you don't mind it too much it was my birthday present to myself.Laughed so hard I almost pissed myself
I don't have a shrink, I have bevvy!
I have both a shrink [i]and[/i] bevvy. Not necessarily at the same time.
seems that drivers like to cut you up, refuse to give you right of way on round abouts and in general seem to think you're some kind of road nuisance that doesn't have any right to be on the road at all.
sounds like the common denominator here is YOU. Get some proper training in road cycling. Before a laughing driver kills you.
when it comes to cycling I don't like anyone or anything mucking about or spoiling it.
probably best not to ride anywhere where you will encounter other people or vehicles then
I have tapped cars due to lack of options and jesticulated wildly at n0bbers but i have never deliberately damaged them or felt the need to moan that a car was driven badly today when I went out on the roads ....I would have to post everytime I went on a road.
You're all right British roads and drivers are superb and not one person reading this will have anything bad to say about drivers or their experiences with them and the roads.
As for pot holes, ludicrously shaped spead bumps or traffic lights and the roads in general, ALL GOOD!!!
I am the only rider on STW who gets pissed of by drivers mucking me about and I should therefore learn how to be glad drivers do and learn how to ride my bike without offending them!
Points taken you live you learn.
Thanks peeps, am I ever glad you added your wisdom and brightened up my day!
As for the bearings thread. there wasn't any point taking it seriously so I might as well enjoy myself!
junkyard
If someone deliberately drives out in front of me and is dickin me about. I feel it is my obligation to respond in a fashion that not only fits the circumstances but that will also help them understand not to muck cyclists about.
Jesticulating is fine but it does not serve any real purpose and will not make any motorist think twice about behaving in a similar manner to other cyclists in the future.
That said, favourite signals to use and favourite insults to shout at motorist who are @ssholes. Not that there are any of course, theoretical @ssholes as it where!
I have clipped a few wing mirrors, run my pedals along bonnets just at the top of bumpers when cars pull out too far to make me swerv
So you deliberately damage cars when you could have avoided doing so?
You are a ****
I have never said that drivers are all good. I often think they must be driving because they can't walk and breathe at the same time.
I firmly believe that there are too many drivers and that the standards set to pass the driving test are way too low in terms of consideration and basic courtesy to other road users.
But I often encounter cyclists who are constantly being cut up and having incidents with cars, and other riders who don't even when they use the same roads. The conclusion seems obvious.
'Teaching drivers a lesson' by being aggressive just means that the driver from then on believes ALL cyclists should be attacked. Not a good long term solution.
Yes I have deliberately inflicted damage on cars, not often but when some tosser needs to back off! My theory is that I should swerve or move as little as possible to avoid them, in my day to day use of the road. Especially if they are pulling out while looking straight at me expecting to bully me into stopping.
As for clipping wing mirrors that's more to do with not having enough space than being nasty and cars parking too far from the kurb.
I treat everyone fairly on the flip side of that I treat people the way they treat me which is only fair! as for being a four star I will interpret that to mean sexy, in borat speach.
In my own defence I always have time for cyclists. I don't swerve into them or cut them up. I don't drive too close, pull out at round abouts or intersections and expect to bully them into stopping. I don't get annoyed when they are travelling a long at 15kmh or so and start beebing my horn or revving my engine.
In short the attitufe you show me you will be shown in return, don't take the piss and I wont be nasty!!!
bassspine
I disagree, most drivers see cyclist as an easy or soft target. They would be far less likely to try and bully someone if they believed they would meet resistance or be challenged.
If they believe the car will be damaged if they try it on will they be less or more likely to try it on?
I'm not saying kick the car or jump up and down on the bonnet, if I choose to position my pedals in the middle of a manuever to avoid hitting a car that is intentionaly pulling out in front of me, so that said pedals scrape the bumper or bonnet. Is that not a subtle but fair warning?
If the do nothing but put up with drivers behaviour approach was going to work, it would have by now, would it not?
Cyclist have been putting up with sh1t for years!!
I feel it is my obligation to respond in a fashion that not only fits the circumstances but that will also help them understand not to muck cyclists about
really I believe there are chaps out there who feel the need to hit people, including ladies, who have direspected/annoyed them. Most people think these people are agressive violent thugs
My theory is that I should swerve or move as little as possible to avoid them
you dont though you deliberately hit them
most drivers see cyclist as an easy or soft target. They would be far less likely to try and bully someone if they believed they would meet resistance or be challenged
well yes if every minor trafic infringement led to a violent confrontation they probably would but it seems like an overreaction.
Ride the orad accept some car drivers are c0cks and just look after yourself without getting aggresive.
I get as much bad driving in a car as I do on my bike it is just a drop in driving standards /consideration. We all get angry but your seems a bit OTT. Jestiulating does nothing I agree, but it is still a better choice than criminal damage.
If you allow drivers to provoke you and start gesticulating and simply confirm for them that they have indead provoked you.
If you do not send a message on every occasion that you can, that actions have consequences! you are simply encouraging them to be inconsiderate and enforcing the belief that cyclist are fair game!
My way isn't perfect, but it's a lot better than not standing upto road hogs that use their cars size to bully cyclists.
I don't give an inch. In fact in my job I sometimes have to put myself deliberately in front of a car that is about to endanger my pupils.
But I do it with a big smile and a thumbs up. It's far more annoying to the road hogs than criminal damage
that actions have consequences! you are simply encouraging them to be inconsiderate and enforcing the belief that cyclist are fair game!
yes clearly your way of breaking the law and causing criminal damages - I assume you think this action has positively conributed to the bad drivers respect of cyclists- is the way forward. If they reat to that O assume you just have to keep[over] reacting more than them till you are fighting with weapons to the death?
Do you really think that damaging cars will improve driving? Why not ram every car than inches out a junction in your own car as well that will show them!
Junkyard
Beliefs are more important than flowery theories that don't work in
practice.
We're not talking about a car inching out to improve it's field of view or day to day driving necessities, we're discussing people with a frame of mind that believe bullying cyclist is acceptable.
To do as you say and encourage them to believe that, is to me unnaceptable. The damage is being caused by their actions and inconsiderate behaviour.
If a driver who has clearly looked at me then decides to pull out in my path and I then ram into thier car, who's fault is that?
If I had stopped they would simply continue in that behaviour pattern and do it to every cyclist that comes along, believing it acceptable and having no consiquences. If however they come to understand that if they do that there will be consiquences, will they be inclined to do it again?
Yes it could lead to violence and some times does. However defending your right to go about your business and not encouraging that kind of behaviour in my opinion is more likely to work. Than reinforcing their view point that it is not only acceptable but beneficial to do so.
Since you have taken it to the extreme and said
If they reat to that O assume you just have to keep[over] reacting more than them till you are fighting with weapons to the death?
though some of that statement is clearly incomprehensible I get the meaning, I think!
What is the extreme in this case of my argument, what if drivers simply ignored cyclist all together and pulled out every time they came along?
If I choose to stop or not is my choice, if the driver hasn't seen me and has simply been lapsed in their concentration, then fair enough, I can day dream myself when driving at times.
If they have intentionaly chosen to deny me my rights as a road user and decided to treat me unfairly, then I believe it is more important to inforce my rights than it is to respect their property.
We all ride around Edinburgh everyday and even drive if needs be.
None of us seem to have anywhere near the trouble you get... odd.
What parts of town are you finding you have to go militant in?
Beliefs are more important than flowery theories that don't work in
practice.
you believe aggresive and poor drivijng will be solved by greater violence on the part of the victim? I am sure driving standards would improve if everyone just shot every driver who annoyed them/did not follow the highway code? I will put away my law abiding jesticualting self and ****t any mother ****er who annoys me now when I cycle that will teach em so I am told. Reclaim the roads with greater violence fellow cyclists now who is with me and kaesae?
Yes it could lead to violence and some times does
I do hope the fight does not make you late for the intensive physio on your bad back that leaves you unable to stand for more than few hours.
Odd seems people all over the place are having problems while out biking except you riders.
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cycling-revenge-stories#post-1377323
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/tits
No doubt you'll be able to go over and tell them exactly what you just told me with such vehemence. After all you wouldn't want to be guilty of cheap shot hypocrisy!
I will look forward to you explaining it to them, or maybe not as there does seem to be more than one of them and even odds aren't really your style!!!
On my way to Bristol city centre or to work, cut up, not giving way etc.
Also wave thanks to drivers giving way when they don't need to or me letting someone out etc.
Try not to look for negatives?
Just focus on my destination with a smile. 
Not giving way is a pain, it's people pulling out right in front of you when they see you or intentionally hitting/clipping you I tend to get nasty about.
5 and half hours off road this morning. Completely stress free. Half a mile of road to get home and in the first 200yds a women in a renault drives up indicates left and almost wipes me out by turning in on me. Not a clue what she was thinking off but it was a sour end to a epic ride.
+1 op 😕
Kaesae.
If maybe you spent more time on bike, rather than spending all day , every day being a knob , then you would not have so many issues.
I do not know if it is because you are an urban keyboard warrior, who feels the need to rant and rage and express himself on the internet, or maybe you had a difficult childhood. Maybe in person you may be perfectly sensible and level headed , but the willy waving and rantings of a teenager whose hormone imbalance is seriously effecting his judgement is frankly getting tiresome.
Now jog on , its the weekend , get off your laptop and go out and actually ride your bike, rather than just pretending to .
singletrackmind
Thanks for the input. From now on I will try and stay focused on being nice to people who are complete @ssholes, Starting from now on! I hope you have had a good weekend.
I will also try and stay focused on the real important issues. Unlike road safety and drivers not really seeing cyclists as people at all or as road users with rights either.
As for defending yourself from phsycho dogs. why waste your time discussing another issue that doesn't matter when there are serious matters to be discussed.
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/is-my-collegue-a-closet-gheyer
Truth be told I've mellowed out in my old age and I'm not sure that if someone does much me about any more I would be nasty to them.
Then again I just might and anyone that does, good on you!
Why be a victim?
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When you can be a winner!
I had a car that was trying to push me into a ditch in the side of the road and he wouldnt stop. So a firm punch to his wind mirror sent that flying! follwed by a kick to his car door!
Witness after the incident said to me that they thought the driver was trying to run me over.
So is this wrong in the eyes of STW ?
PlumzRichard
They believe we are fair game and that there will be no consiquences. Had you not damaged the car and gave the pr1ck a reason to back off! what would have happend?
Then again maybe you should have calmly let him run you off the road to let him see that cyclist are good people, by attacking a defenceless car all you do is escalate the problem, genius!!!
Kaesae,(and I'm not saying that things are your fault here) have you thought about maybe looking into some cycle training?, at least to get a second opinion on things you could do better (most of us are doing something less than perfectly)
I cycle a fair bit in Edinburgh and honestly dont find other road users to be bad there at all- quite the reverse, I tend to chill out once past Barnton.
west kipper
Hey. I don't find it happening all the time, but it did happen a fair bit when I used to cycle a lot. I've only been out cycling for a week and one day and some driver coming out of asda pulled out almost right into me. Didn't seem to see me at all, luckily I have incorporated and perfected the wave with one hand and whistle no hander, how's that for riding skills.
These incidents are fairly rare, however they are becoming more common.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1930961.stm
This thread is about losing the rag at drivers that try to bully you on the roads.
When I was younger I was a bit of a do unto others as they rider. Maybe the next time something happens I will be less agro and simply let the motorist in question get away with it and believe doing it is fine.
Maybe not though as I believe it would be a bad idea to capitulate to inconsiderate or beligerent behaviour that is dangerous to cyclists.
As for improving my riding skills. How exactly will improving my riding skills change the mentality of drivers in this country and enable them to be more considerate of cyclists
Same question I asked earlier on really, if they have nothing to lose and there are no consiquences for their actions? why would they change thier behaviour and what is to stop them acting in a reckless or dangerous way towards cyclists?
Well, changing things like say, your road positioning can make a massive difference to the way other road users react to you, for instance, not riding in the very edge of the road can mean the driver sees you earlier. Stuff like that.
Aye, you still get the odd choob doing something daft, but very few drivers are actually malicious, and doing a bit of pre-emptive thinking for them helps avoid incidents in the first place.
Yeah good points. A lot of people in Edinburgh are cool. A lot more @ssholes than there where 5 or even 3 years ago though.
There are also quite a few malicious drivers about, even driving my car I see loads of them. Bus and taxi drivers can be real scum bags.
I guess well just have to wait and see what other road users have experienced. Like I said the incidents aren't every ride but they do seem to occur more than I would like!
And it does really piss me of when they look right at you and pull out laughing or smirking. Maybe it's just the odd helmets and shinies I tend to ware and the fact that they don't realize under the gear is an actual person!
Or maybe their too distracted by my appearance to consider the fact that if they pull out right infront of me expecting me to stop, I might just not as said armour/outfit will after all protect me!
I will think about it later on, however for now I still think that if they look right at you and pull straight out in front of you intentionally, it's upto you if you stop or not!