[Closed] PSA - Aggressive, violent commuter on North Embankment

I was driving through town this morning in my Astra coupe (2.2) replenished with 'Pioneer' and other decals down the side and I was abused by a cyclist. I dont think he liked my dustbin exhaust at all!

This is serious.....hilarious mind and I was embarrassed but said 'what up' to him and made a 'gang-sign' before driving off 😆

not sure a 'brake test' is the solution to tailgaiting in either a car or on a bike.

couldn't you have just pedalled a bit harder and lost him?

so why didn't you stop?

[i]there's cars, trucks, cyclists etc in front and to the side of me, the last thing I want is this tubby fool riding like that

So, I momentarily lock the back wheel[/i]

Oh yeah, cos that was a good idea!

I reckon hes prob nice and normal till the guy infront does somthing idiotic making him almost swerve into traffic!!!!

He was an idiot for riding too close, your a ****ing danger for almost causing an accident!

If he was so fat and slow couldn't you just drop him?
Or is that why you're p1ssed off? 😉

He was an idiot for riding too close, your a ****ing danger for almost causing an accident!

I agree - locking back wheel with someone that close IS aggressive - a turn round and a chat about why that was not a great idea would have been better.

sorry to hear that, if i were you i'd stick some 'bombers' in your backpack and 'OWN' him at the next set of lights.

Clear your nostrils next time? 😉

it was me!

nice tag but I was in Sheffield last night!

I'm with stato, brake test was a stupid move, your own fault realy

I used to ride along the north embankment - enjoyed racing off the lights but figured cyclists should vaguely group in speed order so that people are less likely to get held up. Found it odd that some weak cyclists would push past lycrad up roadies; I did go in front of those I thought I was probably faster than but stayed behind the more obvious speedsters.

Folks, the traffic lights on that stretch of road are sufficiently close together and badly phased for bikes that it is very, very hard to drop someone who is happy to filter to the front of the cyclists at each stop line. It is one of London's miseries that you have to overtake the same fat asses over and over again.

🙂

He was short, fat and slow but managed to catch up with you?

locking brakes aint a brilliant idea - but fair enough

if the litlle git had tried pushing my shoulder whilst riding id have gone ape on him. you probably did the litlle fatty some good by making him rider harder/faster for a little while anyway!

see if you can make him chase you for every ride home for a couple of weeks and see if he loses any weight - could sell your services to the NHS!

simonfbarnes - Member

it was me!

then there'll be pics - put 'em up (see what I.... nah, never mind)

he was probably cycling close to get a good bottom shot.

Mudshark, that is an eminently sensible approach. The world would be a marginally happier place if we all did that.

🙂

matt_outandabout - Member

He was an idiot for riding too close, your a ****ing danger for almost causing an accident!

I agree - locking back wheel with someone that close IS aggressive - a turn round and a chat about why that was not a great idea would have been better.

I'd already tried that twice, a polite turn, with a quick hand signal to suggest dropping back.

Only one thing for it - pop across to the South Bank and play dodge the pedestrian / ogle at the totty :o)

[i]a polite turn, with a quick hand signal[/i]

He probably thought you were just checking to see he was still 'on the back' or suggesting he have a turn on the front (which he prob couldnt manage if he so slow as you suggest). Far more sensible in these situations is to slow down and let him pass, having a word as he passes if possible or waiting till you both stop if not.

BigDummy - well I suppose I'm stating the obvious but others didn't seem to think it so obvious. I was on a SS Inbred with 48/16 ratio and used to beat pretty much everyone across the junction but the roadies tended to catch me before too long. That was great training for me; now I'm out of London sometimes think I should go for rides where I repeatedly stop then start again accelerating as quickly as possible....

Here's another appraoch.

Eat lots of beans / cabbage, curry, etc.

When fatboy is behind you, release your stored gas.

Either slow down or speed up so he can't follow you. Brake testing him is stupid.

maybe pk-ripper didn't lock the brakes intentionally? I don't like people riding on my rear whel either, pretty rude if you ask me. If I were you I'd just have stayed behind him rather than getting in front and not getting away from him cleanly.

then for the next mile or so repeatedly grabbing and shaking my shoulder whilst riding, trying to get me to stop and "sort it out".

Why didn't you kick him off his bike? That is a serious suggestion. Sounds like a tosser.

miketually - Member

He was short, fat and slow but managed to catch up with you?

Good point, well made

So you tried to make someone crash and think

Aggressive and violent behaviour is just pathetic

Hmmm....

The good thing about being on a bike is that you can actually talk to people. I recommend it - try it some time.

The other day I was riding home at a reasonable pace, and this bloke came up right behind me really going for it on a sit-up commuter bike (chainguards, the works) with hi-viz clothing and the like. I thought 'who are you trying to kid, why do commuters always flog themselves to race me?'.. at the next lights tho it turned out to be the bloke from my lbs who is a damn quick rider. So he probably wasn't even trying.

I love the high horseness on here. If tailgating he was in the wrong. I think a quick locking of the rear wheel, (which won't actually slow you down by much), is an acceptable deterrent. How many of the people condoning this behaviour have actually ridden in central london?

Maybe he didn't want to ride fast that day?

If someone kept grabbing and shaking my shoulder whilst I was riding I would instictively stop and punch them, honestly.

How many of the people condoning this behaviour have actually ridden in central london?

Damned right. Oh sure, I was in 'nam in 64 but, no, I've never [i][b]ridden in central london[/b][/i]

Tell me maaan, do you still get the flashbacks ?

You sir are an idiot. A slow unfit idiot too by the sounds of it.

I wouldn't have brake tested him to be honest but if he was grabbing my shoulder and trying to push me off my bike I'd have most definitely unclipped and booted him off his bike without a doubt. No one has the right to push you on bike or off bike.

I only ever got tailgaited by roadies and I didn't care - more worried that I might not be smooth enough for their safety. Only got a bit annoyed by fatties pushing past me at the lights but I just took enjoyment in out sprinting them when the lights changed.

[i]If someone kept grabbing and shaking my shoulder whilst I was riding I would instictively stop and punch them, honestly. [/i]

Not sure I would have the balls to do that, but it would be tempting.

If I was riding behind someone and they "brake checked" me then I'd probably react pretty much the same as the guy that you did it to.
I know how to ride in a group, I often ride about an inch off someone's wheel if I know them, but if there's someone I don't know or don't like who's riding on my wheel I stop pedalling until they bugger off and then carry on on my own.
Why don't you just learn how to get along with people?

Wasn't the fat bast**d actually assaulting you by grabbing and shaking your shoulder. I'd say it gave you the right to "defend" yourself.

And anyhow, if fatty wasn't on a lead you should have kicked him in the head

I'd at least stop and have a row with him, even if I didn't punch him. If he was causing me to be very unstable on a bike I'd consider it self defence!

If I was riding behind someone and they "brake checked" me then I'd probably react pretty much the same as the guy that you did it to.
I know how to ride in a group, I often ride about an inch off someone's wheel if I know them, but if there's someone I don't know or don't like who's riding on my wheel I stop pedalling until they bugger off and then carry on on my own.
Why don't you just learn how to get along with people?

You shouldnt be riding that close behind people who have not given you permission to do so (i.e. club/group riding). You might know how to ride in a group but I for one would not want you riding on my arse, regardless of how good you are. Why dont you just learn not to provoke people by hugging their rear?

I know exactly what PK's on about. This is common, in town. I had the same happen to me, many years ago now. Some tw4t hanging 2 or 3 inches off my back wheel. It's pretty disconcerting, when you have to try and deal with the homicidal drivers around you, too. I asked him 3 times 'd'you mind, mate, not riding so close behind me? If you want to overtake, then go for it.' Nothing but a 'yeah, whatever' sneer, in response.

So I braked hard, when we were both doing about 10-20mph. Punted me forward a good few yards, and he ended up on the pavement, in front of loads of bemused pedestrians. I just looked down at him and said 'that's why you shouldn't get so close up someone's arse, you cupid stunt.' I think he suffered a few bruises, nowt more. An a big dent to his ego. He might not do that again, though.

As for him grabbing hold of you, well, that's asking for a decking. I commend PK for being so restrained.

I've done the 'bit and bit' thing with roadies, now and then. That can be quite fun, when you're tooling down Jamaica Road at 25mph+. But that's when you both know what to expect.

Sounds like this bloke's a ****, the sort that give others a bad name. Should've waited until he was alongside you, then took his front wheel out...

Huh commuters racing 🙂 My mate constantly get someone in a suit trying to race him between lights when he is on his bike going for a spin. You can be really quick and fit but like someone wrote before, timing on the lights doesnt do You any favors so if You dont like jumping the red lights than it would be pretty hard do loose someone.

With tailgating I would say its ok when You know that the second person knows how to do it and pays attention. Than You can always switch the lead and that can seriously help with the average speed. Not as brill if the guy is using You as a wind shield 😉

Well anyway this guy trying to provoke a fight that wasnt cool. And even the fact that You locked Your wheel is not an excuse for him to go ballistic, should have let him pass and scrub his rear wheel and tell him to go faster as You are not amused with his pace than just drop him when it would get up hill a bit 🙂

Well anyway this guy trying to provoke a fight that wasnt cool. And even the fact that You locked Your wheel is not an excuse for him to go ballistic

I agree

*wonders a bit if there's more to this*

Oh, and Fred - I had that with a bloke once. He was wearing the same shorts as me. I had a word but he wasn't going to do anything about it. Anyway, I braked hard and as he shot past me I snapped his neck with a flick of my wrist. I was out of sight before he hit the ground.

never glanced back. at all. tosser deserved all he got

*beats chest and howls*

I can't get past the 'stopping at red lights' bit of the OP !!

Riding E to W along N'bank can't think of more than two sets I'd bother stopping at, and those only in open traffic not crush hour jammage - MTFU and run those reds, far more of an adrenaline rush than playing ****ty with the fatty............
😉

Bloody commuter racing, I was coming back from an early morning hack on the S/S, pulled out onto the main road coming back down into town, not exactly going all that fast due to spinning out - I'd come out in front of a slow moving short ass 40 something on his never-seen-a-trail-in-its-life MTB - next thing I know he was practically having a heart attack trying to blast past me in top gear...

I LOL'd and carried on gently spinning away on 32x16... *sigh* I expect he probably bragged about that scalp this morning too...

He's on my soon to be new commute route, perhaps I should pick him out when I'm on the Cervelo and show him speed 😈

The chances of someone taking you down with them when they touch your back wheel is pretty small, I've been there lots of times and not hit the ground when they have.

The other option is just to not let it happen. With decent stretches between lights you can slowly up the pace until you see them dropping off, slow down a little and do the same again. They'll soon suffer. Hills help obviously. Makes for a good interval session too.

Hmm.
Maybe riding in london's different. But I my book to deliberately brake check someone drafting is really poor form. I'd certainly repsond with a body check if anyone did that too me. Lead them into pot-holes, parked cars by all means, but brake checking is a different matter.

scardey- what an exciting life you must lead! 😮

Riding round a big place like London is pretty terrifying, tbh. That's why everyone's on edge so much. Confrontation is almost inevitable. I've even seen meek-looking middle aged women banging their fists on someone's car! And in the stressful atmosphere of heavy traffic, tempers get frayed. Everyone's trying to get to work/home, their journey is far more important than yours, etc etc. The number of incidents that I was either involved in, or witnessed, as a courier, was frightening. But I learned that a certain amount of controlled aggression/assertiveness is needed, if you want to survive. Quite often, if someone's doing something that may put you at risk, a quick blast of good old Anglo-Saxon will soon (literally) stop them in their tracks. A 'polite word' just seems to fall on deaf ears....

A 'polite word' just seems to fall on deaf ears....

I feel bad now

If only I'd told him to **** off instead, his kids would still have a dad

and I'd still have a brother 😥

What an entertaining thread, you chaps have made my lunchbreak.

(sorry nothing constructive to say)

Actually, trying to think what I'd do if someone braked on me. If I was able to grab their shoulder, surely I'd be able to push the smartarse little pillock off his bike?

i love the way so many people see roadie hand signals as universal - they are not.

drafting a mate (a roadie) and kinda struggling tbh, all of a sudden i see his hand appear behind his saddle in what i thought was a "your turn up front" signal...... i was just considering this when he swerved out into the road to avoid a parked car. Ok so i know for next time, but i wasnt born with this knowledge.

was he riding a red rock lobster with blue sparkly hair poking out his helmet?

Sounds like a ****. Brake checking is fair enough, what happens if a pedestrian had stepped out at you. If he grabbed you I'm surprised you didn't push him off.

I can't believe I played rugby for 23 years to get my aggression fixes. What I should have done is became a London bike commuter. They all seem like much worthier adversaries capable of decking allcomers with ninja style skillz. I wish it was like that round here, a couple of cars actually pulled in to let me past the other day on one of my rare road encounters.

Nutt; you calling me fat, now?

I'm friendly and pleasant. 🙂

I have ridden in London and can fully understand why PK-R was p!ssed off having to re-overtake time and again, then be tail-gated.

IMHO the brake check was fully justified, as would a swift decking the moment he grabbed his shoulder. It's self defence.

I would say it sounds like it is you who doesn't know how to ride a bike and was rude and aggressive. Following someone's wheel is a pretty standard practice, if you don't want this, then put in a sprint and lose him, or fall back, it's simple. It is a standard practice for the person in front to be indicating any dangers ahead, such as potholes, parked cars etc.
Locking your wheels is an absolute no-no and a really stupid thing to have done. There is no reason for you to have done that, other than to have been aggressive towards the guy, and it just sounds like you then didn't if when he gave you stick back. Considering you could have really hurt the guy by your actions, a bit of abuse shouted back seems like a minor thing in comparison.

If you are going to ride a bike on the road then you really should learn to. It is you who are a "menace" going on the description of events you gave.

Traildog, is that a troll, or are you just pleased to see us? 😯

Following someone's wheel is a pretty standard practice

In the Tour de ****ing France, maybe; not on busy urban roads with heavy traffic. Someone riding right up close behind you is dangerous. If you have to stop suddenly (which anyone who rides in London will tell you, you do), the person behind, who may not have seen the danger, could plough straight into the back of you, and actually push you into the danger you were trying to avoid. That's why brake-testing has to be done, to idiots.

Tell me, what's the rule for driving a motor vehicle? Get right up someone's arse?

I would say it sounds like it is you who doesn't know how to ride a bike and was rude and aggressive

I don't even know where to start, with that...

Brake testing has to be done? Some of you people really do have issues with other people don't you?
Like traildog (and I've said) if you don't like someone riding behind you then either let them go first or drop them.

If you're confident and ride properly in traffic the need to stop suddenly is not that common, I think I've had two or three incidents of having to really anchor up in three years of London commuting. I'd be quiet happy to be behind a cyclist at a foot, I'd like to think that I'd not actually be copncentrating on the wheel but looking ahead to see what was happening.

Brake test entirely childish why would you do it, if his riding was that much of a nightmare drop him properly between light or just let him go in front. yes I know it's hard on that bit of road but if he was as fat as you say a bit of effort would have seen him off the back. I know I've been dropped off the back on the way home from a hard Richmond park ride.

Sound like the usual keyboard warrior in here getting steamed up about nothing really...

aP and Raouligan; PK has said he wanted the bloke to either overtake or drop back. The bloke did neither. If you've given someone several chances to leave your back wheel, and they ignore it, thus continuing to place you in danger, then they need a wake-up call.

If I don't know someone, I don't want them inches from my back wheel. I don't know what their riding skills are like, the state of their brakes, or the speed of their reactions. I don't get right up behind other riders, because it's potentially dangerous. Therefore, I don't want someone doing it to me.

As for aggression, well, if you've tried to get someone to **** off, and they're still there, then you might get a bit wound up.

The bloke that I had the run-in with, I spose he could have come off his bike, and impaled his face on a metal spike sticking out of the ground that the Council had failed to remove.

Ah well.

I don't like people hanging off my back wheel either. The biggest reason against it is that it blocks your view of whats behind, especially if they are a fatso.

I also hate this idea that if your a 'good rider/driver' you can somehow anticpate absolutely every event that could occur on the roads.
you can't.

I am always stunned at some cyclists assumption that tail gating or 'drafting' is anyway acceptable when not amongst friends.

When I get 'drafted' I give the stupid cyclist a good piece of my mind.

If someone in a Ferrari tail gated you driving in dense traffic would that be acceptable?

Rudeboy, what an apt name.
Things are much more relaxed up in Leeds. You southerners need to take a communal sauna together and sort out your pent up aggression with some towel whipping and a baby oil rubdown.
Seriously here are the rules:
1. If he's fat then you should be able to drop him.
2. If he's inconsistent in speed then slow down let him past and then overtake at the next long clear stretch.
3. If the lights are really so close together that you can't make any distance on him, then relax as you are all going to arrive at your destination at the same time.

Locking your back wheel is a stupid thing to do.
And before you say "Things are different in London", yes I agree. It appears many of you are testosterone laden t0$$ers, Captain Flash excepted who appears to be a fine gentleman.

still running? blimey

I'm in then:

Someone's following me - too close for my liking. I'd either speed up or slow down, I think. If they hung behind me I'd slow more or speed up. If they did it repeatedly I'd be a bit narked so I'd have a word, maybe at the next lights. I'd try & be nice, though, since they may have no idea why I'm complaining.
If it continued beyond that then I might get arsey or take some action, but I'd be aware that I might get a similar response. I wouldn't feel all aggrieved & surpised if I did. If they asked me to stop and sort it out? I reckon I would.

If somebody obviously brake-tested me in heavy traffic without any prior comment when as far as I know I'm cycling safely & normally? Reckon I'd get a bit physical/arsey with him. Wouldn't you ?
If I did, and the person rode away without saying anything I'd probably get madder. Might even chase them down...

Why do [i]some[/i] northern folk play the North/South 'card' when it's irrelevant.

Ha, handbags whilst riding. Reminds me of the time a lad jumped redlight. I stopped, caught him (this is me we are talking about) and dropped him. Next red light. I stop, he sails straight through- after the third one I caught and as I passed him said 'redlights are for stopping' and he said 'you ****ing what mate' (he was dressed more of a cyclist than me) so I stopped suddenly (as did he). What transpired was a handbag fight with him basically saying mind your business. In a way true, thats what stopped me from belting him off the side of his bike- I was focusing on nitty gritty of others and that made me feel abit petty.

PK, let this lad pass in future, just sit on his rear- he probably wont even understand that hes pulling you along. Dont say a word then turn off on your normal route dude.

The north/south card gets played (more London/Rest of country) because the stereotype of a Londoner is someone aggressive, unpleasant and self centred. Threads like this do little to dispel this myth.
The original poster took action to deliberately hurt someone because he didn't agree with his actions and this is somehow being justified. Think what you like of drafting, but you could easily have just let him go on his way. Personally I think the original post must be a troll anyway.

Traildog...spot on.

If someone drafted me I would not be too pleased.(how good are the brakes on your bike in comparison to some of the cheap bikes you see being used as commuters). If I had to stop sharply I certainly would not welcome some **** running into the back of me.

you then either let them go first or drop them.

He was short, fat and slow, yet proceeded to ride slowly off every set of lights, then catch up at the next set, weave to the front of the queue, and repeat

If you're confident and ride properly in traffic the need to stop suddenly is not that common

Isn't that PK's point - very difficult to drop someone on that bit of road, the guy was wobbly, totally inconsiderate and dangerous so if PK had to stop suddenly he was probably going to have a bike parked up his @rse ?

3. If the lights are really so close together that you can't make any distance on him, then relax as you are all going to arrive at your destination at the same time.

*nods*