Random Abuse From Motorists

bobtbuilder

Right, I'm never going to be as fast as some of you guys on here.

I'm probably never going to be able to ride the distances of some of you (although I am building my distances up).

I'm certainly never going to be able to compete with Bhima in either cadence or banana consumption.

However, I do seem to generate a lot of random abuse from motorists. Maybe we could have some sort of slidy graph thingy for abuse received (like the how many miles you have ridden one)? To qualify, the comments received must not have been caused by bad riding.

Yesterday I had two comments: (1) the ever helpful "Get off the road" from a motorist going in the opposite direction, and (2) the brilliant "F*ck off you German c*nt" (I was wearing the Quickstep Belgian Champ's kit. :?

Not sure what my yearly target should be, but I feel I'm well on track.

2fast748

Too many to list :x

keef66

In my experience the average London cabby fits that description much more frequently than the average cyclist. On both counts.

I've only had one exchange of views with a motorist, and that was a bespectacled youth in a corsa who completely failed to see me crossing a mini roundabout and tried toT-bone me. I braked, skidded, avoided him, stayed clipped in and miraculously upright.
The surge of adrenaline then allowed me to sprint in front of him causing him to stop. When questioned, he admitted he hadn't seen me at all despite my lurid clothing. I therefore suggested in the strongest possible terms that he f*ck off to Specsavers.

I'm not proud of it, but I get cross when people try to kill me.

Pross

Usually find their sentence ends in a gargling noise as they receive a face full of water from my bottle

hopper1

Pross wrote:

Usually find their sentence ends in a gargling noise as they receive a face full of water from my bottle

Like it, mate!

Should I ever get any random abuse whilst riding (touches wood!), I'll try that...

pepelepew

Pross wrote:

Usually find their sentence ends in a gargling noise as they receive a face full of water from my bottle

Try aiming at squirt at the crotch area as well, so to speak. They'll have to wait ages before they can leave their car.

teagar

On Saturday I was told I was a f*cking p*ssy, the driver attempting to knock me off with his car before cornering me in a cul-de-sac, got out of his car and punched me off my bike. Constitutes a bit more than just abuse mind.


The police are investigating.

Do I win something?

Monty Dog

Rather than water, empty a bottle of energy drink over their nice upholstery - should be able to enjoy the organic growth for years!

APIII

bobtbuilder wrote:

, and (2) the brilliant "F*ck off you German c*nt" (I was wearing the Quickstep Belgian Champ's kit. :?

.

Brilliant.
I almost bought one of those the other week

drewfromrisca

Teagar that's horrific!!! How did that happen?

Anonymous

drewfromrisca wrote:

Teagar that's horrific!!! How did that happen?

Hope you hit him back.

AndyRubio

I have honestly never had random abuse from car drivers, only been yelled at etc when I was in the wrong.

teagar

drewfromrisca wrote:

Teagar that's horrific!!! How did that happen?

More or less how I explained.


He tried to pass a car turning right in front of him, got very close, I threw my arm up in a gesture, not even a hand gesture, he starts hurling abuse, and goes nuts as explained above.

It's a very narrow road that has a cycle lane on it which makes the car bit of the road barely wide enough for a car.

PostieJohn

bobtbuilder wrote:

Right, I'm never going to be as fast as some of you guys on here.

I'm probably never going to be able to ride the distances of some of you (although I am building my distances up).

I'm certainly never going to be able to compete with Bhima in either cadence or banana consumption.

However, I do seem to generate a lot of random abuse from motorists. Maybe we could have some sort of slidy graph thingy for abuse received (like the how many miles you have ridden one)? To qualify, the comments received must not have been caused by bad riding.

Yesterday I had two comments: (1) the ever helpful "Get off the road" from a motorist going in the opposite direction, and (2) the brilliant "F*ck off you German c*nt" (I was wearing the Quickstep Belgian Champ's kit. :?

Not sure what my yearly target should be, but I feel I'm well on track.

Blimey Bob, I too am from God own county, and I don't get a thing.
You are truely gifted.

bobtbuilder

Blimey Bob, I too am from God own county, and I don't get a thing.
You are truely gifted.

Thanks! It's the only way I'm ever going to win anything on my bike.

Honestly, I think I get random abuse in 1 out of every 3 rides.

jc4lab

As a Brompton rider get it more than most...but also Love yer bike comments in equal measure...Get plenty cycling to Football matches bypassing traffic queues..I would be easy to track down a car to where it gets parked up but I dont bother.. Most in one day was 5 bad mouth comments on way to watching an England game at Old Trafford..

PostieJohn

bobtbuilder wrote:

Blimey Bob, I too am from God own county, and I don't get a thing.
You are truely gifted.

Thanks! It's the only way I'm ever going to win anything on my bike.

Honestly, I think I get random abuse in 1 out of every 3 rides.

I'm genuinely surprised by that, unless you're a northerner (Crawley)

You do know we ride on the left, don't you?

STEFANOS4784

I rarely get abuse but then i wear earphones 8) Remember getting more encouragement than abuse to be honest.................

Pross

One motorist decided to confront a mate of mine, stopped the car and stood behind it in and forced him to stop. I think he was expecting a kid but ended up confronting a 6' 2" 16 stone back rower. Said motorist apologised and got back in the car - wish I'd been there

Then again it is a serious subject and some motorists are only too keen to use their car as a weapon so I really wouldn't advise the water bottle trick - I have done it before but with hindsight there are too many idiots who don't seem to realise their actions in a ton of metal could be fatal :x

Nadder

i gave up for a while because i got fed up with it! at least once a ride - get beeped at or shouted at - for doing nothing, genuinely nothing! I'm 6' 5" back rower....no one stopped unfortunately..

ScottieP

It happens to me about once a month - I ride in the countryside and some idiot flies past me and the passenger shouts at me at the top of their voice - I never hear what they say - but it usually makes me jump. It's annoying but only happens about every 10 rides on average. It's usually teenagers in sh1tty little Corsas or the like - the D1ickheads.

drewfromrisca

Try riding in London, at least once everyday...soul destroying.

NWLondoner

drewfromrisca wrote:

Try riding in London, at least once everyday...soul destroying.

The good thing is that it would be hard for them to chase you in the traffic.


Many a time i have reacted and then thought, was that a wise thing to do,

It's just that saying "oi you stupid f****** w******'" slips out way too easily.

Stuey01

drewfromrisca wrote:

Try riding in London, at least once everyday...soul destroying.

Really?

I ride in London everyday, and don't remember the time I had random abuse hurled at me.

I had a, shall we say, full and frank exchange of views with a silly bitch in a megane coupe the other week.
But other than that I am an ocean of zen on my commute and generally don't get bothered by the cagers.

Nuggs

bobtbuilder wrote:

However, I do seem to generate a lot of random abuse from motorists.

It's just the mentality that comes from being protected in a metal box. If they saw you walking down the street there's no way they'd hurl the same abuse at you.