Oncoming Idiot

Stiff_Orange

I'm out last night going to Richmond park to meet a mate for a few laps and quick pint.
Its about 6.00pm, bright sunshine and I'm in my bright yellow club gear on a bright red Spesh, so I'm not entirely invisible.
The road is normal B road, one lane in each direction, dashed line down the middle. I'm approaching a small roundabout about 300m away at about 20mph there is no other vehicles in front of me or immediately behind me, because the edges of the road are quite rough (collapsed drains, potholes etc) I'm riding about 18 inches from the edge to clear any obstacles.
Coming off the roundabout towards me is a driving instructors car, when suddenly off the roundabout comes a BMW (why are they always german cars) who immediatley tries to overtake the driving Instructor. Well it's obviously one of the underpowered versions (You know the ones, Look how important I am, I'm driving a 5 Series BMW ... yes buts it's a cheapskate 518, with less power than a Renault Clio) and can't make a quick overtaking manouver.
So I'm riding directly into on oncoming BraindamagedMoronWagen, now I'm sure most of us have been in similar circumstances, but it was what happened next that bemused me. The driver (driver is used in it's loosest meaning here) starts the gesticulating for me to stop and move over, putting up his hand, and then waving it about, his passenger starts screaming at him obviously realising that they are with a pratt who's genital size is probably directly proportional to the lack of power in his penile extension.
Since I'm in the right I'm not stopping, I've got my cadence to worry about ;-), thinking that any sane person would abort the overtaking manouver and drop back behind the vehicle they were overtaking. But no, s**t for brains keeps coming, he eventually pulls about 1 inch in front of the Driving instructor and makes a violent manouver infront of it, causing the instructor (or pupil, I didn't see if there were 2 people in the car.) to brake violently, the BMW only missed me by inches to the sound of me shouting "W***er" as loud as possible, and the driving instructor cars giving a loud blast on the horn. I've a feeling that during this little incident some other vehicles must had closed up behind me because there was a series of horn blasts at this wonderful demonstration of roadcraft.

Sometimes in a situation like this I wish they would hit me, because I would get the best lawyer I could afford and wring every penny out of them, and then start a private prosecution to get them banned for life.

sungod

been there, but if it comes to playing chicken with a twat in a car i'm going cluck cluck every time

trouble is, if they hit you...

you'll end up dead

they'll be given a cup of sweet tea and a biccie for the shock, and if they're really unlucky fined 400 quid for not taking quite enough care

chiark

You've just put your life at risk to prove a point, but you were in the right so that's fine.

You've contributed to scaring the snot out of a learner driver to prove a point, but that's OK because you're in the right.

Finally, you wish that they'd hit you so you can seek retribution? Have a head on accident with a car that's accelerating in order to complete a lunatic move, and it might not be you seeking retribution: it might be only your loved ones who are able to.

We all get mightily angry from time to time, and I know you're in the right, but you're a long time dead. Getting the red mist whilst cycling looks like it could be a potentially terminal condition.

MountainMonster

Yeah, been there done that in the same siuation as described.

Who cares if your right? Your on a bike, he is in a giant metal box heading straight for you. I'd rather move to the side and let the jockey be himself, than risk leaving my wife and family behind to proove a point to someone who probably doesn't even care.

racingcondor

I'd have pulled over (to not die) and made my thoughts known through the art of mime. Well, hand gestures...

Peddle Up!

Always yield to a car being driven dangerously. We are flesh and bone which is helpless against metal and massive kinetic energy. Live to cycle another day. :!:

rick_chasey

Follow him, and when he's parked up or stopped at some lights, curl out a bum-cigar on his bonnet.

Stiff_Orange

chiark wrote:

You've just put your life at risk to prove a point, but you were in the right so that's fine.

You've contributed to scaring the snot out of a learner driver to prove a point, but that's OK because you're in the right.

Finally, you wish that they'd hit you so you can seek retribution? Have a head on accident with a car that's accelerating in order to complete a lunatic move, and it might not be you seeking retribution: it might be only your loved ones who are able to.

We all get mightily angry from time to time, and I know you're in the right, but you're a long time dead. Getting the red mist whilst cycling looks like it could be a potentially terminal condition.

I would think that by the tone of the way I wrote the original post, most people could tell I was being flippant. Hence the use of a smilley
Infact it happened very quick. If I had stopped suddenly it's very likely I would have been hit by a car coming up from behind. I actually pulled over toward the kurb, was forced into a drain and was very lucky not to have gone over the bars.

I thought it was very clear there was 3 major issues.

1.) A Pillock in a car that thinks that others should be forced to get out the way just because of their stupidity.

2.) Such bad driving that they still try to complete an over taking manouver when there is oncoming traffic, cycle or not

3.) And trying to do a stupid overtaking manouver near a learner. Personally I always give them plenty of space (in car or on a bike) because I remember what it was like.

Ezy Rider

does buying a BMW come with driving like a complete and utter imbecile thrown in for free ?

P_Tucker

Rick Chasey wrote:

Follow him, and when he's parked up or stopped at some lights, curl out a bum-cigar on his bonnet.

A logistical nightmare, but it's the dream.

mattward1979

This Is why I wish I carried my d lock on my frame.... Quick slap on their window and job done!

sick of the shortest ride becoming a running man cut scene because of arse hole wagons!

desweller

I always like the idea of that chewing-gum-explosive that Tom Cruise had in Mission Impossible 1. Quickly fold a bit together and slap it on the boot of the car as it passes...20 seconds...bang!

on the road

Stiff_Orange wrote:

Sometimes in a situation like this I wish they would hit me, because I would get the best lawyer I could afford and wring every penny out of them, and then start a private prosecution to get them banned for life.

Be careful what you wish for.

unixnerd

does buying a BMW come with driving like a complete and utter imbecile thrown in for free ?

Some BMWs are actually driven by keen cyclists (like me).

I had a woman in a Renault mini people carrier thing do this to me last year, she was doing well over 60 and scared the cr*p out of me. Totally didn't see me. One of the few times I've wished for a helmet camera.

bmakabayan

chill mate! lol

been there done that... not that satisfying, even if that we**er gets banned there will be another we**er who'll act like he ows the G'damn road... especially those who has so called "SWEET RIDES" buggers... haist..

Thebigbee

I'd take a breather mate and use your brakes, not just on the road, but in your posts.

When I see a long mass of words like Partridge, I just think, "That's just a noise"!!

Probably what a selfish and possibly pissed up driver thinks / sees.

Chill out and take and make some space.

Unfortunately you have no idea what people are on, what country they are from, and whether they give a shi7e about a cyclist.

Don't play chicken with cnutish car drivers.

rolf_f

Stiff_Orange wrote:

Infact it happened very quick. If I had stopped suddenly it's very likely I would have been hit by a car coming up from behind.

Is it really 'very likely'? Particularly given that you said there wasn't anyone behind you?! And, if so, why would you rather be hit head on by an idiot making an inappropriate overtaking manouver rather than from behind by an idiot driving too closely behind you?

I've you are going to spill a yarn on the net, you need to get the facts consistent!

dodgerdog

Did you get the number reg no?

Can you not report the incident to 'el federales' not that they will do anything other than fill in another form between donuts and coffee breaks but at least a chance to register the incident and the recklessness of the driver.

Best case is that it helps build a profile so when the ars*elick does hit someone there is a body of evidence indicating that it was not a momentary lapse of concentration/ blinded by teh sun or whatever other pathetic excuse proffered but consistent with previous bouts of poor driving.

ollyridesfirst

2 words for everyone here...


Helmet camera!

thegreatdivide

This is exactly why I ended up in hospital for four days at the start of May with a shatterered right arm.

Coming out of a village, single file, my mate a meter in front, we're about a foot from the roadside and we're doing no more than 12mph. Came round a bend only to be confronted by a car taking the corner on the right hand side of the road. My mate just made it through the gap but I had no chance and hit the car. Took the wing mirror off with my arm and I went for a short flight down the road.

I was lucky I had a buddy with me. He was the only witness and was totally on the ball.

Police are involved (they've been great) and I've got a lawyer on the case.

This driver needs to be taken off the road.

Alibran

I can kind of understand your reaction.

I was riding down a narrow road with no pavement, and a pedestrian ahead, walking down the other side of the road away from me (facing the oncoming traffic as they should). A car came the other way and I noticed we would be due to meet directly opposite the pedestrian. The road was too narrow for us all to pass there.

The driver moved out to make it clear he was coming through and I needed to get out of the way. I moved out to make it clear I was taking my right of way, which is what I always do in this kind of situation since my experience is that drivers are looking for cyclists they can intimidate. After a bit of staring the car driver backed down and pulled in to wait for me to pass.

I was ready to get off the road quickly if I had to, and the pedestrian had glanced round by the time and seen what was going on, and he also had room to get off the road.

So, I get where you're coming from, and I sympathise. I'll react the same way as you up to a point, but never to the point where I put myself at risk. It isn't worth it.

And as for the learner driver .... he'll have those kind of experiences when he's passed his test and he's alone. It's good that he's getting to experience them when he's got a driving instructor sat next to him. (I used to be a driving instructor and I was always delighted when someone did something idiotic around us. It makes a great teaching aid.)

Mystique

Here lies the body of Billy May
Who died defending his right of way
He was right, dead right as he rode along
But he's just as dead as if he was wrong

TanukiRider

and my missus want me to sell the mtb becuase road biking is safer :shock: :shock: :shock:

alwaystoohot

Get his registration numbers and witnesses and off you go, you´ve got him.

desweller

OllyRidesFirst wrote:

2 words for everyone here...


Helmet camera!

Your name is Jeremy Rundle and I claim my £5.