This is a good one - road raged!
Discussion
My commute takes me over the South Downs for about 6 miles. One part involves a long gradual downhill on a single track road; going up it, there is just room for a car to pass me on my bike. If a car is coming down the hill, I appreciate if if they slow down and give me a little extra room, it is quite narrow.
Anyway, coming home the other night, I'm rolling down this hill, doing an easy 25. I can see a big black car in the distance, facing up the hill, but it is hardly moving, and it is bang in the middle of the road. I start to put a little brake on, and we are closing in on each other gradually. It's a big new Touareg, and is really crawling up this road, and I'm thinking the driver hasn't seen me as there is no attempt at all to give me any room.
We get to about 50m apart,and it finally starts to move over to the verge. It is then I see two rat-dogs walking behind it! They are like a cross between a yorkshire terrier and a daschund (sp). There is now just room for me to get by, but I am doing less than 10 mph, partly because the car hasn't given me an option and partly because I don't know what the dogs are going to do, or if this is really happening.
As I pass the car, I say something like "Nice driving" loud enough to be heard, and roll away down the hill. The car stops and the woman driver leaps out, effing and blinding like a trooper. So I start giving it back, telling her it wasn't me in the wrong, would she do that in front of the law, etc, the usual stuff to point out to morons like this what the problem is from my point of view. She is about to explode, it really is quite funny, and she keeps yelling at me to "grow up".
I just don't get that, does the kind of fat cow that can't "walk" her dogs except from the seat of a £40k+ off roader think cyclists are childish? I gave her the v sign and rolled off, she looked very capable of a bare-knuckle fight. People huh?!
Anyway, coming home the other night, I'm rolling down this hill, doing an easy 25. I can see a big black car in the distance, facing up the hill, but it is hardly moving, and it is bang in the middle of the road. I start to put a little brake on, and we are closing in on each other gradually. It's a big new Touareg, and is really crawling up this road, and I'm thinking the driver hasn't seen me as there is no attempt at all to give me any room.
We get to about 50m apart,and it finally starts to move over to the verge. It is then I see two rat-dogs walking behind it! They are like a cross between a yorkshire terrier and a daschund (sp). There is now just room for me to get by, but I am doing less than 10 mph, partly because the car hasn't given me an option and partly because I don't know what the dogs are going to do, or if this is really happening.
As I pass the car, I say something like "Nice driving" loud enough to be heard, and roll away down the hill. The car stops and the woman driver leaps out, effing and blinding like a trooper. So I start giving it back, telling her it wasn't me in the wrong, would she do that in front of the law, etc, the usual stuff to point out to morons like this what the problem is from my point of view. She is about to explode, it really is quite funny, and she keeps yelling at me to "grow up".
I just don't get that, does the kind of fat cow that can't "walk" her dogs except from the seat of a £40k+ off roader think cyclists are childish? I gave her the v sign and rolled off, she looked very capable of a bare-knuckle fight. People huh?!
Stevenj214 said:
Would it have really taken that much restraint for you to not say anything and continue on your way?
If you felt there was a criminal act being committed, take the details and report to the relevant authorities.
I think any form of appology or admittance from the driver that she was obviously doing something totally stupid would have saved the day here and would have resulted in the cyclist not having to say anything. If you felt there was a criminal act being committed, take the details and report to the relevant authorities.
Unfortunately, this type of driver, who is never in the wrong (as can be seen from her ranting and raving), just makes it a pain for other road users.
supertouring said:
Stevenj214 said:
Would it have really taken that much restraint for you to not say anything and continue on your way?
If you felt there was a criminal act being committed, take the details and report to the relevant authorities.
I think any form of appology or admittance from the driver that she was obviously doing something totally stupid would have saved the day here and would have resulted in the cyclist not having to say anything. If you felt there was a criminal act being committed, take the details and report to the relevant authorities.
thanetspeedshop said:
So, an oncoming car 50 yards away moved over to let you pass and then you shouted at the driver?
Great story...
I think the point he was making is that this car made him slow down/worry about getting through a LOT more than was actually necessary. Very easy to say stay calm until you're in the situation where you don't think you can get through and you're worried about being able to stop in time when the car should have just moved over earlier and allowed him enough room to get through without him having to put the anchors on too hard.Great story...
Bet shes got a Prius in the garage to save the ozone.This morning I commented to my brother that I have never come across so many polite motorists and people having a morning stroll as around the lanes in Warwick.Its like it isnt real,cars give you loads of room everybody says hello, good morning etc quite bizzare
B19GRR said:
Wtf, she was towing her dogs? Am I understanding that correctly?!!! Surely one for the RSPCA.
Cheers,
Rob
Not towing, no, they were just walking behind her car. In the road. Without a lead. When she was in the car, so not able to control her dogs in any way apart from shouting. I had to slow down because there wasn't room to get through initially, and then when there was space there were 2 loose unpredictable animals in the road.Cheers,
Rob
Stevenj214 said:
Would it have really taken that much restraint for you to not say anything and continue on your way?
Of course it wouldn't. But I happen to think the roads are there for us all to use and if someone is plainly doing something wrong and with no consideration for anyone else, then by my saying something, she might realise and at least think about not doing it again.[quote]If you felt there was a criminal act being committed, take the details and report to the relevant authorities.
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