haha

I have done a lot of cycle touring. Cyclists don't get much respect --even from drivers. Most of the time, it is usually just people who will yell at you to 'get off the road' or hurl profanities at you questioning your sexual orientation. That isn't so bad, though. You get used to it and it becoems so common it doesn't register.

The bad stuff is when people throw things. I have had coffee thrown at me, people will throw mcdonalds bags or wrappers at you etc-- it's usually guys in their teens or twenties who throw stuff. Soccer Moms are the most likely to yell at you to get off the road. Old guys in pickups anywhere West of Minnessota are the most likely to threaten you with bodily harm or death.

One guy literally was trying to run me off the road. I was riding into Cody, WY outside Yellowstone with a couple of friends and this drunk guy in a pickup was trying to get as close as he could to our bikes while honking the horn and cussing us out. When we went onto the shoulder, he kept following us.

Cyclists face a lot of the same hazzards motorcyclists do. We also get physically abused at times. It's a good idea to have a conceal carry permit if you take to road touring--seriously. Lots of cycle tourers won't ride without one. There are lots of wackos out there and you frequently are threatened and its usually in rural areas out in the middle of nowhere-think Deliverance. It's a great way to see the country, though. I will never forget my time riding through national parks on a bicycle. Kind of like biking but slower paced and you can take in more of the scenery while riding as you don't need those instant reactions. When things go wrong there is usually ample warning and the consquences of going into a ditch or sliding out are not anywhere as severe. You just get back up and keep going. Cyclists do get killed, rear-ended, run over at intesections, however, just like bikers.

So, give them a hand salute ! It can be just as tough out there on the road for cyclists.

 

Tell me about it. I used to get a daily 25mi training ride in between 4:30am - 5:45am on rural roads where I'd encounter maybe 4-5 motorists. However, some yahoo in a car shot a .22 air pistol at me and caught me in the inner thigh.

Thankfully it was cold so I had on riding shorts & tights (yes, that's right Dickey, lycra tights) and that helped to limit the damage to broken skin and deep bruising. Didn't get the plate or a good description beyond make/model of car given it was pitch black beyond the throw of my headlight & taillight so CCPD didn't really do much with it.

My wife has had fire crackers and a water bottle tossed at her on her afternoon rides by dumb teens who we were able to ID to CCPD. Should have probably pressed for charges, but opted to lecture the kids and parents at the local CCPD precinct with dectective on hand for emphasis on the points of law that were involved.

See, why throw sh*t, shoot at bikers, run them down or off the road when you can just wave?

Go ahead and flip me the bird if you don't like what I ride, how I dress, or where I'm riding... I'll still throw back a friendly wave.

 

It can be tough out there. It is true from my experience that it is usually the younger crowd who throws stuff.

I know many bikers think cyclists don't face any serious challenges or threats but nothing could be further from the truth. There is a great dislike for cyclists on the part of some drivers--much more vehement than their dislike for bikers. Part of it I think is that they just consider cyclists an annoyance or hazzard. Many drivers also don't realize cyclists are entitled to use public roads and they have to follow the same rules.

I also have friends who have had fireworks thrown at them--a brick of firecrackers dropped at a stoplight, bottlerockets shot at them at night etc..

Actually, I was never big on gun ownership until I started cycling. Not that I was for or against, I just never owned a gun or felt like I needed one. A few encounters with drunken wackos or being out in the middle of nowhere at night riding in in big-sky country can change that outlook quite rapidly. I have never had to unpouch but there have been a couple of times things got dicey enough that I felt it appropriate to let it be known to someone acting like a loon that I have a conceal-carry.

 

Ha, ha, ha, ha, aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh too much here. I think I'll start waving with both hands now.

A friend of mine was stopping by on his Road Glide. He had a pair of shorts on and his leg was all bloody. I thought he rolled the bike.

What the H*ll happend to you? He said 2 guys in a car heaved a beer bottle at him and hit his knee and it exploded cutting his leg. (22 stitches) I ask if he was alright? Said yea but the other 2 arn't. Appears he went after them, cut in front of them and they were dumb enough to stop.
He calmly walked back, pulled the driver out as the other guy came out of the passanger door and came over.

Told me they were both lying in the ditch face down when he got back on the bike and more bloody than his leg ever was.

He waved goodby when he drove off. So that's my "wave " story.

 

IF this is true, he's damn lucky he didn't take a completely justified bullet to the chest.

The next time you see your buddy, tell him to look up Castle Law and Stand Your Ground. Unless he's a complete moron, he'll think twice before trying something like that again.

 

I call BS!

 

Why why why again??!?!?!!

 

I can buy the story about getting hit by a beer bottle. The aftermath story could be true but it does sound kind of crazy. Not saying it didn't happen though.

I think the reason people don't throw things at bikers as much as cyclists is that #1--a motorcycle can chase a car and come after you. #2-Many people think of bikers as hardcore and tough and more likely to be violent .They obviously perceive road cyclists differently. #3--Cowards can say stuff/throw stuff and act badass then just drive off without having to confront you. But getting hit with stuff is a pretty common occurence for anyone who has cycled for long. Anyone will tell you stories. I even know a cyclist in my club who had a cup of **** thrown at him. People do some crazy stuff just for the heck of it, especially when they are drunk. You tend to see the worse of people when you cycle on the road. Bicyclists are magnets for this kind of stuff. Bikers not so much.

 

Here's your wave!

Because he has a schlort instead of a *******!

True statements and around here it has everything to do with the attitude of one of the bigger groups. Those ****** run around in cars with "share the road" plastered all over them but when they are on their bikes the refuse to practice what they preach. You see them regularly running two to three abreast on rural roads with blind corners and they will not go single file to allow cars to safely pass. It's give and take on the road, they take and expect everyone else to give. It's not all of them and I have friends that have walked away from this group but let me tell you, with their arrogance they get what they have coming. Show respect, get respect, it's that simple in my book.

 

OMG!!! LOL

That's some funny !@#$ there bro!!!!

My new signature!!!! YES!!!