TAILGATERS:What do you do?
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 6
From: Glendale, AZ
TAILGATERS:What do you do?
I went for a ride the other evening with my wife. We were on a back road. I was concentrating on all the wash out debris from the winter. I glance in the rear view and there's a car right on my ***. It was a middle aged woman. I could tell my wife was getting nervous as I felt her turning slightly to watch the car creeping closer and closer. Had I been by myself, I would have stopped my bike midroad and went back and screamed at heror possibly punched her window.(I've done it before) I had nowhere to pull over because there was a large drop off on the shoulder. So I just kept on riding, squeezing the life out of my grips and feeling my blood pressure rise. Eventually she turned off and my ride was ruined. What do you do when someone tailgates you? I've thought of the consequenses of stopping midroad...the person could just rearend my bike and take off leaving me with a wrecked bike and a feeling of hate. My wife has even given hand signs meaning back off,(not the finger)but that dosen't work either. I once had a biker tell me to carry a small pouch with ball bearings or nuts and bolts, and just toss them up over your head. Guess where they land. The problem with that is then you make the person mad, if they think you threw something, then they try to run you off the road. I do pack on every ride but don't want to threaten with that, because that's just asking for trouble. It seems like it's a no win situation. So what are your experiences and how do you handle this problem? Thanks for letting me rant.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 666
Likes: 1
From: Cavendish, Pei
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
Or they percieve you are a threat, and shoot you. Gotta be real carefull out there . If you throw something at a tailgaiter you have now damaged thier propertyt and are left without a legal leg to stand on. I just slow right down to a crawl in the middle of the road and if they want to pass they do so at thier own risk. It's my way of getting back at them. They are not going to hit you , they are just impatient, slow them down some more and they get the drift. I used to confront them , but it is getting too dangerous...Mark...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,728
Likes: 1
From: Olympia, Washington
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
In your case, I would likely have signalled with my turn lights and started slowing down and give her room to get around. I would have probably eventually just stopped and let her do it if she didn't take the hint. Have your wife signal (or you) to come around.Then I have the rest of my ride to enjoy.
She may have been trying to get around you for a good reason which you wouldn't know. Maybe her husband called and had a medical emergency and she was frantic. Maybe she was just being a bitch--the point is...it doesn't matter.
It takes about 2 minutes to resolve that issue. The wrong decision can be a lifetime of payback.
She may have been trying to get around you for a good reason which you wouldn't know. Maybe her husband called and had a medical emergency and she was frantic. Maybe she was just being a bitch--the point is...it doesn't matter.
It takes about 2 minutes to resolve that issue. The wrong decision can be a lifetime of payback.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
Turn signal to the right. Get in right portion of the lane and slow way down. They might have to partially go over the center line but only for a split second and then they're gone. No heartburn, no problem!!!!
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: Alleghany Co., NC and SW Florida
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
Funny, things that don't get to me in a car or truck bother me alot more on my scoot. Perception of danger and assault are heightened because its a "me against them" attitude. Adding my wife into the mix heightens that because most of us consider ourselves her protector, especially on the Scoot.
On the Blue Ridge Pkwy. , I can almost tell what state somebody is from by how obnoxious they are about getting close behind me or stopping in a bad spot, like a blind curve. My advice, avoid cars with Jersey tags![sm=happybounce.gif]
On the Blue Ridge Pkwy. , I can almost tell what state somebody is from by how obnoxious they are about getting close behind me or stopping in a bad spot, like a blind curve. My advice, avoid cars with Jersey tags![sm=happybounce.gif]
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,682
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
If I can get over I will. Otherwise I say F* them and leave them to tailgate me. 'Cuz I know if these morons hit me I will take everything they have in a civil lawsuit. (I've been lucky enough to walk away from every accident no matter the severity of the wreck).
I like to throw ready-paks of poo on their windshield. No damage, but the smell and cleanup are gonna be nasty.
I like to throw ready-paks of poo on their windshield. No damage, but the smell and cleanup are gonna be nasty.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 0
From: Southern California High Desert, here and there....
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
ORIGINAL: markdt
Or they percieve you are a threat, and shoot you. Gotta be real carefull out there . If you throw something at a tailgaiter you have now damaged thier propertyt and are left without a legal leg to stand on. I just slow right down to a crawl in the middle of the road and if they want to pass they do so at thier own risk. It's my way of getting back at them. They are not going to hit you , they are just impatient, slow them down some more and they get the drift. I used to confront them , but it is getting too dangerous...Mark...
Or they percieve you are a threat, and shoot you. Gotta be real carefull out there . If you throw something at a tailgaiter you have now damaged thier propertyt and are left without a legal leg to stand on. I just slow right down to a crawl in the middle of the road and if they want to pass they do so at thier own risk. It's my way of getting back at them. They are not going to hit you , they are just impatient, slow them down some more and they get the drift. I used to confront them , but it is getting too dangerous...Mark...
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
ORIGINAL: Eyespy
Who's to say where that old spark plug came from that got kicked up from the road and fragmented into their radiator?? I didn't see it.....
ORIGINAL: markdt
Or they percieve you are a threat, and shoot you. Gotta be real carefull out there . If you throw something at a tailgaiter you have now damaged thier propertyt and are left without a legal leg to stand on. I just slow right down to a crawl in the middle of the road and if they want to pass they do so at thier own risk. It's my way of getting back at them. They are not going to hit you , they are just impatient, slow them down some more and they get the drift. I used to confront them , but it is getting too dangerous...Mark...
Or they percieve you are a threat, and shoot you. Gotta be real carefull out there . If you throw something at a tailgaiter you have now damaged thier propertyt and are left without a legal leg to stand on. I just slow right down to a crawl in the middle of the road and if they want to pass they do so at thier own risk. It's my way of getting back at them. They are not going to hit you , they are just impatient, slow them down some more and they get the drift. I used to confront them , but it is getting too dangerous...Mark...
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,417
Likes: 0
From: Salem, OR
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
No need to let it ruin your day, just wait for a safe place to let them go by, hit your right turn signal, pull to the right side of the lane and wave them by. My wife is learning to ride and rather than speed up or make her nervous or unsafe,it is easy to let them pass and not get all worked up about it...that would be considered road rage and I choose not to let other agressive drivers get the best of me.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 920
Likes: 0
From: Clemmons, NC
RE: TAILGATERS:What do you do?
Usually I slow down and turn my head and give them a dirty look. They get the idea most of the time but you have to be as ugly as I am. Those of you that throw things back at them....bad idea and will eventually get you in trouble. You may get away with it if all you see is blue hair and knuckles, but throwing chit back at a pickup truck full of rednecks will get you ran off the road or worse.