Road Pigs

[stratrider]

As a regular commuter, I find myself once again amazed by the number
of road pigs I contend with almost daily. This morning and MANY times
before, a driver came intentionally close to me as he passed. Cleary
this maneuver was designed to make me aware of how irritated he was
that I was on the road. This was at 6:30 AM in full daylight with one
and half lanes available to pass me! What makes people like this guy
so hostile towards cyclists! I am disgusted! Maybe I should
accessorize my Stratus with a sidewinder missle so as to "level the
playing field". Any help with the mounting bracket design would be
appreciated.

Jim Reilly
Reading, PA

 

[Curtis L. Russell]

On 13 May 2004 05:39:57 -0700, [email protected] (stratrider) wrote:

>This was at 6:30 AM in full daylight with one
>and half lanes available to pass me! What makes people like this guy
>so hostile towards cyclists!

Guess what? They do this to anyone that slows them down.

I firmly believe that one thing that cyclists in cars can do for
cyclists on bikes is to do the speed limit on all roadways open to
cyclists. Doing this has resulted in a lot of attempted cutoffs,
people accelerating ahead just to slow down (like this will bother me
all that much) and other juvenile behavior. And this is for doing the
speed limit (actually, probably a mph or two above).

Most aren't hostile to cyclists. They are simpy hostile. And just like
the lame cyclists that do stupid stunts in traffic, the hostile
motorist stands out a lot more than the many motorists and cyclists
that manage to interact constantly without major problem every day and
in every place I've ever ridden.

Curtis L. Russell
Odenton, MD (USA)
Just someone on two wheels...

 

[skip]

"stratrider" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> As a regular commuter, I find myself once again amazed by the number
> of road pigs I contend with almost daily. This morning and MANY times
> before, a driver came intentionally close to me as he passed. Cleary
> this maneuver was designed to make me aware of how irritated he was
> that I was on the road. This was at 6:30 AM in full daylight with one
> and half lanes available to pass me! What makes people like this guy
> so hostile towards cyclists! I am disgusted! Maybe I should
> accessorize my Stratus with a sidewinder missle so as to "level the
> playing field". Any help with the mounting bracket design would be
> appreciated.
>

Modern life is stressful for the majority of people. I can visualize guy as
highly stressed and late to work. You on your bicycle doing 15mph
triggered some kind of rage in him. This guy will probably die at an early
age from stress. When his kids ask why he died his wife will probably tell
them that "rush hour traffic killed daddy".

There is something I would do if I were in your situation. Maybe it was
Lorenzo Love who came up with the idea, but I'm not sure. As best as I can
remember it involves a wooden dowel about two feet long. The dowel is
painted a bright color with one end sharpened and painted black. This dowel
is then mounted somehow to the left rear of the bike using a flexible or
spring mount. The sharpened end points outward looking something like a
spear giving the an approaching driver the thought that if he gets to close
he's gonna get a big long scratch on the side of his car. This will for
sure keep the Lexus types at bay.

skip

 

[stratrider]

"skip" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<yMGdnUyT5quzGD7dRVn-
>
> There is something I would do if I were in your situation. Maybe it was
> Lorenzo Love who came up with the idea, but I'm not sure. As best as I can
> remember it involves a wooden dowel about two feet long. The dowel is
> painted a bright color with one end sharpened and painted black. This dowel
> is then mounted somehow to the left rear of the bike using a flexible or
> spring mount. The sharpened end points outward looking something like a
> spear giving the an approaching driver the thought that if he gets to close
> he's gonna get a big long scratch on the side of his car. This will for
> sure keep the Lexus types at bay.
>
Skip. I recall see a photo on web sit of that some years ago! That could work!

jim

 

[stratrider]

Curtis L. Russell <[email protected]> wrote in message

> Most aren't hostile to cyclists. They are simpy hostile. And just like
> the lame cyclists that do stupid stunts in traffic, the hostile
> motorist stands out a lot more than the many motorists and cyclists
> that manage to interact constantly without major problem every day and
> in every place I've ever ridden.
>
Curtis, you make a good point. This was simply one angry guy. And he
did stand out. In fact there are many more motorists that do offer me
more room and even an occasional smile...

jim

 

[Howard]

[email protected] (stratrider) wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Maybe I should
> accessorize my Stratus with a sidewinder missle so as to "level the
> playing field". Any help with the mounting bracket design would be
> appreciated.

Hmmm... Not altogether a bad idea.

http://www.west.net/~lpm/hobie/archives/v1-i2/humor.shtml

(still cracks me up!)

H

 

[Brian Zupke]

skip wrote:

> There is something I would do if I were in your situation. Maybe it was
> Lorenzo Love who came up with the idea, but I'm not sure. As best as I can
> remember it involves a wooden dowel about two feet long. The dowel is
> painted a bright color with one end sharpened and painted black. This dowel
> is then mounted somehow to the left rear of the bike using a flexible or
> spring mount. The sharpened end points outward looking something like a
> spear giving the an approaching driver the thought that if he gets to close
> he's gonna get a big long scratch on the side of his car. This will for
> sure keep the Lexus types at bay.
>
> skip
>
>

Skip,

I have thought of being protected in a similar manner. But if I were to
do it, I would place an orange flag near the end of the dowel so that
it's more visible to drivers. I would also put some sort of marking
device (maybe a greese pen) so that while the offending vehicle would
not be damaged, it would be marked in case you need to call the authorities.

-Brian

 

[skip]

"Brian Zupke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Skip,
>
> I have thought of being protected in a similar manner. But if I were to
> do it, I would place an orange flag near the end of the dowel so that
> it's more visible to drivers. I would also put some sort of marking
> device (maybe a greese pen) so that while the offending vehicle would
> not be damaged, it would be marked in case you need to call the
authorities.
>
> -Brian

I like the idea. I'd be tempted to use a permanent Sharpie marker. Seems
to me you could cut down a regular fiberglass pole riding flag to two or
three feet and use it.

skip

 

[Bill Anton]

Sidewinder wouldn't work, it's strictly for air-to-air combat. TOW
anti-tank missile should work well, but a simple 20mm HE round would
do the job for most SUVs. Peaceful cycling!

Bill Anton
2001 Vision R-40 26x26 SWB OSS
Lubbock, TX, USA

[email protected] (stratrider) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> As a regular commuter, I find myself once again amazed by the number
> of road pigs I contend with almost daily. This morning and MANY times
> before, a driver came intentionally close to me as he passed. Cleary
> this maneuver was designed to make me aware of how irritated he was
> that I was on the road. This was at 6:30 AM in full daylight with one
> and half lanes available to pass me! What makes people like this guy
> so hostile towards cyclists! I am disgusted! Maybe I should
> accessorize my Stratus with a sidewinder missle so as to "level the
> playing field". Any help with the mounting bracket design would be
> appreciated.
>
> Jim Reilly
> Reading, PA

 

[Edward Dolan]

"stratrider" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> As a regular commuter, I find myself once again amazed by the number
> of road pigs I contend with almost daily. This morning and MANY times
> before, a driver came intentionally close to me as he passed. Cleary
> this maneuver was designed to make me aware of how irritated he was
> that I was on the road. This was at 6:30 AM in full daylight with one
> and half lanes available to pass me! What makes people like this guy
> so hostile towards cyclists! I am disgusted! Maybe I should
> accessorize my Stratus with a sidewinder missle so as to "level the
> playing field". Any help with the mounting bracket design would be
> appreciated.
>
> Jim Reilly
> Reading, PA

Jim, I wonder if you should not reconsider commuting to work by bike. It
surely can not be too pleasant to do that on a high speed road with lots of
traffic during the rush of the commute. Most motorists are very unhappy to
have to do what they are doing (commuting) and they no doubt see you as an
aggravation. I believe I would only commute if I could find a quiet and
pleasant street on which to do it.

I like to think of cycling as something we do for the pleasure of it. Could
you not drive back and forth to work and then do some sport cycling in the
early evening hours? When cycling becomes unpleasant due to traffic
conditions I simply won't do it. Cycling has always got to be a pleasure for
me. And it normally is except for rare occasions. There are certain roads at
certain times of the day I will not go on because of the traffic conditions.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

 

[BentJay]

I had a similar email discussion with Sheldon Brown several years ago
about this very device. He opined that we should never ride in the
gutter; that we should take our rightful place on the road without
being agressive. He thought the gimmick was pretty worthless, IOW.
OTOH, I had read that a shiny pointy thing on the end of these "*****
bumpers" did have a positive psychological effect on passing drivers.
I ride my trike with two blinking lights, a flagpole, a safety
triangle and a super loud "storm whistle" on a cord around my neck.
(I also wear a dogtag with pertinent information since I'm a realist,
too....)

BentJay

 

[Tom Sherman]

Bill Anton wrote:
> Sidewinder wouldn't work, it's strictly for air-to-air combat. TOW
> anti-tank missile should work well, but a simple 20mm HE round would
> do the job for most SUVs....

It has been proven many times over the last 13-1/2 months that the
largest SUV for sale in the US (Hummer/HUMVEE) is no match for a rocket
propelled grenade.

--
Tom Sherman – Quad Cities

 

[stratrider]

"Edward Dolan" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<vt2dnYIw5YezrTndRVn-

> Jim, I wonder if you should not reconsider commuting to work by bike. It
> surely can not be too pleasant to do that on a high speed road with lots of
> traffic during the rush of the commute. Most motorists are very unhappy to
> have to do what they are doing (commuting) and they no doubt see you as an
> aggravation. I believe I would only commute if I could find a quiet and
> pleasant street on which to do it.
>
> I like to think of cycling as something we do for the pleasure of it. Could
> you not drive back and forth to work and then do some sport cycling in the
> early evening hours? When cycling becomes unpleasant due to traffic
> conditions I simply won't do it. Cycling has always got to be a pleasure for
> me. And it normally is except for rare occasions. There are certain roads at
> certain times of the day I will not go on because of the traffic conditions.

Ed, I have considered that. Actually the incident I described was at
6:30 AM on a posted 35 mph zone with little traffic at the time. In
my area, those are pretty good conditions! Selfishly speaking, if I
don't commute, I won't get to ride on any regular basis as my evenings
involve my children's activities. I do think I need become more
accepting of the behavior of a few on the road. If I don't, the
cycling experience will no longer be pleasant. And then, I agree,
what is the point....

Jim

 

[Christopher Jordan]

HELLO!!! Bike 2 work people would be VERY dissapointed putting on
this event over 10 years in vain.

And I hear the cash registers clicking amongst the merchants. After
all, that kicks off cycling movies, workshops (repair your rusty
dinosaur - mountain bike type), parades, free breakfasts for anyone
riding a bicycle, and many more skits/displays/whatever. Shows,events
- eco or kids flying, etc. are starting Sunday- THEN fire up the
SUV....

(not a fan of this; being retired, but fun at least getting that free
breakfast!)

Chris Jordan
Santa Cruz, CA.



"Edward Dolan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Jim, I wonder if you should not reconsider commuting to work by bike. It
> surely can not be too pleasant to do that on a high speed road with lots of
> traffic during the rush of the commute. Most motorists are very unhappy to
> have to do what they are doing (commuting) and they no doubt see you as an
> aggravation. I believe I would only commute if I could find a quiet and
> pleasant street on which to do it.
>
> I like to think of cycling as something we do for the pleasure of it. Could
> you not drive back and forth to work and then do some sport cycling in the
> early evening hours? When cycling becomes unpleasant due to traffic
> conditions I simply won't do it. Cycling has always got to be a pleasure for
> me. And it normally is except for rare occasions. There are certain roads at
> certain times of the day I will not go on because of the traffic conditions.

 

[Gabriel DeVault]

I really think it's about time to use something like this whenever
driving/riding.

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=...id=152&tid=158&tid=173&tid=185&tid=187&tid=99

Link may require some reconstruction...

Gabriel DeVault


"stratrider" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> As a regular commuter, I find myself once again amazed by the number
> of road pigs I contend with almost daily. This morning and MANY times
> before, a driver came intentionally close to me as he passed. Cleary
> this maneuver was designed to make me aware of how irritated he was
> that I was on the road. This was at 6:30 AM in full daylight with one
> and half lanes available to pass me! What makes people like this guy
> so hostile towards cyclists! I am disgusted! Maybe I should
> accessorize my Stratus with a sidewinder missle so as to "level the
> playing field". Any help with the mounting bracket design would be
> appreciated.
>
> Jim Reilly
> Reading, PA

 

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

On 14 May 2004 04:33:21 -0700, [email protected] (stratrider) wrote in
message <[email protected]>:

>Ed, I have considered that. Actually the incident I described was at
>6:30 AM on a posted 35 mph zone with little traffic at the time. In
>my area, those are pretty good conditions! Selfishly speaking, if I
>don't commute, I won't get to ride on any regular basis as my evenings
>involve my children's activities.

Ed has an irrationally fear of motor traffic, don't let him get to
you. Drive to work then go out riding to make up for the exercise you
don't get riding to work? Makes no sense!

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

 

[Robert Haston]

I would love to have a camera that kept the last 30 seconds. I figure I
would mount a mirror in front of it to catch them on film coming up, then
flip the mirror up as they go by. It needs sound too, for when you catch
them at the next light and ask them why they buzzed you - the morons will
usually admit it - case closed.

I just had an incident yesterday where this would have really nailed the guy
who buzzed me. You know it is intentional when the jerk's girlfriend whirls
around in the seat to see your reaction. He was so intent on buzzing me, he
failed to merge and left his rear end out in traffic.

Instead I had to settle with spanking his trunk as I went by. He drove by
later yelling something to the effect of "You hit my car!" Somehow to him
the crime of car-spanking was worse then assault with a deadly weapon. He
didn't seem interested in my "you want a piece of me" gesture. I figure he
wanted to look tough for his girlfriend and wound up getting spanked and
running away. Its nice to be 6'1" and have lost the last of your give a ****
reserve.

If push does come to shove, my plan is to pull over near a witness, and
first ask the perp: "Why did you swerve at me?" They have to admit it. If
they didn't just say "Oh no, I get into it with every single car that passes
me!" I also plan to egg them on and take the first swing on the helmet, so
they get charged for two counts. Then I can go to fist city. Hopefully I
have caught my breath by then.



"Gabriel DeVault" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I really think it's about time to use something like this whenever
> driving/riding.
>
>
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=...id=152&tid=158&tid=173&tid=185&tid=187&tid=99
>
> Link may require some reconstruction...
>
> Gabriel DeVault
>
>
> "stratrider" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > As a regular commuter, I find myself once again amazed by the number
> > of road pigs I contend with almost daily. This morning and MANY times
> > before, a driver came intentionally close to me as he passed. Cleary
> > this maneuver was designed to make me aware of how irritated he was
> > that I was on the road. This was at 6:30 AM in full daylight with one
> > and half lanes available to pass me! What makes people like this guy
> > so hostile towards cyclists! I am disgusted! Maybe I should
> > accessorize my Stratus with a sidewinder missle so as to "level the
> > playing field". Any help with the mounting bracket design would be
> > appreciated.
> >
> > Jim Reilly
> > Reading, PA
>
>

 

[Edward Dolan]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 14 May 2004 04:33:21 -0700, [email protected] (stratrider) wrote in
> message <[email protected]>:
>
> >Ed, I have considered that. Actually the incident I described was at
> >6:30 AM on a posted 35 mph zone with little traffic at the time. In
> >my area, those are pretty good conditions! Selfishly speaking, if I
> >don't commute, I won't get to ride on any regular basis as my evenings
> >involve my children's activities.
>
> Ed has an irrationally fear of motor traffic, don't let him get to
> you. Drive to work then go out riding to make up for the exercise you
> don't get riding to work? Makes no sense!
>
> Guy

Guy has an irrational brain that simply doesn't function the way Allah meant
it to function. He would rather see you get killed on your daily commute
than ever admit that there might be other ways of getting some cycling into
your life other than by commuting to work on a high speed highway with heavy
traffic during the commuting rush hours. But then Guy has never made any
sense. Listen to him and you will wind up dead as a mackerel.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota

 

[Ian]

> From: "Edward Dolan" <[email protected]>
> Newsgroups: alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent
> Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 15:12:55 -0500
> Subject: Re: Road Pigs
>
> Guy has an irrational brain that simply doesn't function the way Allah meant
> it to function.Listen to him and you will wind up dead as a mackerel.
>
> --
> Ed Dolan - Minnesota
>
>
>
>
Would that be a mackerel swimming in the sea? They do that you know? Swim.
You get a false impression of the fish when you buy it in a tin.


--
Ian

http://www.catrike.co.uk

 

[Edward Dolan]

"Ian" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:BCCC3C3A.1D341%[email protected]...
>
> > From: "Edward Dolan" <[email protected]>
> > Newsgroups: alt.rec.bicycles.recumbent
> > Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 15:12:55 -0500
> > Subject: Re: Road Pigs
> >
> > Guy has an irrational brain that simply doesn't function the way Allah
meant
> > it to function.Listen to him and you will wind up dead as a mackerel.
> >
> > --
> > Ed Dolan - Minnesota
> >
> >
> >
> >
> Would that be a mackerel swimming in the sea? They do that you know? Swim.
> You get a false impression of the fish when you buy it in a tin.

That is an old expression I picked up as a kid some 50 years ago. Where
these old expressions come from is hard to say without looking them up in a
dictionary that gives you the origins of words and expressions. I believe
these types of homey expressions come from the early 20th century and
relate to the largely rural lives that most people were living then. But
those old time folks knew their poetry. Dead as a pike or dead as a walleye
would not work. It has to be dead as a mackerel because mackerel is a funny
word and pike and walleye are not.

--
Ed Dolan - Minnesota