Palomar01

I freakin' can't stand them! I wish I had some way of retaliating against these car monkeys!

It started back in HS when I was riding my bicycle and this bastige in a car (passenger) threw a water balloon at me. Hit me straight in the face! I lost my eye glasses, nearly crashed, and got soaking wet, and I had to ride back home to change out since the H20 got so cold. I thought maybe this was just a thing between kids and teenagers, you know.....but it continues now that I'm an adult and an avid roadie. Every once in a while I will get some punk in a car pass by and roll down their window to yell out something. It startles me every time as I am so focused on my ride then suddenly, a loud yell comes out from a mere 2 feet away and from behind me!

One time this punk ass monkey did this to me and it really startled me because a bunch of cars were whizzing by at the time when I heard the yelp from the bastige! But then, they had to stop at the next intersection! I was just about to catch up to the pr**k when the light turned green and they raced off. It was almost surreal as I approached the offending car and the punk rolled up his window expecting payback. I wasn't sure what I would have done but I was getting ready to get off the bike and....well, use your imagination. I'm glad the light turned green for them (and for me).

Unfortunately, riding in the MUP's at road bike speeds is not an option for me...too much foot traffic and not enough MUP's to go the distance. No matter what I must ride the road. Also, since I'm smack dab in the middle of SoCal riding in some quiet country lane is not an option either unless I shuttle the bike there first. Luckily for me, all I have to deal with for the most part are yelling punks and not rabbid dogs, armed assailants, and crazed cagers!

Engyo

https://www.amazon.com/Delta-Airzound.../dp/B000ACAMJC

dougmc

Yes, it's about as loud as a car horn.

It hardly qualifies as retaliation, unless you hold it into their window as you use it.

It'll get their attention, but it's hardly retaliation.

LongT

The funniiest that happened to me... I was riding along a country road. A car is approaching me from the front. Then I hear another car from behind. This car from behind had to wait to pass me while the approaching car passed in the opposite direction. When the car from behind passed I saw it was a muscle car, big block Chevelle. He made sure to gun the car and burn rubber when he passed and yelled something at me. I guess he didn't know the road because there was a left hand turn down the road. He didn't make the turn. As I rode by I laughed. He saw that and gunned his car only to get stuck in the mud. Glad he didn't get out!!

I don't mean to turn this into a Funniest Thing That Happened To Someone That Yelled At Me Thread!!

Bill

Redrom

Well, that answered it for me.
Don't ride in the southeast either.

Chris L

The experience around here suggests that you'd have to deal with just as much yelling on the MUP as on the road anyway, so it's not exactly a huge loss.

That said, around here motorists don't just yell and throw things at cyclists, they do it to pedestrians and to each other just as much. These days I just treat them with the absolute contempt they deserve. In 99.9% of cases, it isn't about you as much as it's about the fact that they're having a bad day, and I don't see it as my responsibility to fix that problem for them.

StephenH

I walk the dog in the evenings, and get yelled at periodically. It's not a bike thing, it's a person-near-the-road thing.

Cyclaholic

Get one of these...




...and take random pot shots at the screamers. You'll score one occasionally.

Panthers007

Heckler & Koch MP5. Set it to full-auto. Short - well aimed - bursts of 3 rounds will quiet 'em down.

https://www.motionpicturearmourer.com/MP5-A.jpg

chipcom 

I'm sorry, I can't hear them yelling over my MP3 player.

"HUH...are you talking to me?"
"What's that, your wife wants to know if she left her panties at my place?"

mike047

Southeast Ca or southeast US??

The area of North Carolina that I ride in, I have had virtually no issues. Drivers are generally courteous and patient and wait their turn on our narrow two lane shoulderless roads.

Palomar01

I like the air horn idea. However, I need to come up with a velcro type "holster" so I can quickly and easily pull it out and push the button. LOL!

Another option I was considering (besides the MP5 fantasy) are marbles. Those things would hurt a car real bad. LOL!

Mostly, I just want the pull the punk's head out from his window and yell at the top of my lungs directly at his ear. That'll learn him.

bicyclejade

I carry a heavy U-Lock for ultimate knee crushing in case they get out of their cage and try to confront the Two-Wheeled-Demon.

Palomar01

It must be annoying and disturbing for women on bikes--all the crap attention they would get!

I rode by a group of immigrant workers standing and milling about on the side of the road. As I went by they all stood up and pretended to hitch hike. It was obvious they were bored. I wonder how they would react if it was a girl on a bike......

bicyclejade

Are you saying the immigrants would have attacked?

Redrom

Southeast US, specifically NC is what my personal experience is with. Seems to happen mostly with people in pick-up trucks, now that you mention it...

linux_author

of course not... but down these here parts, robbers call illegals on bikes 'portable ATMs'

Palomar01

Of course not! Well, I would think that it is an unwritten rule among migrant workers NOT to cause trouble within their ranks because it would bring the wrath of the law down on them as a group. I'm implying that they would ogle, wolf-whistle, holler, etc.

For those of you unfamiliar with immigrant workers standing around in corners, it is a rather commons sight here and there in SoCal. That's because during the hey days of the housing construction boom, construction companies (and individuals) would just drive by and pick up a bunch of buys to do work for a few days. A more politically correct term used to describe this is "Day Laborers". Many cities have tried (sometimes unsuccessfully) to evict them because they are generally an eyesore, intimidate people, urinate in public, etc. I don't believe they cause violent crimes.

Sorry for hijacking my own thread. Back to the regularly scheduled broadcast.

Palomar01

This is true.

Most migrant workers ride bicycles to work, and they almost always get paid cash.

mike047

That is very unfortunate. I am in western NC where we are plagued by the summer influx of tourist[yam dankees and halfbacks] and even with the extra traffic I have encountered no problems.

I do cycle in extreme rural areas and am familiar with the area as I am an full time resident, that might be the difference.

jefferee

At least anybody who honks or yells has seen you.

Mitchxout

This is my experience as well. But I think I could have fun with the Airzound.

ilmooz

Oh, don't kid yourself. They love it.

bicyclejade

Yeah they do. That's why 90% of the time they make effort to look sexy while riding their fixie.

Fremdchen

Uh huh. We ask for it.

Face it, some of you guys interpret the existence of women as a come-on.