taz777

So there I was on a sunny Sunday morning out for a ride on my fattie here in the UK. I was going along a road near to my home when I could sense there was a car behind me. There was plenty of room to pass as there were no other cars on the road. The road was slightly downhill so I was going at a reasonable speed and keeping to the left (UK road) so the car behind me could pass easily. The driver had virtually the entire width of the road to pass.

Eventually, as we were nearing the end of the road and a set of traffic lights, the driver passed me quickly, moved back to the left and slammed her brakes on!

I had to react very quickly and locked my wheels momentarily, but luckily the car kept going and didn't come to a stop.

As I got to the traffic lights I could see it was a middle-aged woman who didn't even look over at me. I didn't want my Sunday morning ruined so just let the incident pass by.

So that was a first for me, a little scary at the time!

texaspandj

Before this gets moved to A&S and goes completely off rails.
I would have let her know in no uncertain terms how wrong that was. Maybe next time shed think twice before doing it to the next cyclist.
Besides, I don't think I would've had the foresight or self control to worry about it ruining my day.
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Albert Einstein

TimothyH

Get a tag number and call the police. That's all.

Mark Stone

Good job being cool and letting it pass. A lot of drivers are jerks.

Hypno Toad

I hate to say how many people in cars have given me the brake test while I'm on my bike.

It honestly makes me laugh, a bike (even a fatbike) will stop much quicker than any car and is more maneuverable. I've been know to overtake the "brake check" drivers with a smile and friendly wave. I won't let them ruin my ride/day!

jefnvk

Tis the best thing one can learn, when riding on the road.

If you had enough time to react and do so, that would be quite humorous to pass them in one fell swoop and make them pass you again

wphamilton

Kudos for letting it pass. That kind of brake check is just trying to antagonize you, and you didn't give her the satisfaction.

Trying to injure you with full on maximum stop would be a different story.

mbusky

Well you are all better humans than I... I tend to come up to the rear and with the wonderful invention of hand brake levers leving my feet free stop along side while putting my foot into the soon to be broken taillight, then I apologize for getting so close due to said broken lamp. Yes I can be a bastard when someone tries to injure or fain injuring me or mine.

indyfabz

Maybe she was trying to avoid hitting a squirrel that darted out into the road.

79pmooney

If there were pedestrians nearby and you had the old Mafac brakes, you could have had some fun. I used to do this riding in Boston and Cambridge. Someone pulls a fast one on me. I hit the front brake extra hard. That famous squeal rotates every head for a block around. I point at the car. Every set of eyes follows my point. Driver hears my squeal, looks up and sees everyone looking right at him and slinks off like a scolded cat.

The new brake pads nullify the fun. Oh well.

Ben

wipekitty

+1

I have the non-emergency police number programmed in my phone, and have used it on several occasions. It may not be worthwhile in a larger metro area, but in my smaller town, they will sometimes go out and have a chat with the driver.

prathmann

More maneuverable - yes, but cars can generally stop quicker than bikes if both are going the same speed. Especially if the cyclist doesn't have enough time to shift his weight down and back to keep the rear wheel from lifting.

cb400bill

Thread moved from General Cycling Discussion forum to the Advocasy and Safety forum

Hypno Toad

That's not my experience. I understand that not every rider has the same reaction speed or bike handling skills. Bike-commuting on busy roads has done a lot for me, both looking out for the dumb driver maneuvers and keeping my spidey-senses keen.

WNCGoater

I got the finger yesterday. Shrug...

79pmooney

I do the same and several drivers have had those chats. (The detectives have called me back after. The drivers have told them things that happened I didn't mention.)

Ben

IronM

Motorists like to complain about cyclist, but it seems to me that motorist have a lot to answer for themselves. People like to think themselves as rational beings, but I’ve witness horrible, irrational behavior from motorist more times than I can count; including outright assault. But as long as I am uninjured, I’m not going to let somebody else’s problems become my own; so do my best to just let it go.

eja_ bottecchia

That happened to me last November. Almost identical setting: rural road, no traffic, nice Sunday morning.

Only difference is that the driver was a fat old man and before he moved into my direction and slammed the brakes he did try to run me off the road.

What is wrong with people?

I am glad that you are OK.

MikeyMK

People are okay when on foot. Machines give them power. Some people turn into complete savages when they're in a car, because the completely power-assisted thing enables them to take every frustration of their lives and throw it about at people in a weaker position.

I often carry a child on the back of my bike, and whilst i don't use the roads, i do have to cross them - i can see the exact moment that motorists realise she's on the back. The switch is precisely that. They go from 'i'm gonna floor it to prevent letting you cross' to 'oh sorry' within two seconds. And they do that why...? Because they look down on someone if they can, until something wakes them up.

People are naturally dicks. And power feeds this. Until something makes them think.

jefnvk

Made up things about you, or just admitting more misdoings to the police?

genec

In a way, I think you are right. "Nice" has to be taught... and some folks just don't get it.

johnje

Brake-checkers and coal-rollers probably think they're being funny. I confess I don't have a good sense of humor for either.

KD5NRH

Used to love doing that in a Subaru wagon; people feel like it just has to be going too slow, even when I was cruising along with the CC locked in at 73 in a 70 zone. They'd get around, and I'd already have it down to 4th, ready to nail the gas and pass them as soon as they brake checked. No idea what its top speed was, but I do know it would hit 115mph with some slack left in the gas pedal.

Chris0516

I just pass them at the red light, they are stuck at, and get back in front of them at the light.

rumrunn6

I'm challenged when it comes to self restraint after catching up to someone who asserted that kind of physical aggression toward me. good for you, for keeping your cool