GreenAnvil

Let is slide. Be cordial to him, wave and smile the next time. Then, since it is a small town you say and he'll probably won't recognize you without your super-hero cycling attire (aka "kit"), spot him at some town event and befriend him. Buy him a drink/juice/whatever. Once the two of you are tight, throw him a joke about this a-hole you ran into once while out on one of your training rides.... The two of you will probably get a good laugh over it.

No need to fret over it too much... it's probably worthless especially when you consider the crazy things that people are doing these days.

cthenn

Key his car.

It's so hard to turn the other cheek, especially since I'm already a hot-head. One time I did my usual yelling and middle finger and the driver stopped. For some reason I was just NOT in the mood, so I didn't immediately regret the decision. Turned out just to be some *****y old lady who used the logic of "you guys shouldn't be out on these (rural, light traffic) roads". Right, and when I'm on urban roads, no...none of the many more drivers mind me being "in their way", lol! We went back and forth until I pulled out my phone and said I was taking pictures of here plates and was calling police. My bluff worked, and immediately shut up and drove off. Maybe she doesn't know cops don't give one shi* about cyclists, but it changed the situation. Ever since then I have to try so hard to keep my cool, but I've been able to do so.

It's never worth escalating a situation, so I'd do nothing, or do something "harmless" like the round up trick. Although here in CA, no one has lawns anymore haha! You have to remember, of all the drivers you will encounter, it will be less than 1% that will give you trouble. Maybe many more will- in their mind-hate cyclists, but most are law abiding, and will leave you alone. So I try to think of it in those terms, most people are not a-holes, and in any aspect of life there will always be someone somewhere...just try not to take it worse just because you are on a bike.

banerjek

If you want to record with only one camera, have it look at whatever you look at. Consider the Contour instead of a GoPro if you don't want the Teltubby look.

Having said that, one thing to be aware of is that dealing with drivers is somewhat like dealing with large dogs. If you're calm, assertive, and move with purpose, people will treat you better. However, if you go out feeling paranoid, victimized, and you prepare for battle, drivers will pick up on that and problems will be created out of thin air.

cthenn

I totally don't want to derail the thread, but the GoPro has to be the worst ever camera design for action sports. The "Teletubby look" is so apt, it is the worst looking thing ever! The cylindrical Contour is such a better design, I have no idea why and how GoPro has not totally redesigned their camera body.

JetBadger

I really like the kill him with kindness approach... React like you would if your friend was driving by honking and waiving to get your attention. Do not give him the satisfaction of letting it ruin your ride.

I feel bad for people like him. If he is so miserable that something as little as slowing his commute down by a couple minutes as he waits for you to finish your climb sets him off like that, then he has much bigger issues then bikers getting in his way.

Sending him a waive and a smile is going to make you feel better in the long run and is either going to make him more angry that his message was not received, or is going to make him feel bad that he was an ass. Either way, the outcome is a positive for you.

f4rrest

Don't finger.
Don't wave.
Don't give them the satisfaction of any response at all.

bt

send him flowers with a note that says thanks for not running me over.

pdedes

accidentally throw a water bottle at their grill. "oh i was taking a drink and you scared the living **** out of me and i dropped it."

f4rrest

Reminds me of the road rage altercation I saw after cyclist squirts water on car for close right passing.

Driver jumps out ready to fight, realizes it's a bad idea, then snaps a photo of cyclist for his police report. Really?!

Good Lord, didn't know Lexus aren't waterproof these days.

SempreCycling

Carry a water bottle full of piss, when he gets next to you tell him to roll down the window. When he does, start squirting.

snow_echo_NY

i dunno. if it were me, i would want the opportunity for him to hear me out. but going alone is not a good idea. i would explain to your local police officer what happened and ask them to come with you and be an intermediary and have him tell his partners what happened and where you're going when you go.

it's a big deal. one of us being threatened on the road threatens all of us and future generations of riders. a lot of you say do nothing, but this person will probably act like this again, possibly kill some other cyclist or even the OP on the road.

you don't want to have future encounters with this person. being nice on the road can help alleviate the situation i think for most people, but what if he's just crazy? looking up who he is and what his background is would be first and foremost. if he's been involved in something like this before, you will be ready with the info. i would definitely wear a video camera in addressing this person and also when you're on the road.

cwar

Although the round-up idea is funny and would certainly make me feel better, I would be careful about damaging this persons' property. It could quickly make this worse for you than for him. Many people have surveillance cameras these days.

SpeshulEd 

Not really.

TrojanHorse

I have the same response you do most of the time and I generally regret it 100% of the time a split second later. All you need is one jackass in a car to see red and forget what he's doing and you're road rash. Sure he may even regret it later, while you're in the hospital getting prepped for surgery.

Get a go pro, they're pretty cheap. Talking to cops is one thing, talking to cops with video is entirely another.

Nachoman

I actually like this tactic. In fact, if it's that small townish, you could make a point of bumping into him somewhere and apologize to him for getting in his way. That could solve the whole problem.

Coop500

If I rode by and saw the person outside I would stop. Not for a physical confrontation but to discuss things like adults. Unfortunately that could open the door for the situation to escalate so maybe I just gave some bad advice. I am an up front kind of person though and would want to ask why they felt the need to endanger my life like that. If you had swerved for any reason you might not be here to tell this tale because of their reckless abandon for your safety. It happens to me a lot on the country roads around here but I have never seen the vehicle parked anywhere. I just get buzzed, they blow the horn, and sometimes offer a profanity.

Vicegrip

Do.nothing.

If that won't sit well go to the local book store with a magazine rack and get a hundred or so blow in cards. They fail out of any magazine you pick up and the clerks don't mind a bit if you save them the effort of picking them up. Pick the most counterproductive titles you see but bulk is the key. Fill them out with his address and the great advertising machine will do the rest.

RR3

Then continue with the doufass routine. I bet you have 911 on your speed dial.

Trevtassie

Start mailing him brown paper wrapped bricks with a 25c stamp on it. No return address. Especially if you go away for business and can send them from exotic localities (within the US of course). Eventually he'll get sick of the cards from the post office requiring him to pay the excess postage.

SempreCycling

Buy him some cycling mag subscriptions.

Trevtassie

Yep, sign him up to the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Momons. Plus Plain Truth, and Christian Science. Readers Digest is excellent too, he can have the rest of his life getting "You have Won" envelopes. I did the Mormons to a housemate. Big mistake, they kept waking me up all the time, as my room was closer to the front door, persistent buggers, they kept coming back for months.

SpeshulEd 

No, I just don't feel the need to carry a gun when I'm riding my bike...or going to a restaurant...or going to a store...or driving...or walking...or in general for any reason other than hunting for my food, which I currently do at the farmers market so it's not really necessary there either.

Someone honks at you on the road and your initial reaction is to pull a gun and shoot at them, and I'm the guy with a problem? Seriously?

gaucho777 

Wait until he's not at home, clean yourself up, put on your nicest shirt, and go talk to his wife. Have smile on your face. Explain that you just wanted to have a nice conversation about keeping your neighborhood safe, and, what a nice house you have, and, wow, how beautiful she looks, and how it's not nice to be so rude to cyclists, and how surprised you are that such a fine lady could be with such a jerk, and well, you get the idea. Nothing you can do will infuriate him as much as getting his wife on your side.

rangerdavid

water balloons with paint in them. hit his car.

TheManShow

Sheriff Joe the way I read the news is a bit of a character, and inovater in correctional system. I personally know a guy who did 30 days in the tents on a DUI. He has no craving for a drive after a beer. Sheriff Joe's fun in the sun worked it that person case. Others must be into self abuse, who repeat crimes in Joe's County, and return to the Joe's Hotel.

Know a couple of young people who work as detention officer for Joe. One told me everytime meals are served he gets a woozy stomach. Itb is said Sheriff's K-9 get more spent per meal than the inmates.

Guess this is the reward for going a foul of the law in Joe's County, and being caught.