CroMo Mike 

It's been around for a long, long time. Back in the 1960's I saw a Mack road tractor driver laugh hilariously after deliberately blowing dense black exhaust smoke onto (into) a car stopped beside him at a stoplight. In my estimation the action was likely racially motivated.

DMC707

I had one do it to me when I was out in one of my cars with the top down - its a later model corvette convertible (but not new) --- I guess they were either jealous or spiteful or -- ???

Also had guys in diesel pickups want to drag race me --- Really guys? putting on big pipes and a tuner chip and some different pulleys does not turn a tractor into a dragster -- sheesh

Interestingly enough - no one has ever tried to "roll coal" at me when I am in the Lincoln

JanMM

Happened for the first time to this recumbent rider (no lycra) recently here in suburban Indy. Very annoying.

Scarbo

Well, stupid is as stupid does. Is the saying.

shafter

Well put sir-Hats off to you for a mature and level headed reply.

Rowan

No. They think they are bulletproof and the thought they have to exercise to stay healthy never crosses their minds.

Simply, cyclists are seen as a minority group... and we all know it's so easy to bully minority groups.

Rowan

To think that you have claimed time and again that there is no comfort downside to riding a recumbent.

This one needs to go in the memory books for future reference.

Rcrxjlb

This is wrong...

TimothyH

The driver of a truck is going to laugh at a letter about polluting.

It is harassment and possibly assault. The correct number to call is 911.


-Tim-

jefnvk

You'd be surprised. A drag race I went to last year had a Duramax make it to the last eight, IIRC, racing street-legal purpose built dragsters. Those trucks have stupid torque, and torque is what gets you rolling.

dksix

I got it off a red light last night, I was in the wife's car and not on a bike. I've never had it happen while cycling but I'm sure it's just because I don't ride in places where it's practical. It's getting worse around here as more teenagers are getting diesel trucks for first vehicles. There must be a surplus of old farm vehicles available, the one last night was an early 80's LWB Ford that looked to have had a hard life.

Really though, I don't mind it any more than the POS ricers with the fart can exhaust.

dksix

Yes, I've seen some diesels do sub 13 second 1/4 miles at the local drag strip, a relatively slow track making the times even more impressive.

tajar66

Diesel drag racing is huge and I bet there are plenty of 6000 lb trucks out there that would embarrass a vette

FlamsteadHill

Actually, it can. 1000HP is pretty easily attained, and it's not uncommon for a diesel truck to put out 1500 HP. And since they have full torque at not much off idle they accelerate very quickly.

Here's one doing a 9 second quarter mile, which is faster than the fastest stock Vette ever (C7 Z06).

DMC707

Yes , but these are all examples of the old adage
"Just because you can, - doesn't mean you should"

Anyway -- I know a few drag racers, and to a man, they are not the type to "roll coal" on the street in the tow vehicle -- that's the domain of goofball flat-billers and other sub-human life forms

jefnvk

Oh, absolutely. Just pointing out that as counterintuitive as it may sound, diesel trucks can indeed move down the strip.

beicster 

I think they do it because they are selfish jerks who lack empathy.

sweeks

Google images for "Prius Repellant". "Sad" - DJT

Not so sure about "thankfully"... I drive a Prius!
Come to think of it, what about the Teslas, Leafs, and other electrics and hybrids? Why pick on only Priuses?
I haven't seen this in Chicago... and there are lots of hybrids.

It's a form of assault. Report it.

Hopefully there are service costs that will make the good ol' boys think about rolling on anyone else. Assuming they can think.
Steve

gilpi

Rolling coal... hmm learned something new here in Bikeforums. Been living in a bubble
From what I just read on rolling coal, these are vehicles modified for spewing smoke on to whomever they choose especially hybrid cars? That really sucks but I'd have to go with the few here that said.... just move on.

FlamsteadHill

Well, Teslas are luxury performance cars, and Leafs are, well, almost non-existent. Prius(es?) are dime a dozen but still minority enough to be called out. Additionally, unfortunately Prius owners (in general) have a reputation of being a bit off center. Whether that perception is true or not has no bearing.

sweeks

Well, thanks for that somewhat back-handed compliment. If "off-center" means being willing to forego neck-snapping acceleration in order to conserve finite resources and reduce contributions to undesirable atmospheric changes, then I'm off-center. Of course, like most hasty generalizations, the truth is often different. And even if it were so, it's not an excuse for covering anyone in exhaust.

BTW, a majority of taxi cabs in Chicago are Priuses or other hybrids. That's pretty much "mainstream" in my book.
Steve

FlamsteadHill

It was meant as neither a compliment or insult, merely answering the question as to why Prius owners seem to have been singled out.

And I did say "generally" and "whether the perception is true or not...". Whether you prefer to include yourself in the "off-center" stereotype and take some pride in it is entirely up to you.

sweeks

It's probably because the Prius was the first widely-sold hybrid, and those early models *were* pretty weird!
I don't take it as an insult at all. I'll take a lot of ribbing while I'm driving around averaging 45 - 50 MPG. The ribbing will mostly disappear when gas prices get back over $5 a gallon.
Steve

tajar66

I read an article awhile ago that the over all carbon footprint of a Prius out weighs any gas vehicle. True or not I don't know,so of the points of battery manufacturing and transportation of raw good sounded reasonable.

Dan Burkhart 

Even stupider (more stupid?) when they do it with their bread and butter machines.
Gotta admit though, it's impressive to watch these guys launch uphill with 90,000 pounds on the decks.
BTW, do I know you from Hanks?