Laminarman

Just got off a 13 mile ride, and was bringing my bike to the LBS for a derailleur adjustment/service..etc and I had a scare. Turning left, from the left lane of a two lane urban retail strip, across two lanes at a green light (an arrow), I found myself well past the intersection almost completing my turn when out of nowhere in my left field of vision I see a helmet-less guy enter my path, eyes wide, three feet in front of my 6,300 pound SUV. I slammed, the ABS kicked in, he tried to avoid so much he fell, then I pulled over to see if he was OK, and he went ape on me. Hairy, pony tail, tatooed, toothless jackass almost got an ass whooping when he charged me. We exchanged very loud words and he screamed, made threats, and I picked up my cell phone to call the police as I told him "you're not going to calm down, so I'm calling the police to file charges that you were riding against the traffic, ran a red light and are threatening me, you're wrong dude, trust me". As I was shaking a bit from anger and excitement (not so much fear as I was about ready to put my Cannondale R6 up his ass but it's only a few months old..) he slowly rode away screaming obscenities. I didn't need that today.

El Pelon

Next time just wallop him over the head with his own frame pump and be done with it. No need to involve the constable.

sixtyten

How old would it have to be for you to actually put it up there?

uke

Besides not hitting him, this was the best thing you did. If someone's in the wrong, they're almost always going to leave when the possibility of law enforcement involvement is raised.

KiddSisko

Sounds exactly like the burn-out who tailed me for 2 miles on Saturday, screaming at me for having passed him too fast. I'm guessing that's what he was angry about because I couldn't understand him through his marble mouthed talking, then replaced my earphones and pedaled on, eventually losing him up a long incline on the bike path we were on.

Lesson: Don't do drugs!

Szczuldo

Running reds doesn't make you go any faster in the long run, not to mention it is unsafe. If there is a long lane of traffic on my commute at a red light I will ride through it on the left to the front, or however far I get before the light turns green and then merge into the lane, no one complains and I don't put anyone in danger. I find that passing stopped cars on the right is the best way to get yourself killed, no one pays attention and if the light turns green at the wrong time you have someone turning right who has no clue you are there.

WHOOOSSHHH...

The Constable??

aMull

It's not about the time, i don't see the point of standing around for nothing.

SPlKE 

Sounds like a one-man CM event.

dunningrb

Obviously, he was angry because you didn't hear the handle-bar bell he was furiously ringing just before you nearly hit him. And shame on you for that. (j/k)

ncherry

JoeMetal

I thought you meant you almost crushed him in this: https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...?sid=08Sequoia

I was wondering how that was possible.

nachomc

I thought the same thing and just assumed the OP was a fattie.

dcbikeguy

NOW you tell me. Great.

Laminarman

I settled down now. A little Lagavulin single malt over ice will do that to me

I want to be clear about where he was: he was in the furthest lane from me, so the right lane of opposing traffic, going against that traffic. He was not in the middle of the road beside me on the wrong side of the line, where he might have seen me sooner and vice versa. So by the time I almost hit him I had a little speed going.

Constable??

do-well

These details add nothing to your story. They do, though, make you look like a jackass.

Szczuldo

perfect time for a little break from the all out sprint you just did. Gives you enough time for your heart to relax a bit and by the time you are across the intersection you are ready for another sprint. If you catch all greens, more power to you but at least in IL, i will have a good enough case that you'll be paying me for damages. At least use the red light as a stop sign and make sure it's clear before going, but I can't stand morons on campus who just cut in front of me because all traffic should stop for them and as a result of this mindset a couple people are killed every year by buses.

patentcad

He clearly was doping. Roid Rage.

grudgemonkey

Sounds like the problem was ABS.

Mr. Beanz

Cyclists are a bunch of jerks! One trip to the shop almost brought on a fight. Some dude pissed me off at a bike shop so I expressed my feelings. He started ranting and raving then took a step towards me. I told him that if he took one more step towrd me, I was going to FUBAR his arse infront of everyone! He then called the cops and said I threatened him. Cop saw through his sissy arse story then left!

Guy ended up apologizing after the shop dudes told him he was wrong!

I hate them cyclist dudes, all they wanna do is fight!

El Pelon

I would have said, "the fuzz," but that would have dated me.

pacificaslim

Slightly off topic, but here's a good explanation of why stopping at lights/signs sucks for cyclists:

https://www.sfbike.org/download/bike_...hate_stops.pdf

msr2009

Over ice? Tsk tsk...

chipcom 

More like a lot of horsepucky. Having to stop/slow for traffic control devices sucks for everyone, get over it, it's part of operating a vehicle on the roads.

sac02

I'm not sure if this is a good, but subtle, joke - or just a lame trolling attempt. If it's the former: If it's the latter - we already had this discussion once. I suggest you look it up so you can be vicariously insulted by that thread too.

Mac