Diane and I are driving home the other night. We are quiet in the car, and both pretty tired after a busy weekend.
“I hope you have a better cross season this year.” She says out of the blue.
“What do you mean?” I ask a little puzzled.
Diane continues, “you worked really hard last year, and I know you never rode at the level you wanted to. You never seemed to catch a break, it just never clicked. I know you had fun, and you raced as hard as you could, but I also know you were frustrated. I want to see you have a better year this year.”
I responded “fair enough, I plan on having a better year this year…”
my wife is pretty damn cool.
my wife is pretty damn cool.
We decided to stop for water ice on the way home. I had a root beer gelati. It was awesome.
…
So I strongly believe that we all have a responsibility to be ambassadors for the our sport. That means on the road as well as the mountainbike. I have often espoused that we have to take the high road, and not scream, yell or flip off every person that passes on the road. Sure, there are plenty of jackasses that drive by and yell, or throw stuff. My usual modus operandi in those situations is to just smile and wave and usually make some sarcastic remark about “Americans love their cyclists…”
Last night I was on a quiet road winding through Cecil County riding by myself. Seriously, no traffic on the road at all. I rode my bike at a leisurely pace as I watched a runner coming towards me in my lane. From out of no where a couple of dudes, in a Mustang 5.0 circa Vanilla Ice, run right up on me and lay on the horn. The passenger leaned out the window fired a McDonald’s bag at me. Normally in these situations, I just smile and wave. But tonight, something different came out of my mouth. Before I knew it, I was furious and it came out.
“come on back tough guy, I’m gonna fuck you up.”I yelled, as I sat up and gestured with both hands for the two men to come back.
The runner, who witnessed the entire thing and was coming towards me commented as we passed each other, “I fucking hate people.”
My heart rate calmed, and my anger subsided. I felt a little embarrassed that I reacted that way. They scared the hell of me because I never heard them coming until they were right there. I was also acutely aware that had they stopped it was gonna end badly for someone. Maybe me because I’m not that tough, maybe them because sometimes I do stupid stuff.
This isn’t a cars suck post, or anything. I drove to work today. I love my little Honda Fit. This is just me saying that even though philosophically I believe, and 99% of time behave in the manner that says we should always take the high road, that yesterday, well yesterday I wanted to punish those assholes, not because they don’t know how to deal with a cyclist on the road, but basically because some people are just dickwads.
respect
fatmarc
11 comments:
I'm with the runner, I hate people
10% of every group are A$$ Monkey's.
They key is to try and limit their access to you. And even though we try they find us.
Carry on!
Sometimes they need to be called out....sometimes we just need them to hear that they are dick wads. We can't always expect ourselves to be Zen all the time.
I get their license, turn it over to my "friend on the inside", gather their loction, seek them out and get my revenge...hehehehehe...kind of like "Bully Beatdown"
Dude, you got a Honda Fit. WTF. Where have I been.
E-town
Nothing wrong with anger when it's merited. Only difference between how you reacted and how I would have reacted, is I'd have been so pissed off that my comments would have been unintelligible, like a reverse speaking in tongues or something.
I bike to work nearly everyday. The last time something like this happened to moi, it was several college or high school boys talking schmack as I rode past. I responded without yelling, but loud enough that they could clearly hear me, "Thanx fellas, but I only hook up with guys who are not fat and in better shape." Many F-bombs were levied in my direction as I rode away laughing.
Someone once threw firecrackers at me and my friend when we were riding on back roads. since you know my high level of bike handling i was able to cope but seriously some people SUCK. when you let it get to you they win.
Two years ago I thought about doing the "ride to work thing" (Landenberg PA to Newark DE), so I geared up and did it, felt great!, but on the way home I 'tied up traffic' for 30 seconds because of a narrow bottleneck road and a car layed the horn on me the entire time...that ruined it enough for me to give up the dream.
i had mcdonald's fries tossed at me a few years ago, went ballistic and figured the incident had passed. little did i realize that the offenders were stopped at a light as i rolled. i dropped some more bombs, reached in the car and proceeded to attempt to pull this dumbass out the open window. next thing i know i am being driven down the road half hanging out of a car, while clutching for dear life on some kids american apparel tee. i wouldn't recommend this option. luckily they slowed so i could drop off the window.
meh. we have good days and bad days. sometimes we can keep the anger in check, and sometimes we don't. ive been a lazy ass and drove in this week to avoid riding in a thunderstorm. i also get free parking on 2nd shift now. :(
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