Things shouted at cyclists

[HarryTheDog]

what I thought was fairly abstract was a white van pulled up beside me at a set of lights and the passenger casually told me "I dont like what you are wearing" NB I was in Glendene CC club kit.

 

[vickster]

what I thought was fairly abstract was a white van pulled up beside me at a set of lights and the passenger casually told me "I dont like what you are wearing" NB I was in Glendene CC club kit.

Did you ask him what his objection was?

 

[wafter]

Why did you not give them the common courtesy of a friendly low-key warning as you came up to them from behind?

Ridiculous discourtesy from a dickhead cyclist?

Evidently because I'm a ridiculously discourteous dickhead cyclist

 

[Roadrat77]

I once had an absolute oaf in a baseball cap driving a black 4x4 with the obligatory blacked out windows shout "GET OVER YOUR OWN F****G SIDE!!" from the opposite lane - remarkable when you consider I was riding wholly in the gutter and absolutely nowhere near the centre-line.

 

[ColinJ]

Most occupants of kevved-up Corsas:

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAuuuuuuuuuuh!"

Due to the relative speed, the Doppler effect, and the state of inebriation they are in, it's never intelligible.

I had one of those this evening on the A646 between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. I think that the driver was shouting something like "OMG, you look so damn cool on your bike - I must buy myself one ASAP!" but, sure enough, it DID end up sounding just like "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAuuuuuuuuuuh!"

 

[HarryTheDog]

Did you ask him what his objection was?

He didnt think wearing lycra was very butch I believe, like a lot some other van men they have the belief male cyclists in Lycra are gay if I am to believe other shouts made by them.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Last week I was struggling up a big hill, making a right turn onto an even steeper bit (Devils Dyke) so moving slowly, blocking the road and so on. As I turned off, someone in the car behind me shouted something. I started to make a gesture when I realised they were shouting encouragement.

I managed to convert my gesture into a thumbs up at the last minute.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Why did you not give them the common courtesy of a friendly low-key warning as you came up to them from behind?

Ridiculous discourtesy from a dickhead cyclist?

Dunno - I have had a few occasions where I have rung my bell from a decent distance behind, slowed down
no reaction
slowed down even more
said - clearly "excuse me please" from a couple of yards behind
still no reaction - not deaf as they were happily chatting to each other

so I ride past well over onto the grass verge
at which point one of them - always a older middle aged woman - jumps to her friend/husband/whatever with a shocked exclamation of "Oh My God!!!)
when I was several feet clear and going just over walking speed

On some occasions I can only think it is all done for effect
and so they can tell all their friends about these reckless young (I'm 62) cyclists tearing around the local paths (shared cycle paths actually but why let facts get in the way of a good story)

so - polite low key warnings are not always noticed

on the otehr side - quite a few people say thank you and move over

 

[All uphill]

I've had that one, too. Very aggressively from the front seat passenger in a taxi full of not very friendly looking males.
I let it go, and about 30 seconds later managed to think of suitable reply, but too late - they were gone. Maybe just as well, because the reply I came up with was "Who's riding your's just now, ya bellend?"

Verbal abuse and general aggression towards cyclists has taken quite a leap recently. Jealousy at the realisation of just how much they are paying to use a car?

A lot of people must be feeling the heat and the looming financial crisis just now. Kids off school, too.

Then some bloke on a bike (me) goes sailing past the queue of cars with a big grin on my face; not surprised they feel envious

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

A lot of people must be feeling the heat and the looming financial crisis just now. Kids off school, too.

Then some bloke on a bike (me) goes sailing past the queue of cars with a big grin on my face; not surprised they feel envious

During 'Great Petrol Panic' a while ago I went to Tesco on my ebike
Sailed happily past the huge queue at the petrol station on the way into the car park - the bloke marshalling the queue laughed at me as I sailed past and gave me a thumbs up!!

 

[ColinJ]

so I ride past well over onto the grass verge
at which point one of them - always a older middle aged woman - jumps to her friend/husband/whatever with a shocked exclamation of "Oh My God!!!)
when I was several feet clear and going just over walking speed

On some occasions I can only think it is all done for effect
and so they can tell all their friends about these reckless young (I'm 62) cyclists tearing around the local paths (shared cycle paths actually but why let facts get in the way of a good story)

Sometimes, maybe, but some of these people definitely aren't putting it on - they are clearly suffering from some intense anxiety problems!

I once encountered a couple walking along a steep country lane in front of me. I had slowed down and was well back when I called out to them. The woman freaked out completely, ran straight across the road, and faceplanted on a high roadside wall!

 

[alex_cycles]

Dunno - I have had a few occasions where I have rung my bell from a decent distance behind, slowed down
no reaction
slowed down even more
said - clearly "excuse me please" from a couple of yards behind
still no reaction - not deaf as they were happily chatting to each other

so I ride past well over onto the grass verge
at which point one of them - always a older middle aged woman - jumps to her friend/husband/whatever with a shocked exclamation of "Oh My God!!!)
when I was several feet clear and going just over walking speed

On some occasions I can only think it is all done for effect
and so they can tell all their friends about these reckless young (I'm 62) cyclists tearing around the local paths (shared cycle paths actually but why let facts get in the way of a good story)

so - polite low key warnings are not always noticed

on the otehr side - quite a few people say thank you and move over

I avoid that mostly by riding in the road, but then I get told to "move over" (just to make this thread somewhat recursive)

 

[Time Waster]

I have been asked what my disability is by a chubby young lad hanging out of his dad's range rover with his mate hanging out of the rear window.

First thing I thought was what father would let their kid and his friend hang right out of a moving car. Then I thought what they actually said. A few months before when the bike was new to me I experienced a woman about 60ish turn to my partner and say "it's good that they can get out like that!" I guess it's my own fault for riding a recumbent at times.

My final comment isn't as harmless. A local CC group of MAMILs rode past me in normal clothes on my do it all bike without helmet or any specialist cycling clobber. Behind me just out of earshot was my partner, female, and young son also wearing normal clothes and no cycling clobber. Ignoring me my partner got told aggressively to wear an effing helmet! Just as they were passing and cycling too quick for her to reply. The main comment came from one guy but another said something too. Big, brave men to only comment to a woman and child the riding off quickly. Still regret not contacting the CC concerned because I've been told they don't tolerate such behaviour and like to present themselves as open to everyone not just the MAMIL chain gangs.

BTW I do think men get comments but IME women and children get more comments directed at them. It is a form of prejudiced attitudes I reckon.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I have been asked what my disability is by a chubby young lad hanging out of his dad's range rover with his mate hanging out of the rear window.

First thing I thought was what father would let their kid and his friend hang right out of a moving car. Then I thought what they actually said. A few months before when the bike was new to me I experienced a woman about 60ish turn to my partner and say "it's good that they can get out like that!" I guess it's my own fault for riding a recumbent at times.

My final comment isn't as harmless. A local CC group of MAMILs rode past me in normal clothes on my do it all bike without helmet or any specialist cycling clobber. Behind me just out of earshot was my partner, female, and young son also wearing normal clothes and no cycling clobber. Ignoring me my partner got told aggressively to wear an effing helmet! Just as they were passing and cycling too quick for her to reply. The main comment came from one guy but another said something too. Big, brave men to only comment to a woman and child the riding off quickly. Still regret not contacting the CC concerned because I've been told they don't tolerate such behaviour and like to present themselves as open to everyone not just the MAMIL chain gangs.

BTW I do think men get comments but IME women and children get more comments directed at them. It is a form of prejudiced attitudes I reckon.

They are less likely to get an aggressive response from women than men

i.e bullying

 

[alex_cycles]

They are less likely to get an aggressive response from women than men

i.e bullying

Women are wiser. My best response to driver aggression is "no response" but I'm not wired to respond that way as often as I would like.
It allows you to move on immediately without getting fired up. I ride for stress relief. Bad to let the drivers take that away from me when it's within my control. Sometimes we forget we have a choice how we respond.

Like trolls - if you ignore them completely that is the biggest punishment they can get.