dealing with confrontational people while rideing

[Watchmaker]

I just got mine all together and commuted to college. Yes, i got more questions than i can count, but this one guy was a bike nut and chewed me out for ruining a perfectly good bike. You know the type, spandex wearing carbonfiber riding jerks who rack their bikes on top of their BMWs! He told me I was a sell out and if I just peddled I would lose some of that weight. I did not know what to say, other then it was the economical choice I made for my situation. Then that started an even longer rant about bicycles getting unlimited miles per gallon, blah blah blah. i finally stopped and told him to get lost ( well not exactly ) How do you guys deal with these kind of people?

 

[SimpleSimon]

Reach out and down, grab their spandex tights, lift up and back really, really hard. Then smile and ask, "Wanna go pedalling now?"

 

[Member 5549]

Yea

There is always one in every crowd !!!!
I bet your bike has more people talking then his BMW !!!

 

[Al.Fisherman]

As soon as someone starts ranting...no matter who, I would end the conservation and say.."to each his own" and as the English say.... "pi.. off"....sorta. Although I've never had a rude person as such.

 

[Thatperson]

I had one guy do that to me while out for a ride. I was sitting at a stop light and he came up beside me and started complaining about how stupid I was and that I should just pedal because it's better for me and the environment. I just started revving the engine and yelling "What? I can't hear you!" As soon as the light turned green I went on my merry way.

 

[Hajuu]

Haha, I don't get that all here in Australia. Most people are keenly curious.

 

[Happy Valley]

How do you guys deal with these kind of people?

Wear a hockey helmet, plastic fluorescent orange vest and goggles;
repeat "Hi, wanna be my friend?" regardless of what is being said.
A bit of spittle on the lower lip sometimes makes a nice touch.

 

[mlcorson]

"He who angers you wins"
I don't know who said that, but it works for me.

 

[Fabian]

I can't say i have ever been road raged by the type, spandex wearing carbonfiber riding jerks who rack their bikes on top of their BMWs!

The worst that happens is the directed stare and "highly disapproving look", as i power past or when i'm in the carpark and they are attaching their $6000 mountain bike onto the roof of their $130,000 BMW X5

Fabian

 

[azbill]

I get the biggest kick out of passing a roadie who has more money in his riding outfit than I do in my bike
nodding and waving seems to upset them LOL
any negativity is jealousy,,,in my eye(s) anyhow