elmSTnasty
If you can take it, take it twice
You did the right thing. Never let a stupid person bring you down to their level.
My First Road Rage, How To Handle It?
- Thread starter twistsick
- Start date
elmSTnasty
If you can take it, take it twice
Don't worry about it. It's not worth getting arrested or worse, even killed because of someone like that. Some people just hate bikes.
AndyManCam
www.youtube.com/anymancam
Just like all have said, just remove yourself from the situation and don't let it affect your mood. If some knob wants do desperately to be in front of me to do 5mph more, then I'll pull over or go a different way so that they can hurt themselves without me being involved!
We aren't here to educate drivers and any aggressive behaviour will almost always lead to aggressive reciprocation. Just get away and forget about it!
I liked the suggestion to moan about it afterwards too! That really DOES help! !
We aren't here to educate drivers and any aggressive behaviour will almost always lead to aggressive reciprocation. Just get away and forget about it!
I liked the suggestion to moan about it afterwards too! That really DOES help! !
O8ride
O8
On a 125cc bike, especially if on learner plates and I don't know whether you are, many car drivers immediately think they should be in front of you. You may be able to travel at the speed limit on the straight and downhill, and they still think that it is their right to get past you. Even if you are driving safely in an advanced manner, they will see you as merely in the way. Going uphill is where it gets tricky and your speed may reduce below the limit.
Whatever you do, don't ride in the gutter to let them past, that will give you a world of pain and is even more unsafe. You choose whether to carry on safely in a good road position and force them to wait until it is safe for them to go past, or pull over in a safe spot and let them go. I'm more in the former mold.
Much of my riding is on the commute to a city, so I know that 90% of the time I will be catching up and going past them while filtering later. That provides a great opportunity - while they are stuck in traffic and unable to go right, left, forward or back - for you to flip them the bird and laugh at them. That laughter really is the best medicine.
Whatever you do, don't ride in the gutter to let them past, that will give you a world of pain and is even more unsafe. You choose whether to carry on safely in a good road position and force them to wait until it is safe for them to go past, or pull over in a safe spot and let them go. I'm more in the former mold.
Much of my riding is on the commute to a city, so I know that 90% of the time I will be catching up and going past them while filtering later. That provides a great opportunity - while they are stuck in traffic and unable to go right, left, forward or back - for you to flip them the bird and laugh at them. That laughter really is the best medicine.
Marbro_za
Dan's princess
If they can really go faster than you, they can find a way around you
ShadowBoxer
Wannabie Member
If you're not really sure if you did anything offensive then maybe you did. I believe you should know what you are doing on the road. If you are asking us what you did wrong; how could we possibly know what you did or didn't do?
As we've all seen on many videos, when one is cut off or otherwise disrespected on the road the default position seems to be swear and curse! I've done it many times myself.
So then I would not take offense or be surprised if someone was swearing or cursing me if I cut them off, etc. even if it was accidental.
You should know what you are doing and what is going on around you. Especially on a smaller bike.
Now that's not to say you should have your feelings hurt. You are still not responsible for other peoples actions. It's their choice how to respond to whatever. You didn't make anyone do anything.
What I'm saying is if you don't know what happened maybe that should be your lesson: Be aware at all times, in all directions.
If/ When you still get mad people raging against life, then "just drop a gear and..." and, uh.... slowly walk away?
As we've all seen on many videos, when one is cut off or otherwise disrespected on the road the default position seems to be swear and curse! I've done it many times myself.
So then I would not take offense or be surprised if someone was swearing or cursing me if I cut them off, etc. even if it was accidental.
You should know what you are doing and what is going on around you. Especially on a smaller bike.
Now that's not to say you should have your feelings hurt. You are still not responsible for other peoples actions. It's their choice how to respond to whatever. You didn't make anyone do anything.
What I'm saying is if you don't know what happened maybe that should be your lesson: Be aware at all times, in all directions.
If/ When you still get mad people raging against life, then "just drop a gear and..." and, uh.... slowly walk away?
Clint Love
It doesn't say CUNT, dammit!
Who knows what you did, if anything? Maybe you accidentally cut him off. Maybe he was going fast and got mad because he had to slow down when he ran up on you, which is stupid but some people are like that. You tried to make amends but he was past all that and just wanted to rage, but that's on him, not you.
As far as defensive driving, your best weapon is maneuverability. You can go between cars or quickly exit the highway when he isn't expecting it. I don't think a firearm is of much use, unless he forces you off the road and tries to attack you, but if it comes down to something as nasty as having to brandish a weapon or worse, shoot someone, you're looking at having to prove to a Grand Jury that you weren't part of the problem, which is very hard and expensive to do in a road rage case, even if you have video.
I'm actually experienced at Escape and Evasion (on foot and otherwise). I've run from weirdos, drug dealers, angry exes and even the cops at some point. If you have to run, have a plan. Choose a way that is easy for you and difficult for them. Choose a way that puts cover and concealment in your favor. Most importantly, never run FROM something. Always run TO something (as in somewhere more safe/defensible). And don't stop and look behind you.
This strategy is also beneficial if you do have to use violence to defend yourself. You can say, "Look, I ran for 15 miles, down side streets, between cars, rode up a staircase and all the way to this place and the fucker just kept after me. At that point, I had nowhere to run, I was cornered and I had no choice." Looks better than, "I pulled over, He pulled over, we had a fight and I killed him" Which could be anything from Manslaughter up to Murder 2 depending upon the jury.
As far as defensive driving, your best weapon is maneuverability. You can go between cars or quickly exit the highway when he isn't expecting it. I don't think a firearm is of much use, unless he forces you off the road and tries to attack you, but if it comes down to something as nasty as having to brandish a weapon or worse, shoot someone, you're looking at having to prove to a Grand Jury that you weren't part of the problem, which is very hard and expensive to do in a road rage case, even if you have video.
I'm actually experienced at Escape and Evasion (on foot and otherwise). I've run from weirdos, drug dealers, angry exes and even the cops at some point. If you have to run, have a plan. Choose a way that is easy for you and difficult for them. Choose a way that puts cover and concealment in your favor. Most importantly, never run FROM something. Always run TO something (as in somewhere more safe/defensible). And don't stop and look behind you.
This strategy is also beneficial if you do have to use violence to defend yourself. You can say, "Look, I ran for 15 miles, down side streets, between cars, rode up a staircase and all the way to this place and the fucker just kept after me. At that point, I had nowhere to run, I was cornered and I had no choice." Looks better than, "I pulled over, He pulled over, we had a fight and I killed him" Which could be anything from Manslaughter up to Murder 2 depending upon the jury.
KorstoMoto
Wannabie Member
I think you handled it quite well. If you can't come up with a reason the cager was mad at you, it's very possible that he was just being a cunt and had some personal issues against bikers. Perhaps his parents didn't let him get one. Nobody knows.
I've seen a lot of bikers on Youtube even with the L-plates on just go and push theirselves to the unpleasant situation by stupid actions. I get it, people are dumbasses and it pisses you off, but I would seriously be scared of those cagers if I was flipping them fingers and such with a 125cc under me.
As twistsick said, you really can't get away from the car by going faster. Only option to get yourself out of the situation is to drop your speed and let the car go past you or take another route.
I've seen a lot of bikers on Youtube even with the L-plates on just go and push theirselves to the unpleasant situation by stupid actions. I get it, people are dumbasses and it pisses you off, but I would seriously be scared of those cagers if I was flipping them fingers and such with a 125cc under me.
As twistsick said, you really can't get away from the car by going faster. Only option to get yourself out of the situation is to drop your speed and let the car go past you or take another route.
CaptainCranky
Misunderstood genius
As many have said, you handled it as well as you could. I have long since given up looking for a logical reason as to why some people behave the way they do - it could be brain damage via drugs or alcohol, it could be mental illness, they could just be assholes who get off on it - it leaves the reasonable people looking for explanations and that ends up frustrating.
RogueMogul
Wannabie Member
I would much rather have an unhappy motorists in front of me rather than behind me to be honest. Easier to turn off and give them the slip that way.
I try to roll on as much as I can, I do little things to let people know I can see them on their phone and they are on camera.
Don't lie to yourself like others do to justify yelling and screaming at people:
- 2 minutes up the road they have forgotten what they did and just think you are a motorcyclist being a tit
- Breaks your calm for the next however long on your bike
Don't lie to yourself like others do to justify yelling and screaming at people:
- 2 minutes up the road they have forgotten what they did and just think you are a motorcyclist being a tit
- Breaks your calm for the next however long on your bike
Grimfaith
Wannabie Member
Your options are kinda limited, but what you did was probably the most rational thing to do. I try to avoid all cars at all costs if they are being radical, just because my risk is way higher on a bike. How would of I handled it? I probably would of been pretty angry, especially if someone endangered my life like that, probably would of yelled at them, but in hindsight...car vs. bike...car always wins.
ChunksLife
Chunk
i would of thrown a spark plug thou his window .... don't do that it gets you in trouble i don't condone violent actions
MiGlyRides
Geordie-Aussie
I've had this happen a few times someone's on your arse on a 2 lane road, I never give up my positioning in the lane, one of my mates moved form the right wheel track to the left (we drive on the left side of the road) and the car instead of moving all the way into the oncoming lane to overtake it only half did had to have been less than a foot away from my mate's bike, It's all bout YOUR safety out there, not the happiness of others, the safest thing is not to give them a sneaky way to pass, keep calm and keep in control, if your side of the road has multiple lanes move to the slow lane & let them pass and tailgate Someone else, forget about them & their "Rush" & yes having a bitch to some.... Dozens of people afterwards does help 
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