Things thrown at me

[Big Game]

Ah yes, the simple joy of riding a road bike. Unfortunately, there's an awful lot of abuse that comes our way. Along with verbal taunts of "f@g!," "a$$hole," "nice @$$," (I guess I kind of enjoy the "nice @$$" comment), we also must endure various things thrown from passing cars (why is it they're usually beat-up pick-ups?). This is my small list:

Beer cans (pretty obvious)
Beer bottles (ouch)
Lit firecrackers (while passing underneath a RR bridge on Rt 146 in Guilford, Conn.)
Pennies

[pk]

But just think of all the great crap you can scavange on the side of the road while riding skinny wheel.

To wit, beer cans, beer bottles, firecrackers with bad fuses... pennies.

You can get rich road riding!

;)

pk

[sizlinseagulsoup]

The best was once someone threw a beer bottle at me. Fortunatly they missed, unfortunatly it shattered infront of my causing a nice flat.

[MtnBikerChk]

Don't tell me this stuff. I just ordered my first road bike. ::)

[Big Game]

But just think of all the great crap you can scavange on the side of the road while riding skinny wheel.

To wit, beer cans, beer bottles, firecrackers with bad fuses... pennies.

You can get rich road riding!

;)

pk



My guess is that you're one of those "glass is half-full" kind of guys.

[Kenquig]

Back in my college days, I had an egg hit me from the window of a housing project on Mystic Ave in Somerville. I actually parked my bike and went into the project to find the egg throwers.

Boy was I stupid back then.

KQ

[Eric72]

I suppose I should consider myself lucky. The only things I have ever had hurled at me are insults. The sinlge most aggravating event I can think of was when this woman in a mini-van turned left in front of me (in broad daylight) and then had the nerve to yell to me that I should be wearing a helmet. We all make mistakes from time to time, but it is exceptionaly bad form to transfer blame for a lapse of attention. I almost always ignore these people as best I can as they are to stupid to realize that they are stupid.

Eric

[sizlinseagulsoup]

I actually get very few insults (besides that glass bottle, I have also had very few things thrown at me as well). Maybe people in the Pioneer (happy)Valley are just really nice?

[Big Game]

Maybe people in the Pioneer (happy)Valley are just really nice?



Could you tell some of them to move down to New Haven County?

This big roadie I know, Rich from Wallingford (He rides a trek (with a kickstand --- no joke)), was riding in West Haven and was mugged....at 25 mph. They actually stole his bike while he was riding it and beat the crap out of him. He's been talking about packing heat with him. I couldn't tell whether he's serious or not. But you never know, maybe NEMBA and NRA will start sharing mailing lists someday.

[sizlinseagulsoup]

That definitely takes the cake... I am going to stop bitching about my one beer bottle from now on.

[snemba-BR]

I have yet to have something thrown at me, butt! I was riding here in NH in Rye along the beach. I was just tooling along and behind me comes this idiot hanging out of his bud's topless Jeep and Whack! hits me in the ass with his hand while I'm riding along at about 22 or 23 mph. >:( It scared the hell out of me until I realized I wasn't hurt. It was tough to keep from getting extremely PO'd, but I didn't have a lot of choice. Now I ride with a mirror on my helmet and I keep a close eye on whats coming up behind. Literally!

My ass was only sore for a few minutes, I bet the fool who did it was wishing he hadn't. That had to hurt. Some people just don't think much.

[Big Game]

I only can respond in haiku:

Slapping steel ass
Must ice down swelling hand
Hillbilly fool

[heckler]

To look at it from the other direction: Can anybody come up with a way to safely carry paintballs? I would just love to tag some of the folks I come across on my daily commute! >:(

Seriously though, that would just get the next rider turned into a hood ornament! fun to think about though!

Actually can't say that I have had that much thrown at me. Bodies and doors have jumped in front of me plenty of times though. I did have a teammate beaned by a golfball once though! Luckiest shot ever. Gotta be careful when riding near those fairways.

[Paula]

The worst thing thrown at me was some kind of orange soda or juice. I was riding up at Hampton Beach in a mass of cars, people, and bikes. That stuff was awful! And sticky. And I rode another 30 miles smelling like oranges. Guess it could have been worse.

[Big Game]

They didn't even have the courtesy to put a little vodka in the o.j.? Let me just tell you, I share your outrage.

[johnbryanpeters]

Back in my college days, I had an egg hit me from the window of a housing project on Mystic Ave in Somerville. I actually parked my bike and went into the project to find the egg throwers.

Boy was I stupid back then.

KQ

Yeah, I raided a project in Cambridge once, rode in, they threw a toolbox at me, which I picked up and kept. Rode back with a wrist rocket and nailed a project rat in the knee, no-handed drive-by.

This was the early 70s, rode a Raleigh three speed with steel dropped bars, did at least thirty miles a day. I used a chain and padlock to secure the bike, and rode with it wrapped around my waist.

One of the favorite tactics of the project rats was to try to insert a broomstick in your spokes. I would get off without stopping, land running while unwrapping the chain, pick a target, and give chase waving the chain over my head. Never needed to catch one and once I got a reputation they picked easier targets.

The chain also served to defend against a couple of vehicular assaults - after the windshield's gone, they lost motivation.

In retrospect I'm pretty amazed I'm still alive and not incarcerated...

Oh, yeah, double parkers were a real threat, forcing you out into the traffic stream - a cupped right hand with stiff fingers would take out the driver's mirror on the way by, just a little reminder... Never got cut, either.

J

[Kenquig]

Wow, I am surprised you are still alive as well!

[GadgetGeek]

Did anyone ever notice that the folks who throw / yell things never have anything to say when you catch them at the next light?

Last summer I had a 1/2 full (half empty for pessimists) Bud Light can launched at me. The same car has spit at me, yelled, etc... on other occasions. I know where the hillbilly, er... offender lives, as I see the car parked at a local home pretty often. As I work for a public utility and the local bike shop that supplies the PD bike patrol, I have pretty good casual access to the local PD. After telling my story to an officer, he paid my buddy a visit. Now the hillbilly has to be the most cycle-respecting motorist in the county!

I'd love know what was said. ;)

[boingboing]

Wow this stuff is unreal. What the hell kind of rednecks live around here anyway. I just moved here from Buffalo (yes a real $h!thole of a city) and never had anything thrown or said at me. Except for one minor collision with a skateboarder. I did make sure I stayed clear of the crack neighborhoods though. Even riding out in the country I never had any problems with rednecks either. I guess I'm glad I totally lost intrest in road riding a few years before I moved here. Anyone wanna buy an old road bike real cheap or trade for Mtb parts? Anyway; The only problems I ever had out on the road was dogs, so I velcroed Mace to the stem. Tip..... Never try to spray a dog that is directly in front of you. I had the pleasure of watching my old roommate do that from about 6 bike lengths behind. At least the dog didnt attack him when he dumped it or me for that matter when I stopped to laugh...I mean see if he was ok.
Oh hey Hats off to that guy in Boston who gave it right back to the neighborhood swingin the bike lock and shootin em up with the slingshot. Way to send a message.

Bong