I like it, although I’d feel obligated to also carry my H&R .32 short hammerless revolver in my concealed carry holster if I was going to wear it. I have a feeling I’d need it sooner or later.
Not really impressed with the HPF’r bag… Explain that to parents wanting to kick you a$$ at the soccer field on Sat morning after little Becky asks her mom: “whats a PF’r”?
It is incredible how many times the bird flies in on my rides whether i asked it to or not, i flipped a cop off not to long ago because he pulled out in front of me and almost hit me, it’s like my comfort blanket
“The adrenaline spike can cause me to do irrational things” — like chase down a car full of loudmouths and catch them at the next light and circle their car screaming like a madman challenging them to get out and fight and watch them roll up their windows like little girls and speed away and … I need to go lie down.
I take the passive aggressive route and give people the thumbs up instead of the finger. Sometimes I will fake enthusiastically smile at them when I have their attention.
LOL!!! Lobster you!!!
Those ‘lobster claw’ gloves/mitts were great for that sort of thing. Could flip off cars without them necessarily knowing what you were doing. Such became the epithet as above.
that’s become my default response to pretty much any interaction with cars. I’ve had acquaintances later complain that they were honking to say hi, and have to tell them just how startling and alarming a honk really is when you’re not encased in a cab. Once or twice I’ve had drivers want to take up the challenge but they really aren’t interested, ultimately, in spending time fighting with a woman on a bike. Worst was one driver who wanted to make a right turn on a red while I and my husband were waiting in the right lane for a through. The left lane was full of left turns. THe difference was we weren’t in our smart car, we were on our bikes, and the jackass didn’t have enough patience to let us be nice and give him the lane. He started leaning on that horn before even getting to the intersection so we spent the whole light cycle with his horn blaring at our backs, our chins set with stubbornness instead of the friendly smile of someone given an opportunity to be generous. We totally would have moved to the side, even though the law does not require it, had he given us time to see his blinker light. And obnoxious people wonder why the world is so ungenerous with them.
I have to agree with Yolanda on the part of how much louder a horn is when you are not in the car. Even friendly honks are annoying. I had the opportunity to educate a driver recently. He had popped off a friendly “coming up behind you” honk. We both arrived at the traffic light side – by – side a few seconds later. I looked over at the driver and he gave me a nod and a smile. I wiped the scowl off my face, smiled and said, pointing to my ear, “no need to honk, mate, we hear you!” He gave me a thumbs up and a smile, and we both went on our way after a positive encounter. I could have gone nuts all over him, but what good would that have done? Best to take the high road. This was a positive encounter, and I recognize that not all are positive. Cheers to all and be safe.
Oh, yes I have swung round to give someone a piece of my mind and then realised they are just trying to say “I’m here”, rather than “out of my way”. Need the car equivalent of a bell.
When I got married, in 1979, I had a Citroen CX2400 Pallas (S/H=Cheap!) Which had a ton-use horn. Push lightly and it gave a peep from a small solenoid-operated horn. A harder, sustained, push lit up the Air-Horns…
It really functioned as Stephen intends. Not so loud as to be offensive unless you MEANT it, when it would cause truck-drivers to jump
I’ve had the opposite thing happen, where someone walking on a shared path assumed that my gently bell ding (which I meant just as a “heads up, I’m here” thing so they wouldn’t be surprised) was like a car honking “Out of my way!”. He got all weird.
I discovered that I had to sound just a single ‘ding’ to say ‘I am here’ on the footpaths in Bavaria. The first time I sounded a full ring, the walkers almost leapt to the sides out of my way! I apologised and explained I was British and still learning to ride in Germany. They were nice and explained what to do – One ‘ding’ as an announcement, a full ring to be more urgent (‘I am coming fast and can’t stop’ type of thing). Sustained ringing meant ‘danger – take alarm’ – Maybe the sort of thing you do when a vehicle is out of control etc?
I assume that the custom is still the same?
Got honked at again last night on a very wide street while I was passing the stopped bus. It took 4 seconds. Really, pal? I remain convinced that my last words on this earth are going to be “You f*cking a**hole!”
I use snowmobile gloves….because when I decide someone needs the middle-finger salute, I want them to be able to recognize it and not think I’m just waving to be friendly.
I used to turn the other cheek when almost hit by drivers, The more I commute in urban and suburban trafic, the more likely I am to scream like a madman at the thoughtless idiots for near misses.
I do notice that city drivers seem to be much more aware and respectful of bicyclists…
I just found a solution for Yehuda’s problem, Planet Bike makes a winter glove that has both the index and middle fingers separate, allowing either the US style middle digit or the UK style 2 digit salute. http://ecom1.planetbike.com/glove9004.html
For those about to ride, we salute you.
Any honking driver has seen the cyclist and won’t run him over accidentally. Remember Sidewalk Jones’ intended run over from 2009-12-05?
I have a rather good messenger bag that reduces the incidence of honking: http://www.cafepress.com/honkpigfucker.31442465
‘It’s not very sensible
I predict a riot’ – KAISER CHIEFS
I like it, although I’d feel obligated to also carry my H&R .32 short hammerless revolver in my concealed carry holster if I was going to wear it. I have a feeling I’d need it sooner or later.
Is that a pistol in your shorts, or ya just happy to see me?
Not really impressed with the HPF’r bag… Explain that to parents wanting to kick you a$$ at the soccer field on Sat morning after little Becky asks her mom: “whats a PF’r”?
But you’re not concerned at carrying a firearm?
What’s there to be concerned about?
the wives of policemen might be offended
I think you have seen Deliverance a few too many times.
my new policy is ‘do not retaliate’ and ‘do not let it get to you’… otherwise the adrenaline spike can cause me to do irrational things :/
Well Said – A lesson I need to learn!
Yes, this. Life is much too short to waste chunks of it reacting to passing idiots and psychos.
Yes, I try to calm my instinct to give the V fingers these days. It never helps winding up these peopel any further than they already are.
Well said, but oh so hard to do.
It is incredible how many times the bird flies in on my rides whether i asked it to or not, i flipped a cop off not to long ago because he pulled out in front of me and almost hit me, it’s like my comfort blanket
At least Yehuda recognizes who’s #1…
“The adrenaline spike can cause me to do irrational things” — like chase down a car full of loudmouths and catch them at the next light and circle their car screaming like a madman challenging them to get out and fight and watch them roll up their windows like little girls and speed away and … I need to go lie down.
Looks like a lead in to a classic joke – the second one on this page: http://www.peakdistrictcycleways.co.uk/cycling-fun-detail.php?id=1
Good Humour
If I did that Rickster, they would probably laugh at me like people laugh at a Chihuahua in attack mode…
I take the passive aggressive route and give people the thumbs up instead of the finger. Sometimes I will fake enthusiastically smile at them when I have their attention.
LOL!!! Lobster you!!!
Those ‘lobster claw’ gloves/mitts were great for that sort of thing. Could flip off cars without them necessarily knowing what you were doing. Such became the epithet as above.
I don’t get honked or yelled at.
But I look like a trained bear on a bike.
that’s become my default response to pretty much any interaction with cars. I’ve had acquaintances later complain that they were honking to say hi, and have to tell them just how startling and alarming a honk really is when you’re not encased in a cab. Once or twice I’ve had drivers want to take up the challenge but they really aren’t interested, ultimately, in spending time fighting with a woman on a bike. Worst was one driver who wanted to make a right turn on a red while I and my husband were waiting in the right lane for a through. The left lane was full of left turns. THe difference was we weren’t in our smart car, we were on our bikes, and the jackass didn’t have enough patience to let us be nice and give him the lane. He started leaning on that horn before even getting to the intersection so we spent the whole light cycle with his horn blaring at our backs, our chins set with stubbornness instead of the friendly smile of someone given an opportunity to be generous. We totally would have moved to the side, even though the law does not require it, had he given us time to see his blinker light. And obnoxious people wonder why the world is so ungenerous with them.
That’s why you should use Bar Mitts instead of lobster-claw gloves…
I have to agree with Yolanda on the part of how much louder a horn is when you are not in the car. Even friendly honks are annoying. I had the opportunity to educate a driver recently. He had popped off a friendly “coming up behind you” honk. We both arrived at the traffic light side – by – side a few seconds later. I looked over at the driver and he gave me a nod and a smile. I wiped the scowl off my face, smiled and said, pointing to my ear, “no need to honk, mate, we hear you!” He gave me a thumbs up and a smile, and we both went on our way after a positive encounter. I could have gone nuts all over him, but what good would that have done? Best to take the high road. This was a positive encounter, and I recognize that not all are positive. Cheers to all and be safe.
Oh, yes I have swung round to give someone a piece of my mind and then realised they are just trying to say “I’m here”, rather than “out of my way”. Need the car equivalent of a bell.
When I got married, in 1979, I had a Citroen CX2400 Pallas (S/H=Cheap!) Which had a ton-use horn. Push lightly and it gave a peep from a small solenoid-operated horn. A harder, sustained, push lit up the Air-Horns…
It really functioned as Stephen intends. Not so loud as to be offensive unless you MEANT it, when it would cause truck-drivers to jump
Sorry – s/b ‘twin-use horn’
I’ve had the opposite thing happen, where someone walking on a shared path assumed that my gently bell ding (which I meant just as a “heads up, I’m here” thing so they wouldn’t be surprised) was like a car honking “Out of my way!”. He got all weird.
I discovered that I had to sound just a single ‘ding’ to say ‘I am here’ on the footpaths in Bavaria. The first time I sounded a full ring, the walkers almost leapt to the sides out of my way! I apologised and explained I was British and still learning to ride in Germany. They were nice and explained what to do – One ‘ding’ as an announcement, a full ring to be more urgent (‘I am coming fast and can’t stop’ type of thing). Sustained ringing meant ‘danger – take alarm’ – Maybe the sort of thing you do when a vehicle is out of control etc?
I assume that the custom is still the same?
On a recumbent a car horn just hurts.
Got honked at again last night on a very wide street while I was passing the stopped bus. It took 4 seconds. Really, pal? I remain convinced that my last words on this earth are going to be “You f*cking a**hole!”
Neon orange fabric paint on the mitt directly over the “indicative” finger…a simple wave will do : )
I use snowmobile gloves….because when I decide someone needs the middle-finger salute, I want them to be able to recognize it and not think I’m just waving to be friendly.
Maybe somebody needs to design a mitt with the middle finger separate for just such an occasion.
I used to turn the other cheek when almost hit by drivers, The more I commute in urban and suburban trafic, the more likely I am to scream like a madman at the thoughtless idiots for near misses.
I do notice that city drivers seem to be much more aware and respectful of bicyclists…
A driver going ape has the benefit of some anonymity inside their tinted box, but as a rider you are very obviously a person losing your sh*t.
Buddhist saints would be hard pressed, but I try to hold back the Naughty Finger because I want other people to see how calm riding makes me.
Remember Fry’s 101 coffee moment in Futurama? Just like that.
I just found a solution for Yehuda’s problem, Planet Bike makes a winter glove that has both the index and middle fingers separate, allowing either the US style middle digit or the UK style 2 digit salute. http://ecom1.planetbike.com/glove9004.html