Biking virginity lost - 1st confrontation with stupid driver

[D O G]

As it says really, on my usual commute today, filtered through traffic upto some liights, couldn't quite get to the front (blocked by trucks). So I was sat just forward of a green Fiat Multipla (yuk), in between lanes 1&2, but intending to turn left (bit naughty, but lane 1 is left turn only).

Anyway, lights change, I set off fairly sharpish, without running into the back of the truck, but the guy in the fiat nails it, and actually runs over my foot! I was going to let this go, since he couldn't have seen it, but I had now moved ahead of him, and was indicating left. He kept super tight on the truck's arse in front, so I ended up going left around the outside of him. Then, when it straightend up, he STILL kept super tight, speeding up to close it even further when I tried to get in front. As the gap down the middle is not too large, I wanted to try and get in, but no fucking chance.

I properly lost it at this point, what with the running over of the foot and general obnoxious behaviour, so I went for the mirror. Not being experienced in this, I ended giving a feeble downward blow, which did nothing, apart from getting the V's and some abuse from the driver. So I kicked his door, again no damage.

Got in front but then ducked into a left turn to let him past, then followed him, with images of pummeling his fat face into the ground. What actually transpired was that he ended up stopping at a set of lights a couple of miles further down the road (which were actually on green!?!!), so I banged on his window. When he opened it, I shouted 'You're either blind or a cunt, which one is it?' He told me to fuck off (I think), then realised the lights were on green and left.

I decided to leave it at that, and went to nail it off, at which point I realised I was in neutral

So anyway, first time I've been that pissed off on my bike, I now understand about the need to take people's mirrors, my blood was boiling. Feel so vulnerable, but the potential for immediate retaliation is so much greater.

Anyhoo, I did a paint bit to illustrate......

[thegubner]

In the interest of safety, why did you not just back off behind him?

Then you could of chased the cunt and battered his poo box.

[ColdInsomnia]

The guy was being a complete tit, but my advice to you in future situations like this is just to back off and squeeze in behind him if possible. As much of a pillock as he is being, he's in a cage, and you're not, so any war of momentum that ensues will inevitably go in his favour.

That being said, a little trick I try to do when stuck behind trucks or something, always try to edge in in front of one of the cars on your left and right, even if you can only just get your front wheel in. It's enough to allow you to get in front of them when the trucks move, and since you've pretty much marked your territory, any attempt that the driver has to get in front of you will result in an insurance claim in your favour (Any driver with two brain cells to rub together will realise this, and as such do nothing).
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Yamaha YB100 | Yamaha TZR125 | Yamaha XJ600S | Suzuki GSF600
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
John Lennon

[iooi]

I think him running over your foot should have been the warning to just let him go.
Sometimes you have to feel the force and let the red mist subside.

Pull in behind him, wait till next lights cruise up the side of him knock on the window and say....
Do you know you run over my foot, as such I'm reporting you to the police for driving without due care and attention.
As you were in front of him he should have given way.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Stoo]

They're some seriously wonky traffic lights they've got down your way!

[Qube77]

I think that someone should write a tutorial on "wing mirror removal" to make sure that when the times comes we all know how to perform this action without braking our hands.

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Current Bike - Bandit 650s
Next Bike - ????

[D O G]

Yeah in hindsight I should have let him go, but boy was I pissed off. I couldn't believe the gayness of his actions.

Looking back I really think he was oblivious to my presence, until I struck out!

[veeeffarr]

[Kal]

I understand exaclty what you mean you mean, why you didit and how you felt.

The thing is though you are much, much more likely to have an accident when your blood is boiling.

https://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p157/Kal_hybrid/Online/Big_Bill_In_Groundhog-731047.gif

Don't drive angry!
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Qube77]

[thegubner]

stick your left leg upwards facing forwards, then gun it pointing the sole of your boot/shoe/trainer/flip flop at the mirror, when you hear that satisfying crunching noise replace foot on foot peg and carry on gunning in case of said wrong person being in the car.

[Wyvern971]

Right from reading what you've written and looking at the diagram, you are in the right position for turning left, it isn't being cheeky.

You should have backed off and just let him go first, you can always get passed later. You'll need to be prepared to do this a lot especially in central London. (I see a lot of scooters about who seem to think they are invincible when commuting, when it goes pear shaped the biker is almost always going to be worse off).

He shouldn't have run over your foot, but a lot of car drivers seem to be oblivious of traffic around them.

As previously mentioned if your front wheel is in his lane he has to deliberately hit your bike which is a claim in your favour.

[EuropeanNC30R...]

I thought it was fairly controlled, running over your foot and then adding insult to injury by trying to force you wide would give me the mist.

I suppose the smart thing to do would have been not to attack the car and report him for failing to stop after an accident.

[faddius]

Dont hit down on a mirror, hit it from the side in the direction your travelling, you can get your speed behind it then.

And if he rolled down his window, and you really wanted to smack him why didnt you open the door or smack him through the window.

Or follow him home, make a note of it, go back that night with some friends, petrol and a lighter

[D O G]

[thegubner]

[D O G]

When he finally stopped (at the green lights!) after I'd followed him a couple of miles down the road I was on his passenger side - that time he was in the far right lane of three.

[faddius]

Ahhhh makes sense now.

Taking the keys, never thought of that one...

Every man is peaceful, till hes threatened by something larger than him.

[Bru]

I have had my foot run over. Twice. Thing is, that only happens when you've wedged yourself in nice and tight against the line of cars, and have to risk your foot in order to remain upright. Which means that the driver has no chance of avoiding your foot when moving forwards. You assumed that the driver would yield to you because of your positioning, but that is a very dangerous assumption to make. You also assumed that the car would be slow, 'cos you're so quick, etc.

A pity you met a pissed-off driver in that green car, but just because you're on a bike, don't expect cars to yield to you because you're 'nippy', and will be gone in no time, etc. You raced him because you were amazed that someone would even consider fighting for the space you aimed at, but that puts the two of you in the same camp.

In my case, the occasions when I had my foot run over was during my stint as a London courier. I had to be more aggressive on the road, as my job depended on it, 10 hours a day. I accepted the risks, and did not blame (most) of the car drivers when something dodgy happened. But commuting.. it's not worth it. So many 'victims' moan about their treatment at the hands of car drivers, but I'll bet that same person has had enough of being cut up by bikers. Talk about bashing wing mirrors - all he had to do was a little drift to his right, and you'd be on an oncoming car's windscreen. Good thing he didn't have your mindset.

[Noxious89123]

Nicking their keys is the best option, but only if your fast
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[TheDonUK]

Bru you make a valid point,

Sometimes though sitting back smugly in the knowledge that your report of dangerous driving will yield no results... Just does not bring satisfaction. (Maybe just maybe a copper will turn up at his door and give him a slap on the wrists).

Its taking justice into your own hands, and it is wrong. But the world is full of wrong-doers and certain people think they are invincible in their cages of steel, in some situations i have been known to shake this assumption much in the same way the original poster has described. Its not big, its not clever, but what it does do, in that instant when he decided through sheer bloody-minded ness "Fuck you i am in a car, get out of my way" there are repercussions. There is nothing more satisfying that dishing out some self justice to someone who has wronged you (and this is not they have stolen something from me etc, they have endangered my life, to get away with a smashed wing mirror they should be grateful)

In all probability it will just make them more agressive in their driving rather than learning any lessons... But i cannot regulate for that, all I as a lone biker in the world can do is in that instant someone has come close to killing me or done something so unbelievable to warrent such actions i can leave them with a semi-perminent reminder that there are consequences... Just like the consequenses i would likely be living with the rest of my life (if you survive) if they had succeded in taking me out

I am not yet mature enough to let certain things people try to inflict on me just slide, i will get there eventually, but not yet, If someone swerves at me/pulls out/etc/etc then for instance tells me to fuck myself... oooo Its on like donkey kong motherfucker...

For the record i dont rate using the foot method, too much chance of it unsettling your bike and causing you to swerve just after impact... Fist out (Another use for armored knuckles), responsive gear, pin it, and disappear. Best bet is to wait for them to get held up by traffic and then disappear down the filtering gap.

I will just add 9/10 it is indeed not worth it... but there are those occasions when summary justice is called for... And i think the situation described here was one of them... At a push...

[faddius]

All car drivers are under the impression that they are dominant on the road and everyone else should move for them.

I have a friend who always winds me up, whinging that someone didnt move fast enough, or that they should get out of his way because hes got priority when he doesnt.

He doesnt do it half as much anyone, because he cut up 2 bikes, a learner and a more experianced rider because he felt they should have moved from him. An immediate smack in the head, a lost wheel trim and a blown tyre on impact with the kerb taught him to definately not do it to bikers.

[Benrly]

Can understand the anger - I've been through similar (although less painful experiences.) There's a large amount of people in Plymouth, as I'm assuming the case is elsewhere, that don't fancy indicating or checking in their mirrors before moving across into a gap in the other lane of traffic - often catching filtering bikers out.

It's always a lot better to let it go though. After all, you're on 2 wheels and weigh 200kg; they're on four and weigh a heck of a lot more. As said before, the momentum wars are not in your favour if someone is having a bad day.

[Stalk]

This is not aimed at anyone in particular.

It's only 9 foot of road, be aware, give space where you have to, and live a less stressfull life. The ignorant are more likely to get a heart attack, stroke, or high blood pressure.

It's just not worth it......not for me anyway.

Happy Daze!
Stalk

[binge]

Is it only me who LOLd at the Running over foot bit?


It really boils my piss when cagers are cunts to filtering bikes.