Had someone brake check me while on the bicycle this afternoon.

Glad you are okay.

You acted well with terrible situation. We have local hot head guys in packs on bikes who don’t.

My daughter’s HS friend got paid by one to not post / delete a career destroying video. His cooler pack members talked him down.
 
It’s all Disney till the hurtling though the air,doesn’t anyone watch the police chase videos? Every state has posted them.We are rural but only 30 miles from Madison and have watched more then our fair share of chases through our area.Here the police let them run and won’t stop them till they crash into someone or something. Don’t care if this is liked I always feel like a target on the road which is why I stay on trails as much as possible.
 
Not excusing what that guy did, but I see way too many bicyclist in the middle of the road where's there's a bike lane, or sidewalk/trail. Blowing through redlights like they don't care if someone hits them etc. Same goes with motorcyclists who disregard the rules of the road in the name of speeding and thrills.

Dealing with this in my local town has led me to have little empathy.
 
I used to ride on rural roads. Way too many close calls and fools throwing the occasional object at me. And yes....I rode as far to the right as safely possible. Now you won't catch me riding at all on roads. No way. Fortunately in my situation I have many miles of paved bicycle/pedestrian paths to ride on.
Now if I could only rid them of the electric bike goofs.
 
I approached a T- intersection with 3 way stop . A cyclist got to the intersection first and went through the stop sign and stopped in the middle of the intersection . He held his hand up to me and then about 8 other cyclist blew through the stop sign and continued on . I can't tell you how furious I was at this arrogance and entitlement .
I think that whether one decides to ride in a group or not is irrelevant. What matters is the behavior. For example, if you are riding in a paceline and hear a car coming up behind you (you don't wear earbuds in a paceline do you?), then don't switch off (and ride side by side) till the car has passed. The last guy can also signal the car to pass when safe. Generally if you are courteous, I find that stuff works.

I certainly do not condone that kind of behavior - it violates the social contract. And many times, a smile and a wave does wonders. However, in the case of the OP, there is no justifying that kind of behavior. Which is also why I now ride with a helmet mounted camera. It does wonders when motorists know that they are being recorded.
 
I know, it was all my fault.... I selfishly took 30 seconds of their day away from them.

Yes, they got caught behind me for about 30 seconds. Marked two lane road, no paved shoulders, still within city limits., with some oncoming traffic. When there's not a paved shoulder, I tend to ride within 2 feet of the white line (3 feet at the most).

I had the sense that something was getting ready to go wrong as they were passing me. As they were coming around, I checked my rear view mirror to see that there was no one else behind me.

As soon as they got in front of me, they put it all the way over on the right edge of the pavement, and brought it down to a complete stop. I was riding at somewhere between 18-20mph. I had three choices. Go to the right and take the ditch (and likely get hurt), run into the back of them (and likely get hurt), or pass them on the left using the oncoming lane.

I took #3 and went around on the left. Thankfully I already knew that there wasn't anyone behind me. There was no oncoming traffic, and I made a successful pass. I was around them quickly as they were at a complete stop, and I was still moving at a good clip.

My next fear was that it wasn't yet over for me, but it thankfully was. They turned off onto the first side street that they came to, and disappeared. Once I realized that I was in the clear, I pulled off in a safe place and let my heart rate come down a bit. I think that also being a motorcycle rider for 25+ years helped me on this one, to be able to quickly make a decision and execute it, that kept me upright with the rubber side down.

After several years and 18,000 miles on the bicycle, this one was a first... and a stunning new all time low.

As much as I hate to think it... it really may be time for me to ride with a GoPro or something similar.
Many Humans are defective maybe the worst in the animal kingdom. Just miserable with their lives
 
Everyone home safe no issues the ultimate in safe ridding a app like Zwift.
Four person break away last night from pack it gets as brutal as you want honestly this ridding has taken so many people of the road for fear of getting hit.20241014_173434.webp
 
Yes, they got caught behind me for about 30 seconds. Marked two lane road, no paved shoulders, still within city limits., with some oncoming traffic. When there's not a paved shoulder, I tend to ride within 2 feet of the white line (3 feet at the most).

I ride recreationally on a flat bar fitness bike so about 13-15mph. I ride locally in my neighborhood but my great joy is riding in NYC through Central Park, Times Square, bike lane to Battery Park, Brooklyn Bridge, wherever the desire takes me. I see many "serious" road bikers that seem to think that every road or bike lane was put in place just for them, pedestrians and other cyclists be ****ed. Reading the comment above, I have to ask...why 2 feet or 3 feet off the white line? Why not 1 foot? When you're 3 feet off the line, you have effectively taken the entire lane. Granted you may be going faster than most but 1 foot or less off the white line should be sufficient. When I'm in my car, I hate getting stuck behind cyclists that think they have the right to ride side by side so that they can have a chat at 15 mph while on a 25 mph or higher road is extremely frustrating. Ride single file and have your little chat when you reach your destination.
 
As I said earlier: Walk a mile in the other person's shoes, if you are a driver or cyclist. One reason to take more of the lane is to enable safer passing. When I go downhill - sometimes hitting 45-50 mph, I'm taking the full lane. When taking 1 foot, I have found that some drivers pass unsafely since they think that they have the lane and land up nearly grazing me.

I do think that cyclists who ride side by side on busy roads need a talking to. They actually make the road unsafe for the rest of us.
 
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