Comments on: Skkreeekkh! Kronk! Whumph! . . . Huh?

By: Unknown

Unknown — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 16:10:06 +0000

I don’t know Mr.Fat Cyclist. The last 2 months I have been about 4 times (my favorite was when I suddenly was lying on some guys hood enjoying the autumn sky and the dent I had made myself to lie in, but no the fun did not stop there, I then watched some very angry yelling in a foreign language (and ofcourse waving his hands)guy get out of his car, push me off his hood and drive away). Maybe part of the quandary is that I can’t communicate myself to “them” and thus in some deep sick physiological level keep on trying to get hit. Or maybe I don’t understand the rules of the road or the signs here yet, and green means stop. Perhaps it is because I carry my notebook which somehow has learned to project this big sign on it saying hit this cyclist please, I want to be destroyed (yes my notebook hates me, this is one thing in my life I know). Or maybe because I am a blond (sorry I had to put that one in). But I think I know where the problem is, it is in the voodoo effect that since the nice doctor told me that I should not be riding a bike any more since I broke my back, for if I get hit I might be paralyzed as a result. (ha stop riding my bike, yap sure buddy, like I would give up that feeling of cruising past some guy and watching him struggle to catch me but then fade away for no he can not catch me, and yes the champion lives on….wow, I have to stop being so arrogant) So maybe the answer is don’t break your back and you won‘t get hit, maybe the answer is don’t live in a country where they don’t understand you, or maybe the answer is don’t be blond (sorry). I am sorry Mr. Cyclist I do not know your answer to your question, what I do know is these “confrontations” are just another side product of being a cyclist. And we can only hope some trucker does not fall asleep and cream up one day. I guess what I have subsequently say in this rabble is nothing and that I only thing I possess is the knowledge of how to get hit.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 01:25:30 +0000

P.S. Since I didn’t answer your questions in my previous post:(1) What should I have done differently, if anything?Hmm, it’s a tough call since you weren’t in need of repair. But if there were expenses needed to fix you or the bike, you could have left a note saying what happened and that you would like him to contact you. And that you have his license plate number. Seems preferable to me vs. hunting him down in church.(2) When you’ve been either hit by — or forced into hitting — a car, how have you reacted (assuming you were conscious and could react at all) I yelled along with the Rotten Robbies chorous. I surprised myself with how loud I was.(3) Is this slink-away-undetected hit-and-run behavior as mind-blowingly strange as it seems to me? Or is it more common than I thought?More common than you’d think. Hit and runs seem to be on the increase. I once had the pleasure of chasing an auto-related hit and run down in Honda Civic. It was shocking that I was able to get close enough to read his license plate.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 00:53:06 +0000

It’s possible the driver never saw you, even after impact.I was cut off in a similar way by a guy who was turning right across the bike lane to turn into a gas station. I panic braked, but still didn’t clear hit his rear fender. He continued driving and stopped only to pump his gas.When he got out or his SUV he was greeted with a chorous of "Hey, you hit that lady!" by a bunch of tough guys who happened to be hanging out at the station (suitably named "Rotten Robbie’s").The guy had the deer in the headlights look–he had no idea what had happened. I guess a bike hitting a Suburban doesn’t have that dramatic an impact.The driver was suitably horrified and apologetic. He also gave me a ride home since my bike wasn’t rideable and my arm was hurt. It was eventually deemed broken after a second X-rays.I suspect that if this guy had seen you he would have either (a) fled the scene or (b) stopped to help, not (c) gone into a building where he could easily be found and arrested (or would that be merely cited?) for a hit and run.

By: JOSEPH

JOSEPH — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 06:09:10 +0000

I was 14 and whined to my dad that I wanted this hot Fuji bike to replace the old beat up Schwinn I’d had forever. I actually said to the old man, "All the other guys have one." Anyway, I’d had it about 3 months and was ramming around the neighborhood like a Hell’s Angel on non-motorized wheels and I go to cross a busy street. I figure, I got all kinds of time, I’m going really fast, and, hey, I’m 14 and invinceable.To this day, when I close my eyes, I can still see that bike (it was black with red racing trim) flying through the air after I bailed off it to keep from becoming a hood ornament on a Ford Extended Cab.Dad wasn’t amused.

By: Unknown

Unknown — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 04:51:46 +0000

Al…that HAD to be cathartic….I have never been in the position of actually being able to confront a motorized offender. It’s not like I can not be seen, so I would not accept that as an excuse. I look like a rolling Christmas display, what with the blinking lights in my bar ends and on my pack, reflectors on my pack and a reflective pack, a reflective vest and flashing red in front, too. Yup, it’s dweeby as all get out, but then, hey, I don’t like vehicular interaction when I am on the two wheeled 20lb. variety and the opponent is in 2000+ lbs. Wow…I always though I would just punch out the passenger window and scream for awhile. I am certain that I could not string ‘em together like you can, but I was never in the military. I am mostly pretty mild mannered, but geez, I have a temper when I am caught up in close calls. Sounds like you do, too. That HAD to be cathartic.

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 02:10:04 +0000

Now, Now DavidShag. No need to pile on the Christians. They had a difficult childhood what with the lions and all.WARNING!INAPROPRIATE JEWISH/PRESBYTERIAN JOKE BELOW:A Presbyterian kid goes to his mom and asks, mom, are we Jewish or Presbyterian?"Why honey?""Well, I want to buy Jimmy’s bike and I want to know whether I should talk him down on the price, or screw him out of the whole thing altogether"BotchedP.S. I am a devotee of the most maligned Christian faith.

By: David

David — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:57:30 +0000

The one thing that was NOT a surprise was that this was a churchgoer. I have been informed, for instance, by a clerk at one of the big bookstores, that the greatest shrinkage (i.e. theft) occurs in the religion section. Color me jaded. I will be evenless surprised if the jerk turns out to be the pastor.

By: TIMOTHY

TIMOTHY — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 17:42:27 +0000

I agree – I would’ve called the police (that’s why I always carry my cell phone when I ride!). Maybe receiving a ticket for hit and run would’ve made him more careful in the future. What if you HAD been hurt more seriously? You’re not the only lucky one!I’ve never been hit by a car (though I’ve had some close calls!). I was once the idiot driver who didn’t see the guy on the bike and knocked him down with my car (I was turning right onto a busy highway, he crossed behind my car then came around the right side – I was looking left and started pulling out…ooops!) Not a hard hit, more of a push down, but still….!! However, I jumped out, immediately concerned for his well being! He was fine but his rear wheel was knocked out of true. This was not a recreational cyclist but a guy whose bike was his only form of transport and probably one of the few things he owned so I felt extra bad! I put his bike on the rack and drove him and bike to the nearest shop and had them do a full tune-up for him…I figured that was the least I could do. Besides, I’ve always felt there maybe something to that whole "Karma" idea…

By: Unknown

Unknown — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 06:51:51 +0000

I think you should have gotten the license number and called the police. That’s hit-and-run and it’s freaking ILLEGAL!!! The public needs a big dose of education, and particularly someone who does that and goes into a CHURCH forcryingoutloud! I’m glad you’re okay and glad you’re off drumming up more craziness in Utah. I’m green with envy, as a matter of fact.Hugs,MuMo

By: BIg Mike In Oz

BIg Mike In Oz — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 02:42:32 +0000

Mrs f/c – that’s a relief, I thought maybe the Presbyterians had sent out a posse.