Bullied by Trucker-request help for future

[baltimorebayside]

Utility Automatic Center Punch

This will work far much better, it's spring loaded, just push until the spring pops and the glass will shatter everywhere.......

They work great......and require little force....

But, probably not pratical on a moving bike and vehicle...

dan

[baltimorebayside]

Originally Posted by geoffsimpson

Somebody wasn't breast fed

And the ball bearings were meant for the windshield...although I suppose you could just mad-max the bastids like you suggest

I was in a bad mood when I posted this....

Just fed up with idiot politicians and how this country is being turned into a third world nation for MY KIDS......

dan

[texrider]

Certain places where they don't care if you're a girl or guy Haven't you ever watched "Deliverance"?

The dudes are all "Billy", and the "Joe" or "Bob" is so folks know who the daddy/cousin was

Problem is, they only seem to jack with you when and where they're pretty sure they can get away with it, so consider it a very dangerous encounter!

[NCxM50]

The smartest thing to do is just get out of there with no retaliation or provocation.

I don't mean to offend anyone here, but the ball bearings thing is just plain stupid. Lets consider a few scenarios here and keep in mind she said this was on a HIGHWAY.

1. You toss a ball bearing over your shoulder at the truck behind you.
a. he takes it in the windshield, which spiderwebs, now he's not just a jerk playing games, he's a pissed off jerk with a grudge in a vehicle that outweighs yours by, oh, a LOT. He runs you off the road where you end up dead or dying in a ditch.

b. it catches him by surprise, he swerves instinctively... into a mini-van with a family in it who goes off the road. Several people saw you throw the bearing, and get a plate #. You spend the next 10 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter, living with the guilt of killing a family.

c. it misses him entirely, bouncing up and hitting someone else car. Now you've got 1 inbred jerk playing games, and 1 really pissed off innocent commuter with a completely legitimate grudge. Between the two of them, they carry more than 10 times your weight. One or the other takes it too far and you end up? in a ditch, dead or dying.

I can "almost" see using ball bearings on a backroad, when theres just NO one else on the road but you and said jerk. But on a highway, with other cars on it, ANY action you take needs to consider all the other vehicles on the road who weren't doing anything but driving to/from point A and or B, lest you antagonize additional drivers and make things worse, not better.

[Danelzka]

Thanks to all guys and gals for ur reply. Yes my riding jacket is "female", never thought about that. and I now carry a .22 Its too rural here to be truely safe.

[inspiron]

A .22? Don't shoot him, that will just make him mad.

[tricker]

Candygram for mongo! candygram for mongo!

But sandy... i'm glad you got something out of our perspective of the unfortunate situation you went though

[baltimorebayside]

Originally Posted by NCxM50

The smartest thing to do is just get out of there with no retaliation or provocation.

I don't mean to offend anyone here, but the ball bearings thing is just plain stupid. Lets consider a few scenarios here and keep in mind she said this was on a HIGHWAY.

1. You toss a ball bearing over your shoulder at the truck behind you.
a. he takes it in the windshield, which spiderwebs, now he's not just a jerk playing games, he's a pissed off jerk with a grudge in a vehicle that outweighs yours by, oh, a LOT. He runs you off the road where you end up dead or dying in a ditch.

b. it catches him by surprise, he swerves instinctively... into a mini-van with a family in it who goes off the road. Several people saw you throw the bearing, and get a plate #. You spend the next 10 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter, living with the guilt of killing a family.

c. it misses him entirely, bouncing up and hitting someone else car. Now you've got 1 inbred jerk playing games, and 1 really pissed off innocent commuter with a completely legitimate grudge. Between the two of them, they carry more than 10 times your weight. One or the other takes it too far and you end up? in a ditch, dead or dying.

I can "almost" see using ball bearings on a backroad, when theres just NO one else on the road but you and said jerk. But on a highway, with other cars on it, ANY action you take needs to consider all the other vehicles on the road who weren't doing anything but driving to/from point A and or B, lest you antagonize additional drivers and make things worse, not better.

You're absolutely correct, the best thing to do is try to get off the highway as fast and safe as possible and call the police......

I gotta stop watching the news and concentrate on my (Wild Hogs) road trip to the mountains!!!!!

dan:

[themeatmanlandry]

I feel compelled to note that although the south is taking a lot of heat for this incident, it happened deep in the heart of the north (Vermont). Therefore, I have to conclude that you Yanks are just as inbred as us southerners.

Having said that, I also want to point out that throwing somethign to intentionally piss off an idiot in a 4000 pound weapon is not smart, especially is you're exposed (on a bike) and definitely if you're new to riding (i.e. making evasive maneuvers to quickly exit the interstate may be more dangerous than the idiot %%%%ing with you).

I would think that a person's best bet would be to outpace them and pull off at the next populated exit (look for a truck stop sign . . . truckers spend their lives pissed off at one thing or another and many think nothing of passing out knotted heads to big mouths on the lot, especially when they can justify it as "protecting a lady" or "teaching a bad driver a lesson").

In all, you did fine in my opinion. I mean, as I see it, you really didn't have many choices. As a new rider . . . first time on the interstate . . . getting %%%%ed with by some nutless YANKEE redneck nimrods . . . you did pretty good.

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by themeatmanlandry

I would think that a person's best bet would be to outpace them and pull off at the next populated exit (look for a truck stop sign . . . truckers spend their lives pissed off at one thing or another and many think nothing of passing out knotted heads to big mouths on the lot, especially when they can justify it as "protecting a lady" or "teaching a bad driver a lesson").

Voice of experience??

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by NCxM50

I don't mean to offend anyone here, but the ball bearings thing is just plain stupid.

We used to carry big ol' ball bearings in our pockets for situations just like this. Wait for 'em to get right on your butt and toss a couple over your shoulder...but we don't ride like that anymore. Thankfully

Nobody's endorsing the activity, read the post!

[Davecm203]

I had a similar thing happen to me a few years ago. I think they got mad when I passed them. They were going way under the speed limit so I passed. They then basically tried to kill me. Going into a very twisty stretch of road they ended up wrecking trying to keep up with me. I did not stop. I just kept going.

[Danelzka]

I know a .22 is only an ouch! but it is only 3 inches (American Arms). I also have a .357 (or 38 special) and a 9 mm that I carry on long rides or night riding. I should add that I find most motorist cycle friendly and I feel safer on the cycle than on my trek bicycle. thanks again

[tricker]

holy packing heat batman while riding

[Rickster]

The gun can be comforting to you, I know because I carry most of the time, but the reality is that what you did is a far better option than anything you might have done with the gun.

Having that metallic piece of comfort on your hip does have a calming influence and will allow you to keep a clear head well your waiting for your options to open up.

Having that ace-in-the-hole gives you the confidence to know that you can wait till the right moment to get your rear-end to safety and not have to rush it.

For what it's worth, in the situation you described, I don't think you could have reacted better than you did. Good job!

[womper]

I think she did awesome for 1st time on the interstate and all....
all i'd suggest is get the tags and call the cops...

there's no 'right' answer to a moron wanting to play bumper tag with a bike... all there is to do is get away from them somehow.

personally i would have slowed way down to like 10 mph and then gunned it and got the hell out of there... doubt they could catch up... but that's me

[donny662]

Originally Posted by inspiron

A .22? Don't shoot him, that will just make him mad.

I know this was said with tongue in cheek but just the fact that it is a gun will scare more than half of the people in the US these days (maybe not in a rural area), and the only time someone would not be intimidated would be if they had a bigger gun.

In any case (to the OP), being a woman going up against multiple men who are bigger than you, I don't think many people would criticize you for protecting yourself by unloading on them if you got into the situation where everyone had stopped and they hadn't even pulled a gun.

[tricker]

i think you missed the blazing saddles reference there...

[inspiron]

As I've said many, many times ... I am very thankful that I live in a place where there is no need to ride armed. We have our share of rolling idiots (with 2 and 4 wheels), but in general, the drivers here are more respectful and a great majority are quite aware that there are bikes on the road and they keep a safe distance. This is probably due to the fact that our roads are much less crowded than a typical US highway.

The difference was very obvious to me when I was in the Bay Area earlier this year. The drive from my office to my hotel was 10 miles. All freeway, 3 to 4 lanes wide. The average ride was around 30 minutes, giving me an average speed of about 20 mph.

Here, the drive from my office to home (on those days when I drive rather than taking the train) is about 25 kms (15.5 miles). On a bad day, I'll need about 30 minutes, giving me an average speed of about 30 mph - 50% faster than a GOOD day in the East Bay!

[donny662]

Originally Posted by tricker

i think you missed the blazing saddles reference there...

No, I didn't.

"We're gonna need a s***load of dimes"