i snapped and gave chase to his house...

[spiderman]

i still can't believe i did this...
...but here it is...
true confessions:
mother's day
beautiful morning
riding with my wife.
we were doing some intervals
and both had personal bests for the season...
my wife hit 35
i found a sweet spot at 43.6 mph...
just as we were doing another interval
from a turn to a stop sign on a side street
that is part of the bike trail,
a suburban stopped at a stop sign
was revving its engine
impatient for us to turn in front of him
in his direction of travel.
i hit it to the corner
staying to the right
and stayed in front of the suburban.
i hit 32 mph in a 25 mile per hour zone
stayed in front
and came to a complete stop at the stop sign
i then progressed downhill into a blind curve.
the suburban tried to pass on the curve
and i put my hand out behind me
signaling him to wait
because there was a couple with stroller and a dog...unleashed...
...meandering into the middle of the street.
i then signaled again for him to wait
for on oncoming car that passed me just before i went over
a single lane bridge.
about midway across
as i'm signaling the coast is clear
the guy nearly takes my arm off
passing me on the one lane bridge
and forcing me into a 6 foot wide, 6 or more inch deep pothole.
the guy then stops, waits for me to hop out of the pothole
puts down his window, swearing a blue-streak.
he recognized me and tore off in front of me turning down a side street.
i followed on his bumper to the end of his dead end/cul de sac.
he came over to the street at the edge of his property
with me in the gutter
yelling and gesturing.
my wife then pulled up
and reminded us that it was mother's day
and we should both stop our road rage
and start behaving like grown men...
...thanks...
that feels better already...
rule number 1...
...don't get into fights on mothers' day...
...number 2...
...don't argue with hotheads...
or better yet...
...don't argue.

[93legendti]

Glad it worked out ok and that cooler heads prevailed. The most excitement we had here was a friend doing a Bump Bailey thru our (rotted wood) fence during our football game.

[Sandy]

Did I understand that you were doing intervals and that your wife hit 35 mph and you hit 43.6 mph? Was that on the flats?

If that was on the flats, I think that it is time for me to dump my Serotta, and take out my checkerboard, after I find a room in the local old age home.

43.6 mph? On the flats?? I can do 28-29, MAYBE 30. If I worked at it, possibly a little more I think, maybe......


Sadly Slow Sad Snail Serotta Sandy

Anyone for chess, bird watching. marbles, eating pizzas, tv, radio, computer games, people watching????

[jasont]

Yikes. That could have gotten ugly.

I'm new to road riding so I haven't experienced that sort of nonsense yet. I'm sure my day is coming.

[sspielman]

....Too bad you didn't tell him that you were going to open up a 55 gallon drum of whoopazz on him...and that you were going to raise a popknot on his head big enough to hang a spare tire on....and then you were going to sweep up the ground with him...and then whoopazz again for not getting good in the corners....

[bluesea]

he came over to the street at the edge of his property...


Now that's hilarious.

[catulle]

Too bad you didn't make him swallow a couple of teeth, atmo.

[Ginger]

he came over to the street at the edge of his property


What? Did they have one of those cool invisible fences to keep the bad dogs from attacking people?

[spiderman]

....Too bad you didn't tell him that you were going to open up a 55 gallon drum of whoopazz on him...and that you were going to raise a popknot on his head big enough to hang a spare tire on....and then you were going to sweep up the ground with him...and then whoopazz again for not getting good in the corners....

sorry sandy, it was a downhill with an iowa tailwind...
...i am glad that the guy was forced to miss the dog...
have you ever seen a scene unfold in slow motion in your mind...
...and then have it not turn out the way you thought you saw it happen...?
as i entered the corner
in my mind's eye i could literally see this guy running over that dog...
...and then it didn't happen...
the whole thing really stunned me.
i was just relieved in the end
that no one actually got hurt!

[telenick]

...from a spider and you too, Sandy, can achieve super hero speeds.

[bluesea]

The least you could have done was pull your shoes off pronto--if he came at you, you would have been helpless.

[Russell]

Did I understand that you were doing intervals and that your wife hit 35 mph and you hit 43.6 mph? Was that on the flats?

If that was on the flats, I think that it is time for me to dump my Serotta, and take out my checkerboard, after I find a room in the local old age home.

43.6 mph? On the flats?? I can do 28-29, MAYBE 30. If I worked at it, possibly a little more I think, maybe......


Sadly Slow Sad Snail Serotta Sandy

Anyone for chess, bird watching. marbles, eating pizzas, tv, radio, computer games, people watching????

that's why you should never use a bike computer. ignorance is bliss

[Sandy]

...from a spider and you too, Sandy, can achieve super hero speeds.

So PLEASE tell me- Just where is the spider???



Spider Serotta Sandy

[Too Tall]

You are forgiven and thank the fairer gender for...well...everything.

"losing it" is no sin.

[catulle]

"losing it" is no sin.[/QUOTE]

[fiamme red]

So you gave chase to his house... did you catch the house? :D

[telenick]

...right...

*squash*

Uhhh, never mind.

I just screwed the pooch. :o

[Keith A]

he recognized me and tore off in front of me turning down a side street.So do you know this yahoo?

[spiderman]

that's why i think i went after him...
...i thought: "what just happened here...
i know and have taken care of this guy...
...he's a leader in our community,
an outdoor enthusiast
and follows the rules to the letter...
he's one of the first people i met in the community
...i bought and am living in
his house for heaven's sake!!
...how could he possibly think
that what he just did...
...this just isn't right...
...i've got to be able to talk him down!"

[Keith A]

Wow...that is crazy.

[OldDog]

that's why i think i went after him...
...i thought: "what just happened here...
i know and have taken care of this guy...
...he's a leader in our community,
an outdoor enthusiast
and follows the rules to the letter...
he's one of the first people i met in the community
...i bought and am living in
his house for heaven's sake!!
...how could he possibly think
that what he just did...
...this just isn't right...
...i've got to be able to talk him down!"


"He's a leader in our community"

He ran you into the gutter, missed a mom and child and nearly hit a dog then ran away when he recognized you? All the more reason to call the police and report him for road rage and take him down a few notches with his peers. Not the kind of leader I wish to have representing my town nor the kind youngsters of the community need for a role model.

[Keith A]

Good point OldDog and I agree with you! Do you think waiting this long to file the complaint would reduce spiderman's creditability?

[spiderman]

is that this man has a reputation for being highly litigious
and my wife was fearful of repercussions he might initiate...
...she fully expected the spanish inquisition at our house
on our return home.
moments after the incident
we passed the police station
and i suggested we stop
and report the situation...
but didn't because i didn't want to freak her out
...she thought it would cause further escalation...
i think if i had set one foot on his property
he probably would have sued me...

[Keith A]

Not to belabor the point, but it appears (from my removed perspective) that basically the bully won. He is the one that was reckless and endangered your and other people's life; and because of his reputation of being litigious, people leave him alone.

I'm certainly not in your shoes and I understand how important it is to go along with the desires of a spouse, but some things are worth the fallout that might come from you taking action. Could this be one of those times?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This reminds me of the time that this guy came up behind me with his window rolled down and starting yelling at me to get off the road, blah, blah, blah and he ended with something like "I can't wait to go to your funeral". Then he turned into the church parking lot that is at the entrance to my neighborhood... and he wasn't just turning around, he got out of his car and walked toward the door :butt:

[Ozz]

...he probably would have sued me...
sue him first.

reckless endangerment
intimidation
assault with a lethal weapon...

not a lawyer...just thinking in electrons.

The bully needs to be taken down a notch.

[JohnS]

OldDog is right. Who cares if he sues you. You have a witness, he doesn't. It's people like you that keep cyclists from getting any respect. Let's see, he just almost hit you with a 6000lb SUV and you're afraid to say anything because he might sue you? Come on! He just almost killed you! Isn't your life worth anything. Are you so worried about your "place" in the community? Obviously, it's on the bottom rung, if this is how you feel. Rant over... :crap:

[coylifut]

OldDog is right. Who cares if he sues you. You have a witness, he doesn't. It's people like you that keep cyclists from getting any respect. Let's see, he just almost hit you with a 6000lb SUV and you're afraid to say anything because he might sue you? Come on! He just almost killed you! Isn't your life worth anything. Are you so worried about your "place" in the community? Obviously, it's on the bottom rung, if this is how you feel. Rant over... :crap:

I don't get in random altercations anymore because my lawyer told me not to. See, the problem is - is that I've hurt people for money. Once you do that, you can't do it for free anymore.

[JohnS]

I don't get in random altercations anymore because my lawyer told me not to. See, the problem is - is that I've hurt people for money. Once you do that, you can't do it for free anymore.I never implied that he should get into an altercation...just a police report.

[coylifut]

I never implied that he should get into an altercation...just a police report.

My mistake. My point is that getting sued sucks. I mean you have to defend your self no matter what and at minimum it would cost about the same as Jack Brunk's Meivici.

I'll take the Meivici. Oh, and throw in some of those Light Weights as well.

[OldDog]

Sorry I am late jumping back in, work really gets in the way anymore!

Too late to do anything? I guess that may depend on your local laws, but I would check into it with your local district attorny.

As for as he being sue happy, what will he sue you for, being a victim?

You do not say in what capacity this man holds as a community leader, however if it is an offical position, elected or hired, he is using his official power and influence to surpress yours and your wifes rights. Politico's get jail for that around here. Or is he just a local bigshot who buys friends? Either way he is not entitled to rip around plundering the village.

Maybe at this point a call from the DA's office to this "leader" will send the message that he cannot be an *** and continue to expect the respect of the community he so desires. This message from his "peers" may well set him straight.

Be careful. I hear they are digging holes in Wisconsin looking for Hoffa. You might be filling one them :D

[JohnS]

Be careful. I hear they are digging holes in Wisconsin looking for Hoffa. You might be filling one them :D
MICHIGAN. But I agree with the rest of your post1

[Ozz]

MICHIGAN. But I agree with the rest of your post1
I am sure "Olddog" did not mean to dis Michigan as a prime body dumping state. ;)

[JohnS]

I am sure "Olddog" did not mean to dis Michigan as a prime body dumping state. ;)With the auto industry in a slump, we're always trying to diversify our economy. I know we'll never be up there with Joisey, but someone has to be #2. :)

[spiderman]

and although i am not concerned with my standing in the community
...i am more concerned with being
right with someone
than with being right...
i plan to take a matthew 18 approach with this situation
and meet with him (and a witness)
when he's had a chance to cool off
and see how it goes...
...and pray for wisdom...