Trucks and Bikers

Youre not alone. And you are right, its always the small to midsize trucks!

We deal with this often where I live. You are definately not alone. Not only do people swerve at us, but they throw things, yell, and spit at us. It's sad and I'm not sure why they get a thrill out of it. I don't really feel safe riding on the roads because I am afraid I'll get hit by some crazy truck driver. People don't realize how quick an accident could happen, or what might happen if you have to swerve to miss a pothole. They also don't realize that their truck weighs a heck of a lot more then you do on your bike and that you really don't stand a chance. They'd be in a world of hurt if they hit you on accident. Unfortunately, so would you and your family!!!! We try to write down license plates of the people who do it to us. In some places this is a good idea because the police actually care. Here it doesn't do much. If you can get it on a police report of some kind though, if the person ever does actually hit someone when they go back to check the persons record, it could help courts give them a harsher penalty.
Good luck to the cyclists!

Im a solo rider no matter what, theres no one else who rides.....

Youve gotten slushies thrown at you yet? Its quite the experience

Try changing your route periodically. I also ride solo and have a little problem with traffic. Concentrate on your line, take a little more than the white line, and pray lots.

I'm sure it has happened to almost everyone.  The rude comments followed by laughter are most hurtful.  If I had a skinny little a$$ I probably wouldn't be peddaling as much as I do. (You can guess at the kind of rudeness)

The only rude comments are by some inbred rednecks (yes we have some on eastern LI) commenting on me wearing spandex biking shorts and a biking jersey, nothing aggrivates them more than ignoring them.

As said in that mel brooks film, "You got to be a man to wear tights!"

I have perfected my ignore so that it looks like I'm totally oblivious to their existance. It's wonderful. But it's easy, considering how focused I usually am when riding. I know they're there and dangerous, but I've got my eyes on the road ahead of me.

I've had some of the most vulgar things yelled at me while riding or running. Disgusting stuff. I just act like nothing happened, make sure I'm not in immediate danger, keep going, and say a little prayer asking for that person to see the error of their ways.

Best thing, though, is to let it bounce off you. It says more about them that they need to do something like that to feel like they have some power in the world. I know it's hard not to take it personally, especially when they certainly direct it at YOU. But don't. Tell yourself whatever you need to to keep your wits about you and to not lose your focus and cool.

So you're not a slim, trim cyclist. You know what? You can still kick their ass probably. And you're enough of an athlete that you can certainly sprint away from them if you needed to. They'd probably chase you for about 5 seconds and then fall to the ground with a heart attack from the exertion.

As for the people who swerve, nothing makes them happier than to see you get mad and jump up and down and give them the finger. That's exactly what they're looking for. It's the same idiots who think it's fun to torture animals and make little kids cry. Even if you can't give a license plate number, I'd make a call to the local traffic enforcement folks (sheriff or highway patrol, etc). I know from experience if enough calls come in for a particular area, they have to put someone on patrol there for a while.

Is there a local cycling club? Maybe they can suggest other methods for dealing with the problem in your area: new routes, group rides, activism to increase awareness of cycling and the need to "share the road", etc.