Is it really the rednecks you have to watch out for on the road?

[dumpy]

I've seen on here and (primarily) other cycling stories about crazy rednecks running them off the road, often it sounds intentional.

Knock on wood, I've never had this happen. For me it's always the soccer moms/tough guys trying to impress their WT preggo teen GFs who are not paying attention or are just driving like assholes while not paying attention. Often they pull out in front of me, I had to pass one soccer mom that darted out in front of me (on a country road) and give her a "watch where the hell you are going"- she gave an apologetic wave.

The rednecks in the pick up trucks on the other hand typically give me a ton of room when they pass. They may speed up (often just to slow down) afterwards, but I can't recall ever being close to being clipped by someone that would qualify as a "redneck".

Is it just my dumb luck? Is there a geographic split on where rednecks hate cyclists vs. where they tolerate them?

Hell, last week I had a mechanical break down on the side of the road, a guy that I guess could be called a redneck was riding a bike on the other side of the road. He swung over to help me, got talking to him, he works at a farm down the road and rides to work every day. Got talking to him about his Haro SS he has at home, nice guy, very willing to help (didn't really need), but very much part of the redneck culture-pulled out a giant pocket knife to pop off a Powerlink. I've been in similar situations and have had stereotypical roadies pass by and not say a word (never had that happen on the trail though, hmmm that stereotype is true for me).


So what gives am I lucky or are all the people blogging about getting run down by rednecks living in Texas where almost everyone is a dick (or are they just full of shit)?

[DirkaDirkaJack]

Fuck, this shit makes me glad I ride mtn bikes.

[asiancross]

Well, in Alaska, we have hippies and rednecks, lots of 'em. There's an occasional jerk (always some skater loser in a big truck) that honks, cuss, or yells at me when I'm on the road, but it doesn't happen too much. For those people who do honk and yell at me, I just throw them a peace sign. If they run me off the road, I can sue them, if they don't kill me.

[Jethro]

I was at work and was talking with a dumb ass redneck who drives a big diesel Dodge He told me a story of passing a roadie, but having to come back into the lane because of an oncoming car. he said the last thing he saw in his rear view mirror was "wheels n heals flippin over". He never stopped.

[Tunco]

When I was living in 10sq miles surrounded by reality in your neck of the woods and was towing my kid around on a bike trailer, it was the minivan driver on the cell phone that scared me the most. While there was no malicious intent, they were the biggest threat on shear number alone

Next would be the a-hole frat boy showing off to his lady friend. Bad intent, lack of empathy and more of them then rednecks. I got to catch up to one on campus once and express my extreme displeasure at being yelled out and cut off. He was quite surprised when I saw him half on hour later when I dropped in with my kid during my wife's office hours. I didn't say anything to he nor my wife about the incident, being as I didn't want to give him a reason to bitch about her being prejudiced come grading time. It was after drop/add was over and he ended up not showing up to her class anymore. Hope he enjoyed the F.

For the most part, big old pickups gave plenty of room. Though I did think I was going to die once riding through Varna when a fucker in an old pickup slowed down and forced me off the road yelling that he would run me over.

[dumpy]

When I was living in 10sq miles surrounded by reality in your neck of the woods and was towing my kid around on a bike trailer, it was the minivan driver on the cell phone that scared me the most. While there was no malicious intent, they were the biggest threat on shear number alone

Next would be the a-hole frat boy showing off to his lady friend. Bad intent, lack of empathy and more of them then rednecks. I got to catch up to one on campus once and express my extreme displeasure at being yelled out and cut off. He was quite surprised when I saw him half on hour later when I dropped in with my kid during my wife's office hours. I didn't say anything to he nor my wife about the incident, being as I didn't want to give him a reason to bitch about her being prejudiced come grading time. It was after drop/add was over and he ended up not showing up to her class anymore. Hope he enjoyed the F.

For the most part, big old pickups gave plenty of room. Though I did think I was going to die once riding through Varna when a fucker in an old pickup slowed down and forced me off the road yelling that he would run me over.

I'm riding mainly out in methamphe.. erm I mean Cortland County, more rednecks than anything else and I feel relatively safe. Tompkins County has IMHO, the worst drivers I have ever seen outside of PA or NJ. I'd be scared riding in Ithaca too.

That 10 square miles is the only place I've ever seen, shit you not, someone start a left hand turn (they had the green light), stop mid intersection, look up at the light and wait for it to turn green on the road they were turning onto before finishing the turn. From what I could tell, they were afraid to "break the plane" of a red light. I was too dumbfounded by what I was witnessing to even think to blow the horn, I just sat and watched. FWIW this appeared to be a typical soccer mom in a minivan (alone). Not really sure how this person ever got a licence.

I've been thinking about riding to work occasionally this summer and the idea of riding that last stretch through Varna during morning rush hour scares the hell out of me. Grumpy people headed to work, typical Ithaca space cadets, possibly a few of the frat boys you mentioned and of course rednecks (even if I had no issue with them yet) all on plenty of blind curves.

Most of my cycling gear is black or grey and I don't own a single "racer" looking piece with fruity colors or logos. Maybe thats why I'm not bait for these fucktards.

[karpiel]

I've seen on here and (primarily) other cycling stories about crazy rednecks running them off the road, often it sounds intentional.

Knock on wood, I've never had this happen. For me it's always the soccer moms/tough guys trying to impress their WT preggo teen GFs who are not paying attention or are just driving like assholes while not paying attention. Often they pull out in front of me, I had to pass one soccer mom that darted out in front of me (on a country road) and give her a "watch where the hell you are going"- she gave an apologetic wave.

The rednecks in the pick up trucks on the other hand typically give me a ton of room when they pass. They may speed up (often just to slow down) afterwards, but I can't recall ever being close to being clipped by someone that would qualify as a "redneck".

Is it just my dumb luck? Is there a geographic split on where rednecks hate cyclists vs. where they tolerate them?

Hell, last week I had a mechanical break down on the side of the road, a guy that I guess could be called a redneck was riding a bike on the other side of the road. He swung over to help me, got talking to him, he works at a farm down the road and rides to work every day. Got talking to him about his Haro SS he has at home, nice guy, very willing to help (didn't really need), but very much part of the redneck culture-pulled out a giant pocket knife to pop off a Powerlink. I've been in similar situations and have had stereotypical roadies pass by and not say a word (never had that happen on the trail though, hmmm that stereotype is true for me).


So what gives am I lucky or are all the people blogging about getting run down by rednecks living in Texas where almost everyone is a dick (or are they just full of shit)?

It's 100% true, can't count the number of times it happened to me.

Most memorable was on a charity ride, dude in a semi with a rebel flag painted on the grill was just cruising along the shoulder with the horn going.

[Aenigma]

I get way more attitude from self-righteous bikers than cars the majority of the time. Not to make sweeping generalizations, but it's usually the roadies who have the problem with everyone else on the road. The only time I've had issues with cars is when people aren't paying attention, rather than people going out of their way to be a pain. I think the 'evil redneck' mentality is just a vocal minority trying to find an easy scapegoat.

[hick]

I get way more attitude from self-righteous bikers than cars the majority of the time. Not to make sweeping generalizations, but it's usually the roadies who have the problem with everyone else on the road. The only time I've had issues with cars is when people aren't paying attention, rather than people going out of their way to be a pain. I think the 'evil redneck' mentality is just a vocal minority trying to find an easy scapegoat.

You didn't grow up in Libby, MT riding bikes. The "evil redneck" mentality was alive and well when I was a kid. I know one guy who was hit by a dumbfuck redneck, we had beer bottles, cans and other shit hucked at us. I was hosed by waterguns and also spit on. We were happy when they only swerved, honked and told us to get the fuck off the road. Fuck rednecks, hell fuck Libby.

[concretejungle]

The rednecks in the pick up trucks on the other hand typically give me a ton of room when they pass. They may speed up (often just to slow down) afterwards, but I can't recall ever being close to being clipped by someone that would qualify as a "redneck".

Most of my cycling gear is black or grey and I don't own a single "racer" looking piece with fruity colors or logos. Maybe thats why I'm not bait for these fucktards.

I get buzzed by shitheads with the Columbine "Respect Life" license plate here in CO more than anyone else. Rednecks give me plenty of room and seem to be in less of a hurry than most other yuppie scum so maybe that's it.

I don't think the neon stands out any better than other colors unless you're riding at dawn or dusk but in those cases I just choose roads that have wide shoulders.

[Aenigma]

Libby is exempt from most rules. Don't their schools have a holiday the first day of hunting season?

You didn't grow up in Libby, MT riding bikes. The "evil redneck" mentality was alive and well when I was a kid. I know one guy who was hit by a dumbfuck redneck, we had beer bottles, cans and other shit hucked at us. I was hosed by waterguns and also spit on. We were happy when they only swerved, honked and told us to get the fuck off the road. Fuck rednecks, hell fuck Libby.

[deliberate]

In vancouver,
taxi drivers never seem to give me much room.
Small roads and big trucks don't really mix, I don't know if they are red necks, but they are driving f350s on bike roads.
I take the lane when there is no room to pass, and the people that honk at me all just look like losers: mid 20s-40s, alone, driving a shitty/dirty car.

I also don't know what to do when honked at. A middle finger might get you road raged. Pull over to the side of the lane and they might run you into a parked car. Right now I just give them a big thumbs up and a smile, not sure how it goes over.

[hick]

Libby is exempt from most rules. Don't their schools have a holiday the first day of hunting season?

They used to when I was in school there. It surely is a bastion of ignorance. Great area though.

[Crinkle]

I have yet to have a positive roadie experience. Granted I don't ride much on the road, I prefer the dirt solidarity. But so far, i have had bottles thrown at me, beeped at unnecessarily several times by giggling kids, 2 of which I caught up with and scared the shit out of. I have had a car blow a stop sign and almost clip me. But by FAR, cellphone mom's are the Worst, as they have no idea how close they are to roadies. I have seen it being the rider and as another driver on the road. Cellphones are probably a roadies worst enemy.

[Dromond]

...I also don't know what to do when honked at. A middle finger might get you road raged. Pull over to the side of the lane and they might run you into a parked car. Right now I just give them a big thumbs up and a smile, not sure how it goes over.

Really, I think it's the best you can do. Living on the redneck/soccer mom fringe (I live in a college town and ride road bikes in the countryside) I've come to fear both. I will say that the male rednecks especially in their huge trucks over pay better attention, but sometimes just don't really care that much. The ditsy cell-phone soccer mom types are less aggressive but perhaps just as dangerous due to sheer ignorance. Paying attention while you drive or ride is important. (Obvious statement for the day.)

[dumpy]

So whats up with all the hate? Again, I tend to deal more with just shitty and distracted drivers than anyone out to fuck with cyclists, so I've never really seen it and don't get it. Some heckling from WT hanging on the porch (only happened a few times), but I figured that's more because I entered their neighborhood and they are bored.

I mean does the average redneck know what a dick your average roadie is? I thought only mountain bikers that bought road bikes knew about the that, you know the not waving, not offering mechanical assistance, etc.

[sliced]

So whats up with all the hate?

Because roadies slow them down, in their eyes, unnecessarily. They think they should move over not knowing there is glass on the shoulder or weaving between parked cars is dangerous. So after dealing with a few roadies, there is some pent up aggravation.

Part of the problem is roadies though. Riding two abreast on not moving over, for example. Here's my rant: I don't give a fuck if you have the right and are within the law, just move the fuck over if you can safely. You're only putting yourself in danger. Just because you can be in the road because of the law doesn't mean you should. Also, weaving between a couple cars is not that fucking dangerous...as long as you don't do it often. You are helping traffic flow by considering others. Buy some thicker tires to ride in the shoulder if you are commuting, too. It's really about your safety and not about giving in to cars.

And when you are getting buzzed by cars and getting honked at and don't know why, everyone around you in a car knows why, btw.