Avoiding Bike Rage

[pcpmitch]

Twice today I ended up in a rage. Coming home from the shops the first case for a close pass and the second was I pulled out of a junction well ahead of a tractor. The tractor then accelerated like mad close passed me with all horns blazing.

I went after the tractor and eventually he stopped and I gave him every four letter in the book and said things that I would never normally say.

Notwithstanding all of the above.

How do I control my rage on a bike

I feel out of control and don't think it does anyone any good.

Normally I'm a level headed guy and haven't been in a fight since I was 12!

[tenbikes]

In similar situations I rejoice in the fact that I'm still alive , which leaves me smiling !

Rage never does you any good , unless you are the type who needs to let off steam.

Maybe I'm just too mellow?

[Jdsk]

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sure that everyone will note that this is your first post.

Jonathan

[Bogawski]

Why didn't you wait for the tractor to pass? you must have known you were going to hold it up.

[Manc33]

Why didn't you wait for the tractor to pass? you must have known you were going to hold it up.

Are you trying to set him off again?

OP, just take it out on the nearest hill. Do that enough times and you'll be outrunning tractors in no time.

[Carlton green]

Twice today I ended up in a rage. Coming home from the shops the first case for a close pass and the second was I pulled out of a junction well ahead of a tractor. The tractor then accelerated like mad close passed me with all horns blazing.

I went after the tractor and eventually he stopped and I gave him every four letter in the book and said things that I would never normally say.

Notwithstanding all of the above.

How do I control my rage on a bike

I feel out of control and don't think it does anyone any good.

Normally I'm a level headed guy and haven't been in a fight since I was 12!

Rage is ultimately pointless as is anger. However it is a natural enough reaction in situations where one feels that one’s life and limbs have been put in peril. Ask (almost) any Motorcyclist about typical car drivers and they’ll be quite clear with you about the number of idiots on the road driving around in ‘tin boxes’.

Your best bet is just to be glad to still be alive and to take comfort in the fact that, given time, idiots usually meet someone equally stupid who will dispense justice for you. Stay chilled, avoid the adverse consequences of high blood pressure and be generally careful. Remember too that many drivers simply have no idea, ignorance and stupidity sometimes surround us and isn’t changed by our anger.

[Blondie]

Just remember you are not stuck in a tin can in a traffic jam. Smile at that thought and let your rage blow away in the wind.

[Benz3ne]

I, too, get frustrated when people are passing too close.
Typically I let them know that it’s close (audible cue) but try not to let that get the better of me.
Mostly, I’m focusing on either pushing hard or my breathing so the amount of effort I put into reprimanding bad drivers.

[Jdsk]

It's a first post...

Jonathan

[oldtimer99]

Or perhaps a last post.....

[Carlton green]

It's a first post...

Jonathan

Or perhaps a last post.....

That is true and I see your point. I’m guided by the judgement of the Mod’s. As the topic is reasonably valid and applicable to quite a percentage of cyclists (who’s never been annoyed by a ‘silly’ motorist?) sensible responses might possibly help many similarly effected people.

[trinch]

1. Read any advice given about your actions in any particular situation and consider whether you could have done things better.

2. Fit a handlebar camera, keep quiet and think smugly that the police will be contacting the driver later, assuming you submit.

[horizon]

As I remember it, someone once suggested that you get angry while on a bike because you are in a physical mode: it takes a while for the mind to switch from pummelling the legs to making rational and pleasant conclusions about driver behaviour. You are also possibly in some sort of instinctive mode as, again in a very physical way, your life has been threatened - so you don't mess about with niceties.

I wonder if someone has done some research somewhere about which part of the brain is activated while cycling and which part should be activated to deal rationally with situations. I also wonder whether rage/anger episodes are more likely when cycling alone. Personality type might also come into it with perhaps "logical" types getting less agitated than "emotional" types.

Whatever the cause (despite the fact that the "cause" is often very justified), it's an important topic as loss of emotional control in both the personal and traffic situation could have very unfortunate results.

[cycle tramp]

Why didn't you wait for the tractor to pass? you must have known you were going to hold it up.

Should he have? I'm not sure I would have done. After all you are allowed to pull out of a junction on the provision that you do not cause any vehicle who has right of way to change speed or swerve. If there was room enough for the tractor to pass, then the tractor should have done with enough room to do so safety and without need to sound a horn.
The fact that the tractor had to speed up, shows a level of malice.
Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much. In a fit of road rage, my uncle managed to pull off a bus door to the driver's side.

[gazza_d]

I ride with cameras rolling and just submit footage of bad drivers to police rather than get angry and shouty.

I'm confident that anything worth reporting will be followed up and actioned.

Far too many drivers seem to be really ragey these days that it's not worth the risk of tackling directly.