I'd be careful retaliating unless you're in a group. Some of the good old boys where I ride in Virginia would just as soon run you over, or shoot you, as look at you. Guys riding around in tight shorts is not their idea of masculine. In some of the backwoods areas it's not a good idea to ride alone, especially if you are female. Anyway, on most of my rides there is at least one incident of a car coming extremely close, like a foot or less. Often happens on two lane roads with an oncoming car, and the car behind just can't wait five more seconds to pass me. Several instances of friends being "brushed" of sideswiped by vehicles. You just have to be aware of your surroundings at all times and try to find low traffic roads. I find early Sunday mornings, like 6 a.m., to be ideal due to cooler weather and little traffic.

Cue banjos

I agree, I luckily don't have any Dirty Harrys behind the wheel to contend with but do occasionally run into those that like to close the gap between myself and the curb or parked cars because they don't want to be passed by a bike. I've become a master of the stalled clip out in order to save myself on more than one occasion. The best is when I am entering an area where a higway off ramp and road meet and the driver stares blindly at me while proceeding to make me the cream filling in a minivan cookie!

You know those little emergency hammers for in case you drive your car into a lake that can break up auto glass with one swift hit.... I think all bikers should be given one. That way some idiot tries to run us off the road CRACK nearest window gone =p . And you'll feel lighter race day since you wouldn't have its extra weight, unless you suspected someone of drifting ....

True. Jerks come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. In "these here parts" we've have plenty of war stories to tell, from dodging beer bottles to the old standbys, like "Get out of the road, fa*****!" or "Hey Lance Armstrong!" Real funny.

Didnt you know that when you get behind the wheel you own the road?! Drivers/ people are idiots.

At a half mary this year, I had a redneck looking truck pull up next to me and offer me a can of Bud Light. If I had been closer to th finish, I might have accepted! But alas, it was just past the halfway turn around.

I'm in total agreement - I liked the colorful description that was given thats all. No offense meant.

Drivers arent too bad around here. They tend to give you a decent berth. But alot get annoyed with side by side riding, and they blare their horn. I just wave and say "HEY THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!", and then typically get flipped off. Ive had a few buddies have problems with other cyclists - getting spit at or sprayed by a water bottle. Don't know what their deal is!

Ripper.... come on. Nobody gets upset about anything in S.L.O. They are soooo laid back there. "Oh, a bike. That's cool. Let's go surfing."

:)

I ride 32 miles to and from work through from Wicker Park in Chicago to Lake Forest, IL, so I've got a lot of experience dealing with drivers.

I don't know if there is a best strategy, but most of the danger of driving in the city is from driver's being completely oblivious or simply paying little attention to you. I try to make sure that drivers are aware of my presence. I work on the assumption that drivers may be angry but they aren't psychotic. When there are two lanes, I ride in the middle of the lane, otherwise drivers will always try to squeeze through. If they are forced to switch lanes, they'll give you more space. In the city I ride with the traffic. I feel much safer if I am actually within the flow of traffic then simply an obstacle to be overcome. Plus the speeds rarely top 25mph on the busy streets.

Drivers do occasionally squeeze very close to the curb or parked cars when you try to pass them at stop signs or lights, but usually only because they are oblivious to the fact they are blocking your progress. Simply pass them on the left.

Bikes are so common in the city that I never see the rage and taunting that I used to see in Texas, but drivers can still be incredibly unaware. I think the best strategy in the city is to be aggressive in making your presence known, stay at least 4 feet left of parked cars, and try to flow with traffic when possible. Always be aware and give yourself margins for error, and assume people are horrible drivers.

I think in the suburbs or country, group riding is always the safer bet. Drivers are simply less familiar with bikes.