Monday, March 24, 2008

I got spitballed


Sometimes being a bike commuter in America sucks. No one driving really gives a shit about you. To them you are just another obstacle slowing their progress towards another 5 dollar cup of Starbucks, which they will drive their raised up chromed out SUV 2 miles to get. Its even worse when you are road bike commuter, as society in general here views men in tight shorts as slightly below mimes & Trekies who dress up as Klingons. So ridding, to work on my road bike, in full roadie kit Im occasionally rudely beeped at by passing cars (yes I know your there, asshole & yes Im in your way so deal with it), or shouted obscenities at by young school children on busses. But never before today had I actually been assaulted with a moving object. I got hit with a spitball & I remember it well. A slow driving purple Scion, an extremely subtle feeling of impact, & the kid in the back seat turning around & staring at me as they drove away. At first I didn't know what happened. It wasn't until I got home and took of the helmet and got a good look at the spit ball, now dry logged onto the side of it. At first I was angry, insulted, & pissed of at the world in general. But when you think about it, its actually kind of impressive. This kid from a moving vehicle hit another moving target & got the spit ball to stick. I bet the little bastard couldn't do it again if he tried.

5 comments:

MSP Biker said...

I gotta say, I would give the kid props for hitting a moving object from a moving object with such an inaccurate projectile - and making it stick.

And come on, it's just a kid. Had it been a drunk guy in a pickup throwing a beer bottle, then yeah, I'd be pissed too.

erik k said...

yah, its just the principal of it though and the blatant disrespect and come on man, haven't we learned anything from reality tv?

MSP Biker said...

No, I understand - spitting on someone really is the most incredible sign of disrespect. Had it been an adult, I think it would have been legal for you to beat them to death with a pump (in Texas, anyways). But a kid - eh. Maybe just yelling at the parents?

erik k said...

they were more like teenagers 17, 18, myabe even 20

bikesgonewild said...

...seems harmless in one sense & almost humorous in another...
...BUT, it says something strong about (A) the kids parents & (B) what little disregard people have for cyclist...
...ultimately the kid who gets away w/ it, just maybe grows up to become that drunk who wings the beer bottle at you...
...happened to a friend years ago at probably 40mph (cyclist speed on descent) & i guarantee you, pissed is only part of the equation...you get hit in the face & you're seriously frickin' injured...
...anyway, that kinda shit gets to be over the top but unfortunately that's what cycling is becoming...
...some people like to challenge you w/ their cars because they're offended by the last cyclist they saw run a stop sign or whatever else pissed them off...
...ok, that's my vitriol spew...