What to do about crazy cyclist-driver confrontations?
So, I went riding with my women's weekend group this past weekend. How could I not with the weather being as beautiful as it is recently. Anyway, there was 7 of us, inlcuding one guy, which is typical for our group. We ride in a rotating paceline, so there's usually one line of cyclists on the road and 2 across when the lead changes. Well, the guy in our group was coming off the lead when a man in a van drove up next to our guy. They started mixing words, cussing and insulting and all of that stuff, while we ladies were just trying to ride away and avoid getting into a fight with a person driving a VAN!!
The van guy sped past us and stopped at the intersection up ahead, which we unfortunately had to cross and was at a red. The guy actually hopped out of the van and was ready for a throw down:eek: Our guy rode up. Well, lets just say the guy in the van was not exactly big and our guy was well, big enough to intimidate and van guy hopped back in his vehicle and drove away.
Now this is the part that gets me. It seemed that out of the 7 of us, I was the only one to be concerned with whether or not this guy could have had a gun or run us over or something absolutely terrible. The other ladies thought that well the van guy was an idiot and doesnt know that cyclists are allowed 2 across but that our guy shouldnt have instigated the confrontation either. Not much concern for safety or violence that could have occured. Recently, someone got shot and died from road rage (the night of the Daytona 500) not too far from where we were at.
Am I being paranoid? Did the rest of the group act or react accordingly (not including our guy's actions)? Any thoughts. I dont know what to think of it since I've never in a situation such as that. People have yelled at me and stuff but I never react in such a manner as to instigate.