I was enjoying a perfect ride yesterday and then the van full of brats appeared. The van got close and I heard young men screaming at me. I looked to my left and saw that they had opened the sliding door and were leaning toward me so they could make sure I heard them scream. I hate to admit it but my anger flared and I did an "F and F" (gesture and one syllable curse word). Images of Jill Behrman flashed through my mind. (She was a cyclist from Bloomington IN who was thrown into a van during a bike ride several years ago.)
Then one mile down the road THEY DID IT AGAIN! This time I got the license. I rode to the police station and talked to an officer who was polite but hardly seemed that concerned.
I wasn't bothering anyone. I rarely have problems like this. I have had a can of beer thrown at me. (Good thing it was empty.)
I am feeling disappointed with myself due to my response. I think that a police car could have been following me or that children may have seen and heard my performance.
I do plan to control my reaction in the future, but how do you deal with the anger when you are used as a target for juvenile entertainment?
Maybe these punks need to go for a ride with me sometime . . . I'll show them some real exercise and recreation.
Barb