The Gatorade Man...

[rheidis73]

On Sunday I went for a pretty tough ride. MUCHO GRANDE hills....I was just starting, maybe 8-10 miles in when I pass a house where a truck is backing out. Now, this is in a very big back woods area. Not too many houses, hardly any traffic, lots of trees...It just always gives me this ugly feeling when I ride through. So, back to the truck....I passed the truck and then a little ways down the road the truck is behind me going really slow. Honking as he is passing. His windows are too dark, I couldn't see inside. Maybe 3 miles down the road I see the truck is pulled over on the side of the road. I panic a bit, look behind me, there are no cars..Look back at this truck,thinking should I get my my pepper spray out of my bag. I then see him get out of his truck reach for something and then get back in. I am getting a little more worried now. ( I am a worried wart on this stuff) I am thinking, should I just turn around or what?) I am getting closer (keep in mind there are no other houses in the area) As I start to pass the truck, his hand comes out of the drivers window with a bottle of...? You guessed it, Gatorade. Of course, I didn't stop. As I went by I told him that I had plenty and thanked him. I am sure he was a nice man, but now days, women (especially) can 't take chances.
So, for about 2 miles or so, I was expecting him to be right behind me. But thank goodness, there was no one.

That is the story of the Gatorade man....

[roshelleuop]

rheidis73,

Yes, probably this was a very nice man, but you did the right thing! We were built with the womanly worry gene and I know for a fact that it's gotten me out of several sticky situations and I'm glad yours got you out of this one.

Hapyp riding rheidis73!!!!

~~Roshelle from Milwaukee~~
http://wisconsinbetties.blogspot.com/

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You were certainly right to not reach out to take the bottle- he might have grabbed your arm! I rode with a woman friend the other day who said years ago she was stopped at a red light next to a pickup and the guy reached out the window and grabbed at her and she took off and managed to get away. Now she never stops right next to a vehicle window.

I am more of a worrier than you. I would have turned right around and hightailed it home as fast as I could as soon as I saw that truck waiting on the side of the lonely road ahead of me.

[Pascale]

I am more of a worrier than you. I would have turned right around and hightailed it home as fast as I could as soon as I saw that truck waiting on the side of the lonely road ahead of me.

I know you mean that you would have gone home before he had a chance to see you, and I wouldn't blame you.

However, I'm just going to caution any women that may not have thought about it ... if you feel threatened and feel you are being or may be followed, PLEASE don't ride home - ride to someplace that has lots of people (store, bank, even just a local business) or if you are lucky enough to be close to one, a police department. Don't give some creep (or worse) the pathway to your door, even if you know someone will be home. (I probably didn't need to say it, but I've had friends who don't think of that).

As far as Gatorade Guy - it's good to just go away with the feeling that someone was being nice to you, and you were smart enough to just keep yourself safe.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Of course you are RIGHT about that point, Pascale! I didn't really mean to go "home" (RHeidis was 8-10 miles from home on a secluded road at that point), rather I meant I would choose to put distance between me and the truck- I would have turned around and backtracked fast rather than continue on and get nearer and nearer to the truck and pass right next to it.

[caligirl2]

Ok, you think your paranoid....I would think something like this:

The gatorade is spiked with the "date rape drug" then if I drank it, I would be his next victim.

Now, hopefully he was nice....but you never, never know.

Always go with your instinct...if it dont feel right, take off.

I am glad your ok. I have had weirdos too.

[Running Mommy]

The first thing I thought of is my neighbor lady who always stops during my heat of the summer rides and INSISTS I take a gatorade from her cooler.
Here in AZ most locals carry a cooler with them whenever they go out from April - Oct. I call it my "just in case cooler"... As in "just in case I get a flat tire when it's 116 out"...
Anyway, there is this one lady who stops whenever she see's me taking a break on the side of the road and insists I take a cool gatorade and some ice for my neck. She really is a cute lady and always tells me I'm nuts to be out riding in that weather.
But yeah, back to your guy... UGH! I would have been WAY creeped out! Those kind of things make the hair on my arms stand on end. YIPES!
You did the right thing tho, polite but firm. Keep moving and make sure you have that "I'm a nice lady but could rip your penis off in one swoop" look on your face. I learned that look when I lived in New york.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You did the right thing tho, polite but firm. Keep moving and make sure you have that "I'm a nice lady but could rip your penis off in one swoop" look on your face. I learned that look when I lived in New york.

Yeah when you grow up in the streets of NYC like I did, they teach that look in 3rd grade as part of the public school curriculum. The other thing is to be able to go really FAST on your roller skates!