I don't give them the finger anymore either. The last time I did was a couple years ago. I flipped off the driver of a van that squeezed between us and an oncoming vehicle almost killing all of us in the process. After they passed (waving in the process) I realized it was a lady from our church and her teenager daughter. They had recognized us and were passing to say "hello." I felt terrible and promptly put the finger away.

Sorry for the drift. Drivers do not realize how fast we are going and I always try to anticipate what they might do. A lot of drivers get nervous when they see a cyclist and panic. I keep thinking the more they see us on the road, the more accustomed they will become to cyclists.