I almost hit "Darwin"...

[Running Mommy]

Ok, so we have this guy up here that my son and I call "Darwin"... As in, it's just a matter or time before he becomes an "award winner"... If ya know what I mean.
The reason for this is that he rides very erradicaly, with no helmet, and wearing those old fashioned headphone things that cover the entire ear. I have been witness more than once to him blowing through stop signs, veering into traffic, and just basically not paying attention. He is very obviously oblivious to his surroundings. And now your prolly thinking this guy is a hack on an old huffy. Oh no..... He's sporting a sweet Trek Madone. Guess that just goes to show you that having a nice bike doesn't mean you have a clue.
So today when I was heading down the hill I passed him going down in the same direction. "hmm" I said to myself "Darwin is going for a long ride". Usually I see him just around our hood, which is kinda isolated and a good 10 mile ride to anything. I also took note that he appeared to have no fluid with him despite the fact that it was in the high 80's today. And don't froget- this is AZ. It's dry!
I just shook my head...

So after doing my errands I was riding up the hill and saw him coming back up. I always change lanes if I can to give cyclists a wide berth, but there was a plumbing truck beside me, so I couldn't. So just as I'm coming up on Darwin he makes an abrupt swerve into my lane and I basically almost ran him over. It scared the crapola out of me. I slammed on the brakes and kind of swerved to the left almost hitting the plumber. He then honked his horn which got Darwins attention. Darwin gave us a dirty look- totally unaware that he almost caused his own demise! ARGH! I wanted to stop my car in the middle of the street and give it to him.... Just like those other drivers do.. But this time *I* was right!! arrghhhhhh!! And the best part is he just kept riding along...
At the stop sign I got stopped in some traffic and he came up next to me again. He gave me a dirty look and I motioned to him to take the headphones off. He flipped me off!!! So I rolled down the window cause now I wanted to let him know that *I* am also a cyclist, but that he almost killed himself by not LOOKING where he was going... But he just took off....
So now I'm trying to decide what I should do next time I see him when I'm out riding. I really want to stop him and say "hey dude, personally I think your stupid for not only NOT wearing a lid, but wearing those headphones which obviously keep you from hearing cars around you... Cause the other day you almost went under my front right tire when you veered into my lane without looking"... And I drive a volvo- he would have lost... But I don't want to start a confrontation in case the guy is a whack job.. You never know.. ugh!! So I'll prolly just ride on by thinking "oh there goes mr. magoo again... stumbling through life somehow averting his demise at every turn, despite his incredible stupidity"...

[Nanci]

I love his name! I'll never forget the lecture we got from a group ride leader when someone in our group got run off the road. Don't get confrontational, no matter what. You just don't know if the person is a psycho. They're definitely out there. You just have to let it go. (Hard for me to do).

Nanci

[maillotpois]

People like that are what give cyclists a bad name. EVen you, a cyclist, was angry after what he did. Imagine a driver with less of a cyclist tolerance level. What's he going to do after dealing with "Darwin" and then maybe coming across some more conscientious riders? I think the driver's more likely to be a jerk to the good riders.

So moral of the story is, hit him next time and don't sweat it.

(Just kidding...)

[bikerchick68]

maillotpois! too funny... ah another woman with dark humor...

runningmommy... man oh man, what a complete idiot! this is the type of cyclist that really ticks me off... one who thinks he has a right to do whatever he pleases, NOT just what the law provides for... and won't take any responsibility for his own actions! I have no doubt everyone has at some point veered out into the traffic lane... whether it's from drifting mentally, or swerving suddenly to avoid something you spotted last minute...

but to then flip someone off for YOUR error... sheesh. Yep, this guy sounds exactly like the cyclist stereotype that angers drivers...

I don't get people sometimes... it REALLY isn't hard to be respectful of others...

[mommelisa]

RM - do you ever watch that show, I think its called something like "housewives of orange county" or something like that - on Bravo, I think.

Anyway... I think they profiled Darwin on the show I watched this weekend. One of the "dads" on the show was on his bike, all geared up riding around talking about how great he was and how he won this, that and the other awards for cycling. He's cornering and flying around, in the middle of the road, WITH NO HELMET on... Can't remember if he was wearing headphones, but I wouldn't have been surprised.

[KSH]

WOW! That guy sounds like a knob who is going to get himself killed. He gives good cyclists a bad name.

Yea, this past weekend riding... I was horrified to see a guy dart over a lane to the left to pass people... and a car was coming from behind. He didn't even look. I yelled at him... but I doubt he heard me.

I also get really annoyed in my groups when we yell "car back" and no one moves over (when we are on a 1 lane road). It's just rude, and makes me understand why cars want to make us road kill.

[bcipam]

There's another reason to call him Darwin such as in the survival of the fittest. Darwin theorized that only the strong survive and the weak are picked off. Clearly with this guy it's just a matter of time... so be it. I can't understand why anyone rides on the street with headphones and no helmet. If so, assume you will be a target!

[Running Mommy]

yeah thats how he got the name Darwin. After the Darwin awards that go around on the internet every so often...

[Blueberry]

yeah thats how he got the name Darwin. After the Darwin awards that go around on the internet every so often...

There's even a book of them...scary!

CA

[Deanna]

So now I'm trying to decide what I should do next time I see him when I'm out riding. I really want to stop him and say "hey dude, personally I think your stupid for not only NOT wearing a lid, but wearing those headphones which obviously keep you from hearing cars around you... Cause the other day you almost went under my front right tire when you veered into my lane without looking"... And I drive a volvo- he would have lost... But I don't want to start a confrontation in case the guy is a whack job.. You never know.. ugh!! So I'll prolly just ride on by thinking "oh there goes mr. magoo again... stumbling through life somehow averting his demise at every turn, despite his incredible stupidity"...

Get a copy of this booklet or a card referring him to the online version.
"Bicycling Street Smarts"
http://www.bikexprt.com/streetsmarts/

I actually have a fantasy list of items I'd like to have to hand out or flash at people who are obviously wrong, but it's large and I won't get started.

[Trek420]

bcipam sez "I can't understand why anyone rides on the street with headphones and no helmet."

Me neither.

G** forbid he gets hurt, would not wish that on him but I prefer the nicname "organ donor" for people who ride like an idjiot with headphones without helmet.

[pkq]

I'm with maillotpois.

[Technotart]

I wonder how hard it would be to find out who he is? Surely the LBS knows him. Perhaps a nice letter from the heart could be left there for him. Polite, to the point but explaining to him the heart attack he nearly gave you.

In addition if you know when he usually rides, maybe a call to local Law Enforcement is in order so they can keep an eye out for him. A couple of tickets can sometimes do a body like his good.