I will not claim to be completely innocent in the events that follow but I don't think I did anything terribly wrong either.....
This story needs a little background before it starts. I have been biking to and from work pretty much since I moved to Minneapolis. I have been yelled at...in advertantly run off the road...had stuff thrown at me from car windows and pretty much have had to put up with a general lack of respect for bikes. On my way to and from work I bike through the intersection of chicago and 38th street. Those who know minneapolis know its not the nicest part of town. For some reason in that spot I have been almost hit nicked and squeezed more then any place on the city. So my senses are high and on tend to be a little on edge when I reach this spot on my ride home.
To the car driver defense I have flipped people off when they get to close to me and yelled at people that they are m-fers. Even stopped and pummuled(in a not to hurt way) a kid after he nailed me with a stick while biking. Usually its provoked but sometimes its just a bunch of little incidents that boil to the surface.
Ok enough background...now to the story. Today on my bike ride hom I reach the infamous intersection metioned above...well actually just slightly before it. I see a car(huge pickup truck) in the right line trying to pull into traffic. I slow down to an almost stop to let the guy in. He doesn't react so I stand up and start pedaling again before I have to completely stop and unclip my pedals. As far as the rules for the road go I am completely in the right to pass this guy. As I pass him he says through his rolled down window in a severely condscending voice.."Oh Come on Dude."
I reply "Whatever" as a go by him
He then speeds into the lane of traffic and catches up to me at which point Im going about 20 mph. He rolls down his passenger window and proceeds to tell me "how everyone was waiting for him and why I didn't wait."
To which I reply "When is the last time you waited for a biker?"
He replies "You sure have a bigg mouth."
I reply "F-off"
He replies "You sure have a big mouth why don't you pull over and we will settle this"
I reply "You sure have a big truck and are quick to fight. Do you have a small penis?"
The conversation degrades from there, if that is possible, with him saying lets pull over and my saying blow me until he finally turns right on like 10th street and I continue straight....
Not saying Im completely innocent in these matters but when it comes to bikes there is no such thing as Minnesota nice.....
For the record I want to state that this gentlemen was of white anglo decent....
