I've had 3 verbal, I am loathed to say, 'attacks' in the past 5 days. Hell of a run.
Instance 1 -
Out celebrating the solstice last Thursday, circa 5am, a 60ish yr old shambles up to me (I was dressed in my 'cyclist' outfit) and proceeds to tell me about how cyclists hold him up when he drives to the shop, and that a cyclist swore at someone he knows. He then went on to ask why people over 30 ride bikes - they should get cars! Perhaps it was that I had been up riding all night, but my fuse was surprisingly short and I was fairly nasty to him - thus re-enforcing his view that we are scum, i presume. *sigh*
Instance 2 -
Friday. In my local pub, they know i ride bikes. Someone casually brought it up "I expect you've cycled further than that, Peat" blah blah. Then the landlord couldn't help himself and said how he'd been held up the other day (because there was no way to pass a bike because of the volume of traffic coming the other way - bikes fault, obviously) thus prompting a flood of abuse from the other patrons. All directed at me - "You lot....road tax.....helmets". I tried very hard to remain civil, when i felt my ears get hot (rage impending) I drank what was left in my glass and left.
Instance 3 -
On my way to the club run last night, waiting to pull out onto the main road. A career alcoholic (all the visible signs) on the pavement stops and leans down and squints at my bike, springs back and lets out a sarcastic "Ooooh, wooow! RESPECT mate!". I said "It's a nice colour, isn't it?" To which he replied "You lot a f***in pricks, I ........." I cut him off and assured him i'd raise his complaint at the next bicyclist meeting. Rode off.
Perhaps it's just an exceptionally bad run, but i've never been on the end of this volume of ire. I feel like it's just us and 'travellers' left as groups that can be openly derided without fear of being labelled as some sort of '----ist'.
/vent