I have to admit - there have been times when cycling has become a profoundly
negative experience for me. This goes against all the received wisdom, which says that going for a ride is the best way to ease the 'black dog' off one's shoulders: to get the endorphins circulating once more.
I don't want to say too much - simply that, some years ago, the behaviour of a group of other so-called cyclists upset me considerably. And it came about that getting in the saddle caused these unpleasant thoughts to well up again into my consciousness. And cycling along - especially solo on a quiet country lane which doesn't need so much concentration - my thoughts are very much at liberty to wander - to go back to memories which I would rather not have.
But I digress. Sorry about that.
I just wanted to make the point that, although I would expect most people on this forum won't get fazed by the occasional bit of rudeness from another road user - even a cyclist, it does happen. If it really does get to you - it got to me so it might well get to others - then don't feel
you have to keep cycling to make the point that it hasn't affected you. Take a break from cycling. A few months - even a year or two. It's not a disaster if you do. You almost always gets back into it when you feel you're ready again. I didn't quite drop the cycling - I kept up the commute and shopping, but I dropped all the leisure cycling. But I'm doing it again, and none the worse (apart from being rather fatter
).
This advice I actually got from someone else - himself a cyclist - as it happens.