To understand the the battle we cyclist endure every ride , you must first understand history. In fact you really need to return to the 100 year war between the English and the French. This war began in the 1300's
The Hundred Years' War was a time of military evolution. Weapons, tactics, army structure, and the societal meaning of war all changed, partly in response to the demands of the war, partly through advancement in technology, and partly through lessons that warfare taught.
But what the 100 year war really gave us was the " finger " . See the English had this weapon called the long bow. You would pluck the bow with your middle finger. When the French would capture a Englishman they would cut off his middle finger so he could no longer pluck the bow.
During a huge rally at the battle of Agicourt the English overcame a 20,000 to 5,000 man disadvantage. At the end of the battle all of the English would hold up there middle finger and yell " pluck you " , This gesture has now filtered its way some 700 years later to what we now now as the " the finger ". and of course the "pl " has been dropped and an "f " has been switched.
So next time a car or a Health net rider pisses you off, you can take pride in the gesture and understand the origin of its roots. So get off my wheel and " pluck you ".
