So on I went, feeling neither angry nor happy just a little bemused and sorry for the human race. Today's bad karma was far from over though.
Nepean Highway taking off from the Bay Street junction city bound and I'm pedalling off when a 4x4 wannabe bages past me with literally an inch to spare. Good on ya!
Gray Street at the traffic lights before the hill (can't remember the name of the other street) I get a Subaru try to force his way in the left lane from the right as I ride up to the storage box. Naturally a bike's a bit more nimble than a car so I skirt round his bonnet and plant myself to the right of another cyclist already in the box.
I always take the lane up that hill and feel fully justified in doing so 'cause the traffic's always backed up for at least one change of lights. The lights between Gray Street and Canterburry Road have gotta be the slowest in Melbourne. So I'm claiming the lane pedalling up the hill when Suby comes along and pointedly cuts violently in. Nowhere near me but the message was clear: how dare you get in my way.
Just managed to resist the urge to smile and wave at him as I passed his stationary vehicle about 300 meters from the lights. Naturally I caught the first change as I always do.
To cap it all off coming to City road with that wonderful t-junction. Riding along the lane, look over my shoulder, indicate with full extended arm for 2 seconds, look again and start to move out to the straight ahead / turn right lane (I was turning right.)
Whammo! Handlebars cop full force of a wing mirror as a car breezes on by, the same car who's driver I'd made eye contact with two seconds previously while indicating.
He pulls up and I knock on his window. He winds down and I say, quite heatedly, "didn't you see me indicate for three full seconds before moving out in to the lane?"
"No," he says.
"Well use your eyes then, I could have gone under your wheels!"
Rage rage rage. Think about riding off in righteous indignation but think better of it and remmeber that I'm legally obliged to stop so do so across the road.
Turns out that the man was a decent chap. His son rides and he didn't try to lay any blame on me, apologised and we shook hands and left.
I've still got the ride home tonight.