I decided to ride home the long(er) way today which held the chance that
I might bump into a friend heading back from work. The first problem
with this was that it involved using the NCN routes.
Thus follows chancy overtaking of a cyclist who appeared to be dreaming
and was weaving all over the path (And it was a smooth bit as well!);
avoidance of the neds with mopeds who are pissing about, and shouting at
me 'cos I was on the bent (I don't know what they were shouting as my
English ears are still not tuned to Neddish).
Then when back on the roads there was the conversation with the bus
driver who pulled up alongside me in the ASL box.
[I point at the picture of the bike - he shrugs]
"Have you read the Highway Code recently?"
"Doesn't bother me."
"Doesn't bother you? Right." [Lean forward to take number of bus]
"It's called knowing how long it takes to brake." Says he, driving off.
"It's called breaking the law." Says I, wishing I was going the same way
so I could continue the conversation.
But... as if this wasn't enough, I then got overtaken by a pillock in a
BMW while going round a corner. He then turned in to a side street (Dead
end) so I followed him in.
[Sat on bike, smiling at him as he turns his car round - he winds down
the passenger window]
"At what point did you think that that manoeuvre was a good idea?" I
ask.
"I indicated left" He says.
"You overtook me on a corner"
"I was already past you."
"Uh huh" [OK. My wit had deserted me by this point!]
This continued until I got bored and went home. On reflection, he
probably thought I was complaining about his left-hand turn into the
side street, and was completely unaware that his error had been before
that. I know where he lives mind... I'm almost tempeted to go back and
leave a note on his car!
By this point I had realised that I wasn't meant to be cycling today.
Tonight... I go for a run. On pavements. Round parks. Away from cars. I
eagerly await the flexi-lead related tripping incident!
Jon