Morning Commute:
Total Distance: 8.60 miles
Total Time: 33m 22s
Max Speed: 31.1mph
Avg Speed: 16.1mph
Avg H/Rate: 161bpm
Cadence: 82rpm

Yesterday I was reading a blog post by carrie and wondering what the fuck she was talking about. She went on a ride and had rain. I couldn’t comprehend as I was gazing out into the beautiful sunshine… Then I woke up this morning and the dragon inside me nearly won (again).

I looked out the window and remember someone commenting on how shit my tyres are in the rain. After Friday morning, I really didn’t want to put myself or anyone else at risk.

Fortunately, the saint in me won again, and, despite a frantic search for all my waterproofs and lights, I managed to get out of the house just 10 minutes late.

I also took the opportunity to remove the camera from my helmet, praying that I didn’t meet any douchebags along the way.

Traffic seemed back to normal this morning after 5 or 6 weeks of relative peacefulness. This is probably a good thing as it gives people less opportunity to overtake me with barely any space for mistakes.

Of course, I was always going to bump into the odd douche and the first one was a mountain biker on Oxford Road (yes, I made it that far without much problem – although a police woman pulled out on me and got a wagging finger).

I watched this cyclist go through a red light. I caught up and said nothing until I witnessed him squeeze down the left inside a car that had their indicators on to turn left whilst they where both moving. Not only was this stupid on his behalf – it also put the driver of the car at risk, as the cyclist would have been in their blind spot.

That just pissed me right off and as i caught up to him, I politely said “If your not careful mate, your gonna end up dead”.

I dunno whether it sunk in, but at the next set of lights he hung around.

Now, I don’t take risks like this. I’m always aware of the cars behind me, and will always check if, at lights, the car behind me is turning left. I also won’t cut down the left side of a bus / HGV and certainly will stay well clear of the left of any cars that have their indicators on… So why do I seem to be the incident prone one?

Perhaps I should start cycling like a cock.

Then, I had an Audi pull out from a parking space right into my path without looking… Then, without any notice, he realised he was in the wrong lane and pulled out into my path again… Twice by the same driver… Grrrrrrrr….

But, on the positive side, I’d like to say thanks to the HGV driver behind me on Hyde Road this morning who, at the same set of lights as the last HGV driver I complimented, pulled up with enough room so that he could see me and my actions in front – excellent driving!

Evening Commute:
Total Distance: 11.37 miles
Total Time: 46m 37s
Max Speed: 31.8mph
Avg Speed: 14.6mph
Avg H/Rate: 1656bpm
Cadence: 85rpm

Another interesting ride out on the bike!

Stockport Road presented my first hazard as a chap pulled into my lane and did not stop as my bike approached.

I then tried to have a “conversation” with him, and all he was pointing at (I don’t think his English was that good) was that I should be pulling over to the side further. This incensed me a little but I bit my lip. It didn’t matter that he tried to run his vehicle at me without looking – it was my fault as I was 3ft away from the kerb and not 2 inches.

Cunt.

After that, it was quite pleasant. I had very understanding chap in an Alexandra Windows van stuck behind me on Windmill Lane, but he waited patiently and overtook when there was a) enough room and b) when he could see clearly. I also managed to repay the favour (would be interesting if it was the same driver) in Hyde as an Alexandra Windows van was waiting to turn right, so I slowed down and signalled for him to go (these two instances where about 3 miles apart).

Then, I had the pleasure, in Hyde Town Centre of a super bitch.

As I was cycling up the outside lane to go straight ahead, she pulled into the left hand lane as I was passing – cutting it very very close. This left her in a “left only” lane. She then proceeded to drive straight ahead from the left only lane, right at the back of my bike. Stupid fucking bitch. She didn’t even indicate to the people behind me in the correct lane to go straight ahead.

Un-be-fucking-lievable.

I wouldn’t even dare do something like that – but that’s the lawless society we live in.

Incidentally, she then stayed behind me up until I turned off towards Hyde Market – despite me not averaging a very good speed – I wonder why that was?

Addendum:
I’ve just shocked myself looking at my stats for April. I am currently averaging a mile every 3m 58s when I cycle. Looking back to my Stats Page, in June 2009, I was recording a mile every 4 minutes 59 seconds.

http://notthewowy.wordpress.com/T