Due to various circumstances from people, the Holmfirth plus Chunal ride was postponed. Not to worry though, and am quite glad, as, since I was assaulted last Friday by a five year old lad, I’ve been in agony with my chest. Chris did make it to my house, but was feeling the effects of his journey from Finland last week.

I rode back to Didsbury with him, showing him the delights of my commute home.

Total Distance: 24.55 miles
Total Time: 1h 34m 25s
Avg Speed: 15.6mph
Max Speed: 37.4mph
Cadence: 82rpm
Avg H/Rate: 134bpm

As you can see from the h/rate – I didn’t bust a gut today – I couldn’t be bothered!

Anyway, we cycled the reverse route that I now ride home from work and headed up Upper Brook Street from Plymouth Grove and the onwards and upwards to Didsbury. I commented to Chris on how different the driving style is around his area – polite and courteous 99.9% of the time, and watching out for cyclists – was superb really.

We went our separate ways – him heading home, me heading to the Fallowfield Loop. I got on it and came to Stockport Road and exited again and headed home my new commute route. Made it all the way to Longford Road West without issue and then approached the Reddish Road / Longford Road / Longford Road West .

For those that don’t know the area – here we have a picture courtesy of Google Street View.

From this picture you can notice two things that are very apparent. Its a 20mph zone as there is a school further up on the road – and looking at the car currently heading up there – there is NO room for an overtake.

Here are two more pictures to show you just how narrow and badly looked after the road is. Take into account that the street view car must have been up during the day when everybody has taken their cars for the 2 mile journey to work.

As you can see. No room whatsover. Incidentally, this is also part of National Route 6. Anyway, I had the pleasure of being at the front of the traffic approaching this road. Its uphill, so its hard to get up to speed. I had a gentleman (if you can call him that) behind me with his girlfriend and mother / mother-in-law in the back. He was driving a black Toyota Auris. I was doing 18.5mph – just under the speed limit. I had nowhere to go. What does this cunt do? He drives right up my arse making me very uncomfortable. I hold me hand out and ask him to back off. I mean – he can’t overtake me. He isn’t going to get anywhere faster.

To his credit he backed off – although shouldn’t have been putting me at risk. Had I had to slam my brakes on because a kid ran in front of me, he would have hit me and killed me, thus ruining a family with a young child.

Then, to my surprise as he squeezed past just near the blue car on the right in the picture above – he slowed down and gave me the bird. Whaaaaaaaaaaaa? Of course, I responded back with the bird, but made sure it lingered so that when he finally did pay attention to his surroundings he would notice.

He sort of slowed down – perhaps going to respond? I fucking wished he had. This gave me the opportunity to put my foot down. Of course, what the chap doesn’t realise is that on a bicycle, you can’t get done for speeding. I know I was doing 28mph at one stage and he decided to go much faster… In a 20. And, I wasn’t even pedalling furiously.

So Mr Toyota Auris, of which I do have the registration plate, next time you see a cyclist and you try to bully past for no fucking reason what so ever. Here are a few pointers just for you.

Take stock and think. You didn’t get to the junction any quicker than me.
The cyclist could have a family.
Cyclists have a great ability to be able to keep up with moving traffic.
20mph means just that.
Some cyclists will respond back.
Some cyclists carry video cameras.
You never impressed your girlfriend or mother-in-law – in fact, I’m actually surprised you have a girlfriend. It was probably your sister.
Shame you didn’t get stopped by the police and breathalized [sp?] (and potentially raped in the back of the police van by a horny male copper)
Read the Highway Code.

And the most important one of all…

You need to lose weight.

Thankfully, I only had to meet one tosser on my journey today (shit – sorry… Two tossers – didn’t mean to leave you out Chris).