Riding in Circles
Veteran
- Location
- EDINBURGH
So there I am cycling to the workshop, I use a narrow cycle lane/footpath at one point which emerges from between a wall and a barrier onto the bottom of a hill, the hill is a narrow lane with no pavement, just bushes one side and a fence the other, where you join it from the cycle lane is actually a bend that if you went left would take you to a few cottages. Anyway, there I am cycling up the hill and see the back of a Passat ahead of me, I then realise it is getting closer and the engine is revving, no reversing lights though, so I start to pull out, car swerves while getting closer, I don't normally catch cars uphill. Car starts swerving from one side of the lane to the other, I realise I have a big problem so turn around in the road and start pedaling back down, ever aware of the rapidly accelerating car behind me, I swing around the bend and swear I felt the wind as the car just missed me as it slammed backwards into the wall and railings where the cycle lane emerges.
Obviously shaky by now, I unclip and get off the trike, walk over to the car to find an old lady in the driving seat, in tears, turns out her car, an auto is in for service and the dealer loaned her a manual, she has not driven a manual for years, got confused, missed a gear, found herself going backwards and panicked, she did not see me at all, she was busy trying to remember what pedal did what!
It was hard to be mad with her but hard not to as well, I rang her son for her who came along in a few minutes, I explained what happened and he at least asked if I was ok and if I wanted to come along to the house for a cup of tea, his mum was ok but the loan car was a wreck, it was a bit to close for my liking though, I think I will take the weekend off.
Obviously shaky by now, I unclip and get off the trike, walk over to the car to find an old lady in the driving seat, in tears, turns out her car, an auto is in for service and the dealer loaned her a manual, she has not driven a manual for years, got confused, missed a gear, found herself going backwards and panicked, she did not see me at all, she was busy trying to remember what pedal did what!
It was hard to be mad with her but hard not to as well, I rang her son for her who came along in a few minutes, I explained what happened and he at least asked if I was ok and if I wanted to come along to the house for a cup of tea, his mum was ok but the loan car was a wreck, it was a bit to close for my liking though, I think I will take the weekend off.
