Out of the saddle and maintaining a steady 16-17mph up a slight drag this morning I was rather shocked when a lady in an estate car decided that she would pull out from the minor road to my left with the goal of turning right across my path.
Given that I was at this point around 3 feet away from her, a combination of emergency braking from both parties was the only thing preventing me from a Starsky & Hutch style bonnet roll, or becoming a little flatter with some help of the couple of tonnes of steel she was guiding in my direction.
What shocked me most about this encounter was her reaction.
Firstly a look of anger, and a scowl that would have sent Severus Snape snivelling back to the Slytherin common room with his wand tucked between his legs. It was as though I had beaten her helpless baby around the face with a large moist haddock.
Secondly, the look of disgust as she slammed the car into reverse to allow me to continue on my way. If it wasn't for the shout from a passing cyclist (who had witnessed the event) of 'f***ing stupid b***h' I may well have convinced myself that I had indeed been at fault...
..but then maybe I was?
Over the weekend to replace my ancient cateye, I purchased a 'Knog Blinder' as a be-seen light for the spring and summer months for when my 1000 lumens jobby is a bit excessive. I liked the way it could be easily transferred to my summer bike without any faff, and that it has a natty inbuilt USB connector for charging, so as it was delivered yesterday I was naturally giving it a debut run on my way into the office.
The trouble is, we're now in the 21st Century where I am told that anything is possible, so when I purchased a 'Blinder' I thought the naming was a bit of over-enthusiasm on the manufacturer's part, and wouldn't for a second have thought that it would actually render motorists blind, or at least blind to approaching cyclists.
In this literal age, perhaps I should be paying more attention to my 'SPAM' emails. Apparently loads of women are interested in me, I can increase the size of my appendage to something extrodinary in a matter of days, but I really should cancel my Spy-killer virus software. I don't want that sort of blood on my hands.
Given that I was at this point around 3 feet away from her, a combination of emergency braking from both parties was the only thing preventing me from a Starsky & Hutch style bonnet roll, or becoming a little flatter with some help of the couple of tonnes of steel she was guiding in my direction.
What shocked me most about this encounter was her reaction.
Firstly a look of anger, and a scowl that would have sent Severus Snape snivelling back to the Slytherin common room with his wand tucked between his legs. It was as though I had beaten her helpless baby around the face with a large moist haddock.
Secondly, the look of disgust as she slammed the car into reverse to allow me to continue on my way. If it wasn't for the shout from a passing cyclist (who had witnessed the event) of 'f***ing stupid b***h' I may well have convinced myself that I had indeed been at fault...
..but then maybe I was?
Over the weekend to replace my ancient cateye, I purchased a 'Knog Blinder' as a be-seen light for the spring and summer months for when my 1000 lumens jobby is a bit excessive. I liked the way it could be easily transferred to my summer bike without any faff, and that it has a natty inbuilt USB connector for charging, so as it was delivered yesterday I was naturally giving it a debut run on my way into the office.
The trouble is, we're now in the 21st Century where I am told that anything is possible, so when I purchased a 'Blinder' I thought the naming was a bit of over-enthusiasm on the manufacturer's part, and wouldn't for a second have thought that it would actually render motorists blind, or at least blind to approaching cyclists.
In this literal age, perhaps I should be paying more attention to my 'SPAM' emails. Apparently loads of women are interested in me, I can increase the size of my appendage to something extrodinary in a matter of days, but I really should cancel my Spy-killer virus software. I don't want that sort of blood on my hands.
