I was out of my comfort zone today, cycling in a far off place called East Lothian, which perhaps explains the following (only kidding east coasters 
).
Was turning right to join a road to head towards Musselburgh, when I had to wait for a roadie to pass on the road I was joining, going in my direction. He didn't acknowledge me, I didn't acknowledge him. Not a problem in my book; I was on my hybrid so I don't expect acknowledgements from any cyclists other than fellow hybriders. That seems to be the way it works, and we all know and accept that.
Anyway, I caught up with this guy, he wasn't pushing it. I overtook him and was probably doing about 3 or 4 mph over his speed. So next thing I know he is sticking to my back wheel. Again, no problem. There's a tail wind and we're sailing along about 20mph on the flat. He sticks to my back wheel for about 5 minutes, then pulls level. Then the odd thing; he says "Do you not bother to pass the time with other cyclists then?" "What are you on about?" I ask him. He then says "You didn't even bother to acknowledge me when you passed me, not even a wave".
I had to stop myself from going off on a rant, but just kept it to "Well you didn't acknowledge me at the junction, and I am more interested in concentrating on the traffic on this road". Then begins the lecture about how we cyclists should be one happy family, and that we need to present a united front to car drivers. They have to see that we stick together, etc. etc.. FFS, thinks I. Time to drop the bombshell that I actually drove to Edinburgh today, and I'm on my way back to the park and ride to get my car. He stuck with me for a while longer talking about bikes and more normal stuff before I made my excuses and branched off.
It just all seemed a bit .... strange.
).Was turning right to join a road to head towards Musselburgh, when I had to wait for a roadie to pass on the road I was joining, going in my direction. He didn't acknowledge me, I didn't acknowledge him. Not a problem in my book; I was on my hybrid so I don't expect acknowledgements from any cyclists other than fellow hybriders. That seems to be the way it works, and we all know and accept that.
Anyway, I caught up with this guy, he wasn't pushing it. I overtook him and was probably doing about 3 or 4 mph over his speed. So next thing I know he is sticking to my back wheel. Again, no problem. There's a tail wind and we're sailing along about 20mph on the flat. He sticks to my back wheel for about 5 minutes, then pulls level. Then the odd thing; he says "Do you not bother to pass the time with other cyclists then?" "What are you on about?" I ask him. He then says "You didn't even bother to acknowledge me when you passed me, not even a wave".
I had to stop myself from going off on a rant, but just kept it to "Well you didn't acknowledge me at the junction, and I am more interested in concentrating on the traffic on this road". Then begins the lecture about how we cyclists should be one happy family, and that we need to present a united front to car drivers. They have to see that we stick together, etc. etc.. FFS, thinks I. Time to drop the bombshell that I actually drove to Edinburgh today, and I'm on my way back to the park and ride to get my car. He stuck with me for a while longer talking about bikes and more normal stuff before I made my excuses and branched off.
It just all seemed a bit .... strange.
