downfader
extimus uero philosophus
- Location
- 'ampsheeeer
...like the wing of cars and the back of people carriers. 
Nice tailwind this morning, riding up the Itchen Bridge at a fair old speed, another faster rider in front. Both of us are nipping around the slower riders struggling on BSOs (those cyclelanes really could do with being wider!). I was making good progress because he was riding very strong and fast, I estimate the guy was doing 20mph uphill. 
A nice man in a taxi decided to try and spoon me with his rear door by driving/swerving into the cyclelane, so I brake and dropped back, then catch up.
We both head down the otherside and the RAB junction is coming up, I shoulder check to see if its safe to pull out for primary through the junction and nip in behind a taxi. I presumed the other rider had already taken a similar position but as I look back towards the front again I see the taxi has just barged through the other rider nearly knocking him. He, understandably, got a little angry and tried to punch the window. However the force of throwing his fist out sends him off balance and he veers left missing it.
We both appear to be heading the same way so I ride level and try to say: "Those taxis are getting a little too familiar this morning!"
...only it was very cold this morning, and my face had become a little numb. All the guy heard was "flammfphh axies mrr gtt alar tooooo farmer thus marrrni!!"
He looked at me with a look that was a mixture of fear and disgust.
Oops! Apart from that a good ride in. Have been a bit under the weather and this was the first day I've felt strong again.
Then. On the way home I'm riding down hill in primary. Reckon easily doing 25mph approaching a side road and see a woman pull up at the line. I cover the brakes just incase! She eyeballs right at me, in white lycra thermal tights (I did say it was cold) and a flouro jersey on and just pulls out only to come to a complete stop around the corner immediately. I locked both wheels and shouted "GET A MOVE ON!!!" and really thought I was going to smash into the back of her people carrier. I reckon I had less than 12 feet to stop on.
Thankfully the driver behind me kept back, otherwise I'd have been sandwiched. The woman who'd pulled out put up a hand to say sorry, the reason why she'd stopped dead? A bus was coming from the other way and pulled around a parked car, had I ridden on unhindered I'd have got past, but a mahoosive people carrier is a little tight. Poor forethought and a rushed decision by the lady driver.
Nice tailwind this morning, riding up the Itchen Bridge at a fair old speed, another faster rider in front. Both of us are nipping around the slower riders struggling on BSOs (those cyclelanes really could do with being wider!). I was making good progress because he was riding very strong and fast, I estimate the guy was doing 20mph uphill.
A nice man in a taxi decided to try and spoon me with his rear door by driving/swerving into the cyclelane, so I brake and dropped back, then catch up. We both head down the otherside and the RAB junction is coming up, I shoulder check to see if its safe to pull out for primary through the junction and nip in behind a taxi. I presumed the other rider had already taken a similar position but as I look back towards the front again I see the taxi has just barged through the other rider nearly knocking him. He, understandably, got a little angry and tried to punch the window. However the force of throwing his fist out sends him off balance and he veers left missing it.
We both appear to be heading the same way so I ride level and try to say: "Those taxis are getting a little too familiar this morning!"
...only it was very cold this morning, and my face had become a little numb. All the guy heard was "flammfphh axies mrr gtt alar tooooo farmer thus marrrni!!"
He looked at me with a look that was a mixture of fear and disgust.
Oops! Apart from that a good ride in. Have been a bit under the weather and this was the first day I've felt strong again.Then. On the way home I'm riding down hill in primary. Reckon easily doing 25mph approaching a side road and see a woman pull up at the line. I cover the brakes just incase! She eyeballs right at me, in white lycra thermal tights (I did say it was cold) and a flouro jersey on and just pulls out only to come to a complete stop around the corner immediately. I locked both wheels and shouted "GET A MOVE ON!!!" and really thought I was going to smash into the back of her people carrier. I reckon I had less than 12 feet to stop on.
Thankfully the driver behind me kept back, otherwise I'd have been sandwiched. The woman who'd pulled out put up a hand to say sorry, the reason why she'd stopped dead? A bus was coming from the other way and pulled around a parked car, had I ridden on unhindered I'd have got past, but a mahoosive people carrier is a little tight. Poor forethought and a rushed decision by the lady driver.
