While going round a roundabout...

[Cab]

...on the way in to work this morning, I got yelled at by a motorist.

I'd just picked up a bag of chard from the allotment ('cos I've got far too much), it was bungeed to the pannier rack of the bike, leaves bouncing along in the wind. While just exiting a roundabout at about 25mph, bloke in a car comes up to me, and in a broad Nigerian accent bawled out 'Where did you get the spinach from? Can I buy?'

Well, its better than the normal 'You're in the middle of the road! Are you trying to ******* die' type yells from the daily Motons, but all the same, not a conversation I can be having at that pace 'I grow it!' was as much as I could really respond with, what with him sitting on the other side of the car he was in. He waved, and accelerated off (rather faster than I'd have though appropriate in a 30mph zone, but never mind).

Its odd just the kind of conversations people start up with you on the road. I had one guy come alongside me as I was absolutely tearing down Kings Hedges Road at above 30mph (not that I'd have kept that up for long!), passenger wound his window down, pointed at a map and asked directions. What am I going to do, lean over and point at landmarks?

And why is it that these wierd encounters only ever happen when I'm absolutely flooring it?

 

[Maz]

You missed a trick there...you should've struck a deal with him!

Kings Hedges Road...isn't there a new loony cycle path there, which skirts around a signpost or something? I take it you don't use that cycle path...

 

[Cab]

You missed a trick there...you should've struck a deal with him!

Kings Hedges Road...isn't there a new loony cycle path there, which skirts around a signpost or something? I take it you don't use that cycle path...

Kings Hedges Road is now FUBAR'ed. The new 'Arbury Camp' development, with its resultant traffic constrictions and inoperable cycle paths/lanes, the road being dug about around where the Regional College is, and the on/off pavement slalom to keep on the cycle lanes... No, when I ride that road I stay where I'm meant to be, in the lane

I'd happily sell the bag of chard to the guy, had we been stopped somewhere, but high velocity veg-vending isn't something I want to explore

 

[spindrift]

Got any khat?

 

[CotterPin]

Saw a guy this morning cycling down the Holloway Road in London with what appeared to be a decent sized shrub in his rucksack!

 

[Arch]

I'd happily sell the bag of chard to the guy, had we been stopped somewhere, but high velocity veg-vending isn't something I want to explore

Oh go on! High speed, drive-by veg boxes, you could be onto a winner. How organic can you get, buying veg off a bloke on a bike.

Onions, of course, you'd keep strung round your neck...

 

[magnatom]

Oh go on! High speed, drive-by veg boxes, you could be onto a winner. How organic can you get, buying veg off a bloke on a bike.

Onions, of course, you'd keep strung round your neck...

Mmmm, if you exchanged the onions for garlic would that reduce your incident rate? Of course I think this would only work at night.....

 

[Mr Pig]

Odd people Nigerians, their world is very different from ours.

 

[Riding in Circles]

Odd people Nigerians, their world is very different from ours.

It sure is, speaking from experience. I expect I am one of the few people here with a Nigerian visa in their passport. Let's just say I'm not surprised they like the UK.

 

[andy_wrx]

A Nigerian bought a car from a friend last year.

He came on the train to view it, didn't want a test drive, paid with a big bundle of used notes.
My mate was a bit iffy about the used notes but they seemed OK
The guy then wanted directions back to the motorway, said he was driving to London (having come up on train to buy car in Cheshire...)
My mate told him he'd need petrol if going that far - the guy looked helpless, said he'd never put petrol in a car before (!?!?!)
Ended-up my mate going with him to the petrol station, showing him how to fill up, the bloke dropping him back home and then off down the motorway - my mate said that the way this guy drove, he'd never passed a driving test...

The money paid into the bank OK, he's never had any come-back from DVLA about the new keeper of the car.

Worrying.

 

[Mr Pig]

Worrying.

Normal. For Nigerians anyway. They just assume that the rules that apply in Nigeria, i.e. sod all, can be happily transferred to Britain. We were friendly with a Nigerian family for a few years before they moved down to Cambridge. They were lovely people but good grief was it hard work! ;0)

 

[Maz]

were friendly with a Nigerian family for a few years before they moved down to Cambridge.

It's the same bloke that Cab met on the roundabout.

 

[Mr Pig]

It's the same bloke that Cab met on the roundabout.

Oh it could be, they're all like that though. His name is Henry.

 

[Cab]

Oh it could be, they're all like that though. His name is Henry.

I have no idea if this bloke was called henry. Seemed genial enough, but it struck me as odd to lean over towards the passenger window to offer to buy 'speenach' at a speed of over 20mph while exiting a roundabout.

 

[LOGAN 5]

I've got county court judgements out on two fraudulent Nigerians. Never going to get a penny our of them with their numerous identities etc.

My advice would be never do business with a Nigerian - even whilst hanging off a roundabout at 20mph - and definitely no cheques!