Finally some action...

When it rains, it pours.

First, I was biking back home through the bar district (it's a small town, so the "district" really is 3-4 bars clustered at a small crossroads). from work at a quarter to one in the morning. There were 3 or 4 people, drunk, in the middle of the street, yelling epithets and threats at one another. I just came off a downhill and wanted to preserve my momentum, so I blew by the first group, who had no time to react to me. The second group saw me coming and, all two of them, charged me. Not wanting to expose my flank, I barrelled head-on toward them. Their menacing looks gave way to some sort of surprised fear as they realized I meant to go right through them. They were small and drunk, and in no condition to stop a 200+ pound juggernaut headed straight toward them at 15+ mph. So, they stepped aside and I was on my way. "Shitheads!" I muttered within earshot of them.

I headed back to work on Saturday. I was maintaining a brisk pace on the smooth shoulder of the road when a Ford Expedition, license plate # DSG 9951 (NY), with open windows, slowed, and its occupants spat forth unsolicited advice, telling me to ride on the sidewalk. My discipline held and I was silent, even though I was within a stone's throw of the vehicle for the next mile or so. Probably stupid bored teenagers taking daddy's car out for a spin.

That's it for now. There will surely be more to come, as the busy season for Driving While Stupid (unfortunately perfectly legal) has arrived.

"Open window" season, where folks have their car windows open due to the warm weather and so decide to shout stuff at the bicyclists they pass, has been mild for me so far. Since the last post, I only have had one verbal encounter. It was rather civil. I lost the flag to the bike trailer I use. It blew off in the wind, and when I returned to find it, it was gone; perhaps someone picked it up. So Open Window Guy says quite gently: "You need a flag for your trailer." (we were stopped at a light). I told him it blew off a few days ago. He waved, the light changed, and we parted ways.

I can handle encounters like that.

Other incidences were simply friendly toots from friends and neighbors who I recognized and waved at.

Other than the consistent right hook maneuvers by inattentive motorists, it has been peaceful. I like it!

I can even prevent the right hook from happening by taking the turn lane if I have to. So, even that situation isn't so bothersome as it could be.