Yesterday was day of the stupid. Numerous close passes and aggressive drivers, the usual revving when they're behind, and then hyper-acceleration within a millimetre of my back wheel the moment the see a sliver of space. I'm where I am because it's not safe to pass, would it really hurt to slow down for the few seconds it takes to find a safe passing point? Apparently. Even when I bothered to give way to drivers, it seemed that it was all too much to acknowledge the gesture with a nod or a thank you. Yes, fuckwits, that me stopped to let your fat car out.
Got a bit fed up with the roads so tootled along the Thames (headwind!) and down the Wandle on the way home. Which was enlivened by the stupid on bikes - I suppose stupidity is a universal constant. Firstly in Wandsworth, waiting at the lights, next to a girl on a bike, small gap between us. Lights change and straight through that gap goes Speedy Lycra Boy, scaring the hell out of her, and whacking my handlebars (fortunately due to my haphazard measuring skills, I once-upon-a-time overtrimmed my handlebars, so there's a good inch of bendy grip hanging out). Was there a 'sorry'? Nope. I couldn't be arsed chasing and killing him.
Then later, further down the Wandle, there's a bike path with poor sightlines at the best of times, but they're knocking down the flats by it, so there's now hoardings on the path, reducing visibility around corners to nil. Fortunately I was going slow and heard the approach, but two cyclists came flying around a corner ahead of me, entirely oblivious that there could have been anything on the other side. I got a doppler-shifted sorry as they continued at full speed. I hope they get eaten by crabs.
I thought I'd take the back route along the A22, but at that time of day it seems to a horrid rat run for drivers too impatient to use the A22. I won't make that mistake again. I think I have to agree with other comments about Croydon drivers.
Frankly, it was relief to finally grind up my driveway.
