Like most people I love watching drunks. Who doesn't find it adorable the way they stumble around, sometimes throwing up, occasionally smashing each other jovially in the face with glasses. So cute. But please drunk people of the world, could you refrain from getting up to your zany hijinx in the middle of the cycleway on a blind corner when I am coming the other way at 35km/h. That would be much appreciated. Thank you.
While I am making community service announcements, I might as well make another one. Indicators people. The little stalk on the side of the steering column, sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left, but definitely there. Use it. Most of my time on the road today has been spent either towing a trailer or riding a bike. Two activities that are made much easier (and safer) if I have a clue what the hell you are about to do. That extra little movement to reach the indicator probably even burns some calories. So you can brag to your friends about how you have been doing a workout, and I get to not get hit by your car and killed. It is win win really.
I have worked my way up to a nice rant now and it seems a pity to waste it, so here are a couple of other things that have annoyed me today. Roundabouts. Roundabouts and indicators are not mutually exclusive concepts. In fact I am pretty sure they are supposed to be used at the same time. I assume most people on the road have passed a driving test at some time (I really hope so anyway) and so at some point they must have been shown how to use a roundabout properly. Now I know it can be difficult with all that wheel turning going on, to reach the little indicator stalk. I mean some people even have to reach across to give the other lever that changes gears a wiggle. It can be so hard to keep up with it all. But just spare a thought for us cyclists, for us to indicate on a roundabout it means steering a bike around a corner with one hand, often braking with the same hand, while indicating which way we are going, while giving the finger to the Audi driver who just cut us off. In comparison drivers have it easy.
On to my last point. To the man who nearly ran in to me on the cycleway because you were turning around to check out the girl who had just run past. Firstly, class act by the way, I am sure your mum must be proud. I am sure you will make somebody a lovely cell mate someday. Moving on from your positively debonair behaviour, if you insist on doing that sort of thing while riding, please make sure you either have the skill, or are sober enough to do it without veering all over the place. I shouldn't have to call out in order to bring your attention to where you are going.
There I think I am done.
There was also some training today as well. A good long run this morning that went pretty well. A bit of a PB actually, which was really nice. It took about 2.5kms for my legs to feel like they were warm enough to work, but once they got going it all felt pretty good. Despite the above ranting I also had a pretty lovely ride this afternoon. I managed to get out early enough that I got to finish the ride in daylight, which was great. So I really got to enjoy being out on a nice, sunny winter day. There were a lot of Sunday drivers around, but today is Sunday, so I guess that is probably okay.
Also congratulations to Chris Froome for winning the Tour de France last night. There might be two weeks of riding left, but after last nights display, they might as well just hand him the trophy. Crushing. Good to see Richie Porte showing just what he is capable of. Exciting to see where he finishes up this tour and also what happens to him over the next few years.
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