Boomer's Bizarre Bicycle, A - Z Compendium

ZZzzzz...

Time to put this thread to bed. My bicycle journey, from A to Zed

Didn't know what to expect when I embarked on this journey, either from myself or from the Forum in general. I'm going to call it a small success, not something I've tried before & I wouldn't rule out doing something similar on another subject. One fairly sensible idea springs to mind & another marmite one which I could save for my Forum Swansong, whenever that may be. I do feel that my work isn't over here, not that it's work.

Potentially I could bump this thread in another year from now & do a January to June Journey in the hope that different stuff will crop up, I know that I've missed some decent content along the way as different things have jogged my memory, but I didn't want to disrupt the A-z format which presented something of a challenge coordinating a particular letter to what actually happened in real-time during that week. That was my chosen method, after that I recycled old stories & random facts.
That would be the danger of doing a second Tour as I would want to repeat subjects that I've covered this year, although I have visited certain aspects a number of time already.

Enough of me thinking out loud, thanks again to all of you that got involved & hopefully I might have even inspired a few to get back on their bike or even take up cycling on some level for the first time, cos it really is as easy as riding a bike.
Great exercise for both the body & mind, but the falling off still hurts so take care.

^ An absolutely inspiring thread! I love reading about your journeys and advice along the way Boomer, if I may, I personally think this thread should remain open and you never know what's around the corner to continue this topic. I find this thread a very fascinating and very intellectual read about cycling. I'm not one myself (Yet) but this is a very thought provoking thread and (imo) deserves a lot of recognition for the effort you and others have put into it.

Boomer.
What's your professional opinion on this fella then. Cheeky Chappy? Or needs a slap?

Sitting at traffic lights yesterday, and this guy cycles up the inside and takes up position in front of me
Lights change and he's off like the roadrunner, while I'm pulling 12t with a hill start. He then reaches back and gives me the finger
So I'm thinking, unless you're turning off soon, pal, this isn't going to go the way you think. Sure enough, half a mile and 12 gears later, I'm sitting on his arse
Now I don't enough speed advantage to safely pass him, and he's pedalling like fuck and won't pull in, so we're stuck in this Mexican Standoff.
I'm having to watch him like a hawk, and watch the mirror at the same time as cars are passing both of us, one after another. One pulled in too quick in front of me, and then had to swerve to avoid him
Eventually he admits defeat and pulls in, and gives me the wanker sign as I pass

All because he was trying to be a smartarse, back at the lights. There was no need for any of it

^^ Definitely the later, I've no idea what he was trying to prove, dickhead.
I'll be honest, I wouldn't do it at lights, but often go to the front of the grid at a railway crossing, especial if there's HGV's in the line of traffic. When the barriers lifts, I' m gone obviously I can accelerate faster than most vehicles, but, I'll keep tight to the side of the road to let them pass safely.

This week, I actually felt unsafe. my regular route has a transport cafe & lorry park, usually I find HGV drivers among the safest & most courteous of road users, I guess it's in their interest to be that way, keeping a clean licence is key when it's your profession.
My gripe was that one after another, baring one, I was overtaken in a similar manner, they pulled out leaving adequate space but seemed to duck back in far too quickly as if they were misjudging the length of their trailer they came uncomfortably close. It was like a reoccurring nightmare as each one repeated the mistake.
The revised Highway Code stipulated allowing 1.5 metres when overtaking a bicycle at 30 mph, speeds above 30mph requires more than 1.5 metres.
What I often encounter with overtaking by all types of vehicles is the "I must pass at all costs attitude" When there's oncoming traffic & the road hasn't space to safely pass & allow 1.5 metres the Highway Code states you should refrain from attempting to overtake in this situation until it is safe to do so. In reality many, especially car drivers will just squeeze through any gap in excess of 30 mph with inches to spare. I'm sure they think that because you are small & take up so little of the road that it's ok to do so. We it's not, it's fucking scary & dangerous.

Yeah, even with the pick-up, I wouldn't pass a bike unless I could straddle the white line.