Hoon.

Perhaps it’s the slight ambiguity that my cycling garb offers me on my commutes, or that added rush of adrenaline I get as I grind away at the crank, but for a time now I feel like my behaviour has been reverting me back to my adolescence while out on my daily roll into work & back. I try to stay on the right side of being a totally revolting, angst riddled teenager by abiding the ‘main’ traffic rules - red lights & being on the correct side of the road for example – but it’s all those grey areas where the more civic minded may yield or peg it back a little where I’ve been showing my horns.


This has come to a fore in the last week or so, as I’ve noticed that those little indiscretions are getting responses from those people around me – pedestrians & motorists - and none too polite either. With the most recent having a stoutly fellow be so inclined as to take pursuit on foot ,with only the good grace of a light sequence in my favour saving me from a curse word & a servere bump on the head.

So now I have turned over a new leaf. I’ve delved back into the past, to those early days where a little bit of fear & paranoia used to factor in everything I did on the bike. I’m taking the easy-going road, I’m coasting more often & on the brakes earlier, I’m slowing up & staying in between the lines. I’m the model citizen on two wheels….. and boy am I getting it from everyone.

Cut off, pushed out & ignored. Riders are getting queued up behind & pedestrians are frustrated in wasting time yielding for me. Cars are squeezing me out of lanes or turning in ahead of me. Even dogs are rushing out of driveways to nip at my feet.

With everything worthwhile comes a cost, but to lose the buzz & still get razzed, well I can’t see any good in that…… “RIDER UP!!!”