I've got the winter training blues. The weather the past couple months has been rather uninspiring as far logging the mileage is concerned. 15 degree mornings a few weeks back forced me onto the trainer of a lot of riding, recently it's the incessant cold rains that keep me from deriving any kind of enjoyment from my training. These first four weeks have been painful. Not that the workout load has been all that strenuous, but the conditions tempting to stay in bed each morning have made it extra challenging to gear up and go for it. I admit I've missed a couple of workouts - so I'll be about 34 out of 36 for the first 4 weeks, which I guess isn't to bad considering what I've been facing.
One workout in particular really sent me over the edge. Yesterday I took off for a short ride before work and go caught in the rain, not to mention it was 35 degrees or so. I was soaked and freezing by the end. As I neared home I had a van pull up behind me and lay on his horn a few times. Not the friendly toot toot I'm going to pass you honk, but a loud obnoxious 'what the hell are you doing?' in my road honk. I turned around and waved at him, and motioned him to pass. He pulled up and rolled down his window. He yelled at me "You should be in the bike lane idiot!" as he pointed at the SIDEWALK. He sped off before I could really get a word in. Riding your bike on the sidewalk is not only dangerous as hell but illegal in Georgia (car's making rights can turn right into you, and cars pulling out never see you). I was fuming - but I would get he last word in as he got held up at the next stop light. I did what I probably shouldn't have done but was so aggravated by his ignorance and this was compounded by the crappy weather. I pulled my left glove off just to give him the bird - and yelled "jack ass!". The light turned green and I sped off. This wasn't the right thing to do - nothing was the best action. But given the ride I was having it sure made me feel better.
My friend Daniel said that one easy thing to increase respect for cyclists from motorists would be to include it in the curriculum and tests for obtaining a drivers license. This wouldn't really cost anything and would maybe just make motorists aware that we are out here and we're allowed to be out here.
