A few days ago, I posted a detailed description of a very close call and my actions to find and communicate with the driver.
The driver did email me! That is amazing. I really had hoped for that, but didn’t expect it. The email was time stamped 10 minutes after the deadline I imposed, which I simply assume was an act of defiance. I can handle that.
The email the driver sent read:
To peddle, whoever you are.
Maryland law says that you must give cyclists 3 feet between your vehicle and the cyclist and that the cyclist has the right to the full lane. You passed with about a foot between me and the left side of your rear view mirror. In a car/cycle accident, the cyclist would be on the losing end of that equation. I have friends who have been nearly killed in these types of situations. You also turned between me and my destination (the right shoulder of Boulter’s Road), essentially forcing me to alter course to avoid a collision. Finally, passing on the right of another vehicle like that is not safe and may even be illegal. There was nothing that was predictable or safe about the choices you made. You put me at serious risk.
Yes, I found where you park your car. It was relatively easy. An internet search on your license plate revealed an online complaint about this vehicle being parked in a handicapped parking space without a handicap placard in that lot in 2008. I’m not stalking you. This does illustrate the fact that you are not anonymous when you are behind the wheel of a car.
I will be true to my word. I will not proceed with a police report. I’m not interested in harassing you. I have no vendetta or animosity toward you.
Please give cyclists a wider berth in the future. I wouldn’t want you to injure someone.
I’ve described this situation widely on the internet. I will not reveal the name you provided in this email. This is between you and I.
Again, thank you for responding.
Never take for granted an incident-free rides. Savor them. They are more frequent than we might expect but it is still important to note.
This morning could have been one of those rides. Very comfortable pace. Easy conversations. Fourth day in a row stopping at the coffee shop. All was good except that rolling through stop signs on the trail, we encountered cars where they were unexpected, twice. It was completely our fault. Sorry.
The thunderstorm overnight left the road damp, with a lot of debris (mud, gravel, leaves, branches, etc). The bamboo growing next to the trail sometimes was hanging over the trail. Dodging these kept us alert.
No word yet from AIRTOY. I’m afraid that a police report will be on my agenda tomorrow.
Bible Verses of the Day:
An ox or a lamb that has a limb too long or too short you may present for a freewill offering; but it will not be accepted for a vow. (Leviticus 22:23 NRSV)
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? (1 Corinthians 9:6 NRSV)
I was placed in a very dangerous situation this morning. I’m lucky and grateful to have come through unskathed. The only error I think I might have committed during the incident was to not fully “take the lane”. (Later I’ve learned that would not necessarily have helped.)
Here is what happened.
I was traveling north on Highway 450 between the Naval Academy Bridge and Highway 50.
This is a 4 lane divided highway. Looking ahead you can see the left turn lane, my destination. (Image from Google Maps)
I crossed the highway with no traffic behind me to enter the left turn lane. I was in the left to middle part of that turn lane, so that I was away from traffic that might come from behind in the left lane.
View of the left turn lane and the intersection to make the turn.
As I began my turn, I slowed to wait for an oncoming car to clear the intersection.
Bike enters the turn lane and intersection first, traveling where you see the word “bike”. The car passes on the right, where you see “car” both vehicles headed for the same “destination” across the roadway.
As the other car cleared the intersection, a silver Audi passed me on the right in the left turn lane, coming within a foot of my bike, and then accelerated through the intersection. I later learned that the driver had stayed in the left travel lane and then turned into the intersection from there. He was never in the left turn lane.
It was only because I was already turning that there was not an impact. Please note that I was headed for the right hand side (right shoulder) of the roadway across the intersection. Therefore the path of the bicycle and the path of the car would cross in the intersection.
Three riders behind me shouted a warning that there was a car. That was the first indication to me that another vehicle was passing me. I thought he would follow me through the intersection.
Bryan got the license plate text. It was a Maryland plate reading “AIRTOYS”. The car was a silver Audi.
An internet search on the license plate revealed an image of that plate on a silver Audi and a complaint from 2008 that the vehicle had parked in a “Park & Ride” lot in Annapolis in a handicap parking space and no handicap placard was showing.
I went to the the Park & Ride and after driving through the lot a little while, discovered the car.
I left a note:
“I am the cyclist you nearly hit this morning as you made a very unsafe and illegal left hand turn. Before I decide whether or not to report this incident to the police I’d like to have a discussion about how you put my life at risk by your actions. Email me at xxxxxxx.xxx.com. If I don’t hear from you by Thursday at 8 pm – I will report you to the police along with statements from 3 witnesses.”
The note was placed on the windshield.
Note on the windshield.
And another, instructing him to look for the note on the windshield at the driver’s side door.
And a note in the driver’s side door.
Nothing else was done to the car, except for the leaving of the notes.
We will see how this all turns out.
If I go missing in the next day or so … you know where to start.
Tuesday evening an email exchange went around for a planned 4:15 am ride to see Christoph Strasser’s RAAM record breaking finish. He was forecast to arrive around 5 am. We all went to bed knowing that it was possible that he would slow down and we might miss him because of work commitments.
The alarm rang at 3:30 am and by 3:45 the emails were flying once again. Strasser’s finish was now expected after 7:00 am. We decided we would ride anyway. We met up at the 7-11 on Benfield Rd & Jumper’s Hole Road and made up a route as we went along. There were only two stated goals as we started.
- Go by the RAAM official finish line in Crownsville.
- Stop at the Big Bean for coffee at the end of the ride.
Along the way we added miles, enjoyed one another’s company, found Dan riding earlier than we expected and he joined us, went to Annapolis City Dock to the ceremonial finish line of RAAM, saw George going fishing, rode some of our usual route backwards, saw two SPP riders on the 5:45 ride, and made it to Big Bean. It was a wonderful morning.
In the end, just over 35 miles was added to my cycling log, and the first ride with my new Garmin Edge 1000. I’ll be doing a review of it later, once I’ve put it through its paces a bit more.
Strasser finished in record time and at a record speed. Official time was 7 days, 15 hours, 56 minutes (about 7 hours faster than last year on a course that was 60 miles longer) and an average speed of 16.42 mph, almost 1 mph faster than last year’s record.
There was one incident on the ride this morning. As I was coming north on Highway and in the left turn lane to turn onto Boulter’s Way, a car came and made a “left hook” in front of me. I nearly collided. Those who were riding behind me warned me and couldn’t believe the car driver would cut me off like that. I missed a collision by less than a foot. It was close! The car driver was definitely in the wrong.
Bible Verses of the Day:
Direct Aaron and his sons to deal carefully with the sacred donations of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they may not profane my holy name; I am the LORD. (Leviticus 22:2 NRSV)
So then, he who marries his fiancee does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better. (1 Corinthians 7:38 NRSV)
I planned to get out for an easy spin on Sunday afternoon, but a nap seemed like a much better idea, and then the smart idea to ride succumbed to the desire to sit. My legs paid the price for that decision. An easy spin would have helped the legs.
The easy spin happened on Monday. The few riders out were willing to take a very easy pace. It was so easy that my average heart rate on the ride was 99. We arrived at the coffee shop where I planned to meet Mike B to map out our plans for LOL hotels, and we all sat and drank coffee and chatted.
This morning’s ride was entirely different. Scott C decided from the very beginning to have a fast day (to make up for yesterday’s leisurely ride) and we rode hard and fast. It wasn’t a record setting pace for me today, but close. It was odd to know that I was the oldest rider out today and still was leading some very fast stretches. You know, that feels pretty good.
As usual, the coffee shop ended the ride, since this was Tuesday, and once again, leaving the coffee shop was hard.
A good day’s ride.
Bible Verses of the Day (catching up):
If a man lies with a woman having her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her flow and she has laid bare her flow of blood; both of them shall be cut off from their people. (Leviticus 20:18 NRSV)
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. (1 Corinthians 7:19 NRSV)
Friday the 13th for the start of a 250 mile ride? Are you crazy? You are asking for trouble.
I’m not superstitious.
The plan: Prep the bike, take a two hour nap, 7 pm start with 7 riders. Finish in about 22 hours.
The reality: Prep the bike, take a 1 hour nap, 7 pm start with 5 riders. Finish in 21.5 hours. 255 miles.
More after the break.
Every fiber of my being (except 1) rebelled this morning at the thought of climbing on the bike and riding. Yesterday, it was absolutely every fiber. I listened to one lone fiber, and was out the door a little later than usual. Eight of us met up at the Rusty Bridge and it was a good sociable comfortable ride. I’m simply glad I got out there and rode. Sometimes you just have to ignore the majority.
Today I’ll do some prepping for a big ride tomorrow. I’ll ride the breakfast ride in the morning. Then, tomorrow night, 7 of us will be riding a 400k starting at 7 pm. It is practice for day 1 of the LOL ride in July. It should be a lot of fun! 250 miles in under 24 hours starting after being awake all day. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Bible Verses for the Day:
Whatever moves on its belly, and whatever moves on all fours, or whatever has many feet, all the creatures that swarm upon the earth, you shall not eat; for they are detestable. (Leviticus 11:42 NRSV)
But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (Romans 10:21 NRSV)
The alarm rang at 4:00. I was slow getting out the door, but was out in 75° F very humid conditions by 4:30 for a quiet, solo ride to the Rusty Bridge … the long way. I rode up to BWI and along the way argued with myself about the results of pushing my saddle back about half an inch. At first, I could feel my sore knee more, and it felt as though everything was slower. As I got into my rhythm, my speed came up and heart rate dropped. My reach was better. The bike seemed to fit better. And I hummed along merrily, encountering very few cars on the road. As I continued along the way, I decided to go to BWI airport … at least the park just on the southern end of the airport and then remembered that there were two Strava segments that needed to have me on the leaderboard.
The first was heading north from the park along the trail. It was dark. Bunnies were out. The trail weaves and snakes through the dense trees and did I say it was dark. I pushed it and indeed set a personal record. Average speed was 20.4 mph. I now rank #71/1121 on this very popular Strava segment.
I backed off and took it easy as I moved south, deciding to take the trail back from Glen Burnie to hit the Strava segment behind Marley Station Mall. I kicked it hard as I hit the start of that segment and pushed all the way through the half mile of the timed path. In the end, another personal record was established (21.7 mph avg) and I’m ranked #8/1211, and more importantly tied for the lead among the SPP riders.
When I arrived at the Rusty Bridge for the regular 5:45 ride, I was drenched in sweat and had over 17 miles in for the day. I was hoping that the ride wouldn’t be a repeat of the last 2 Tuesday morning rides, with a very fast pace. When all were gathered (10 of us), no one was really interested in a fast ride, so we simply rode easy and talked. We still moved along quickly, but as has been true the past two weeks, my heart rate dropped down into a zone that could be held for hours with no real consequence.
A few of us then stopped at the coffee shop, made some transportation plans for the Lake Ontario Lap, and with reluctance pushed off for the rest of our day.
When I was finished, 33.3 miles were added and my average rolling speed was acceptable.
It was a nice morning.
Bible Verses of the Day:
All winged insects that walk upon all fours are detestable to you. (Leviticus 11:20 NRSV) Including the one that got lodged into my helmet this morning!
Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, (Romans 9:32 NRSV)
My new Kona frame just logged its first 1,000 miles on this morning’s ride. I’ve had it since late April.
Those who avoided this morning’s ride because of the light sprinkle of rain at 5:30 am missed a very enjoyable ride.
The rain stopped by 5:45 and when we met up at the Rusty Bridge, we blew noisemakers for Dan’s birthday. We then rode a comfortable, easy pace, chatting the whole way. There were 200 & 300 k rides this past weekend. Chip is headed to Ireland at the end of the week for a 1200k. We are a month away from a 1000k. Several of us are doing a training ride of 400k this weekend. RAAM starts Tuesday. There is plenty of cycling news to talk about and for which there remains some planning. It occupied our conversation the whole morning.
This being Mosey Monday, there was only one sprint all day. As we rolled through Round Bay, Dan kicked up the pace on the little hill and I followed, soon passing him. I kept the speed up, not going for the personal record but riding strong. As it turned out, I averaged 25 mph up the hill and logged my best time for the year.
Friday’s ride was good too. I logged 60 miles, then when I got home I mowed the lawn. I like it that a 60 mile ride doesn’t knock me out.
I’m noticing that still after a full week since my 400 mile week, my heart rate remains down. It is averaging about 10 bpm lower than before that week. I’m also noticing that I’m stretching out more, opening my lungs for added capacity. I’ll be exploring either a new stem or moving my saddle back (or both) to dial that in.
Bible Verses for the day:
And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not dishevel your hair, and do not tear your vestments, or you will die and wrath will strike all the congregation; but your kindred, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning that the LORD has sent. (Leviticus 10:6 NRSV)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NRSV)
Rev Rider 