No Ordinary Rides

There are no ordinary rides. Sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes it's a close call I'd rather forget.

Today, I have an errand to run. I use that as an excuse to ride up to the tennis courts at 120th first, intending to do my errand on the way back. 

I am stunned at the beauty around me; as surprised as if I'd never seen it before. 

Trees flowering.

Clouds worthy of Magritte.

Kids skipping rope.

Up at the tennis courts, players are reuniting after a long hiatus.

I dawdle. This is the best part of the ride. I wish there were more riding like this on the Promenades. The path to the GWB is bumpy and filled with those Spandex Warriors who would be just as happy in a Velodrome (why don't we build them one?). I take a leisurely turn around the end of the Promenade. 

And end up riding behind these guys.

I'm always a little conflicted at people riding two by two. On the one hand, it's an inconvenience and clogs up the bike lane. On the other, it's a friendly thing to do - something I'd like to be free to do myself, especially on a day like this. I'll pass them later, I'm in no hurry. We ride down the path and head under the West Side Highway...

And that's where it happens.

Now, I'm a very defensive rider. I signal. I call out "On your left," on a regular basis. I always check to see if anyone is coming up on my left if I'm about to pass. And now, I check my left not just once -

But twice, leaving time for the blue rider to pass, and leaving extra room on my right to account for unforeseen behavior (keep in mind the camera does not take in the full angle of the eye). So I am in the far left of the lane.

The next thing I know - 

This guy is passing so close, I can feel his arm against my left sleeve as he hems the three of us in.

Guys like this are terrifying. He is skilled, and sometimes I fear these guys less than inexperienced riders. But he is riding for speed, and not defensively or he never would have made this move. Four days before the 5 Boro Bike Tour, and I could have wound up on the bottom of a 4-bike pile-up, losing not just that tour, but a lot more than that.

To my amazement, he shakes his head as he passes...

Baffled that I had the nerve to move into his path to begin with. It's the same behavior I've seen in Central Park with those Strava guys (it's always guys) yelling "coming through!" as they speed through cross walks filled with pedestrians. The guy was going too damn fast. The guys next to me are as horrified as I am.

The rest of the ride is a meditation on whether it's a good idea to cycle at all in NYC. The roads are bad. Add in the cars. And then you have unlicensed behavior like this (and no insurance). Something like this could be life changing for me. 

I come home feeling physically great. I love cycling - everything about it. Everything except this. Is it worth it?

It's an open question right now. It's not till after I'm home for sometime that I remember anything about the errand.