I'm Not So Bad Afterall....

I wonder if there is an equivalent to road rage with bikers? It could be bikers being annoyed with bikers, or even better, bikers losing it on cars (not sure who has ever won that battle!)

You are probably wondering where the heck I come up with these ideas?? Well, on my bike of course! Today I got back on my bike, although the legs weren't sure if they liked it, and I know the bike didn't because it squeeked, screamed and groaned all the way up Alpe D'Huez. Thank goodness it is going into the shop for a little TLC over the weekend while I am back in Paris!

Anyhow, back to the point...eventually I made it to the top of the mountain and had to come back down. I am always a little nervous when it comes to descending, but it has gotten better, day by day, practice, practice, practice. So yes, I can dive-bomb a straight section of the Alpe D'Huez descent and brake in time to make the corner without running off the cliff....Bravo moi!!

Today, I met a descender who was worse than me!! and this descender was not on a bike! Yup, a little grey car braked more than I did and I almost rear ended the dude! Not sure if they were more scared of the descent or the crazy lady with the neon pink wind jacket following them! It was annoying though, because they would SLOW down to almost STOPPING at the corners, at which point I would get ready to pass, and then they would accelerate really FAST so I could not pass. But, then again, brake halfway down, I would catch them at the corner, try to pass..but, no such luck. This happened for 18 of the 21 turns of Alpe D'Huez. It was a little frustrating, but I was in no rush...actually I was secretely enjoying this experience knowing I was chasing a car, LOL.

But here is the real kicker! at turn 18 the car doesn't accelerate and goes very, very slowly...since there were only 3 more turns and there was traffic coming up in the opposite direction I could not pass...but, I was REALLY wondering what was going on at this point. We reached the next corner and low and behold the car was being held up by another cyclist!!

This cyclist must have been scared out of their witts!! (and no, I am not poking fun because I was and still am one of them) so they were on their brakes and descending in the middle of the lane. Poor guy! For onces the smell of burnt rubber was not coming from my brakes!

So, rather than going into "Bike Rage" mode I giggled to myself. It's not everyday that I can say I am not the slowest descender on a bike AND I was faster than a car! LOL