A week of firsts (or seconds)

This week has seen a few firsts, or seconds if you count my first cycle of riding all those years ago.

The first - err, first, was my first proper off road ride since I got back in the saddle. I have had a few dalliances with 'off road' - across parks, a few small trails in said parks etc etc - but nothing that would allow me to call my self a mountain biker again.

I had planned to go with a few friends who still have bikes - but as the heavens opened and the rain flowed, throughout the day one by one the number of willing participants declined - and when my brother had to cancel due to an old injury making an improptue re-appearance it was down to just me, myself and I.

I decided to go out anyway - but just be a little less adventurous than I would have been with others there to help if the bike, or myself broke down! This is where the app that I have been using and the gps on my phone are a nice backup. As long as I have some semblance of signal, someone can find out where I am with close enough accuracy, that I know I would not be lost for long if I did not check in at the pre-arranged time - err that I had pre-arranged.

I headed out into the countryside, away from the traffic and up a hill. A hill that, I am totally confident is technically steeper than the last time I went up it on a bike - and possibly even the last time I drove up said remnant of ancient tectonic activity. Still - red faced and gently steaming I reached the summit and turned off the road and into the mud!

I had about and hour and a half of peddling around in the rain soaked wilderness, and it was stunning. The rain caused that beautiful mist like effect through the trees - with the gentle burble of water all around me. It was excellent, and reminded me why I loved biking into the unknown in the first place.

Apart from a few other friendly bikers that I stopped to have a chat with about the best routes in the area I saw no one the whole time I was there. I got back to the road in a soaked and thoroughly mud splattered state with a big smile on my face and a feeling of total relaxation (although still with a gentle steaming look).

It's a shame then, that my second first, happened on the way back from this idilic ride.

Almost as soon as I had got back into the traffic, a guy decided to completely cut me up for no reason.

He overtook me while going round a bend - on a two lane traffic system with no one in the other lane. After a quick swerve curb-ward into the deep water, hidden potholes and floating nicities I had managed to avoid serious implications both vehicular and from the pedestrians scurrying from the elements.

What concerned me more was what happened next! - my first confrontation ... but more of that next time.