Yard Sale on White Rock Acres

[lizardbiker]

Ok - so today was my day to work on climbs before heading off to a picnic and then doing some yard work. :) My plan was to get to my favorite close climb, White Rock Acres, and just go up it as many times as I could before I had to go home and get cleaned up. As I got there, postings were on every vertical surface for a neighborhood yard sale. As I'm climbing, there are yard sales left and right, with cars and pedestrians swarming the roads, oblivious to their surroundings, mesmerized by the treasures sprawled out on every yard as far as the eyes could see. Not bad going up, but on the descent it got a little more precarious as I reached speeds in excess of 40mph. I even slowed down in congested areas. Anyway, a biga$$ SUV pulled in front of me cutting me off and nearly wiped me out. :mad: I handled that ok... and we started to build up speed again. The SUV slowed as it approached another cluster of yard sales and started to pull off the side of the road. I checked the area ahead and started to pass the SUV as it slowed to a stop. Suddenly, the SUV noticed what promised to be an even BETTER yard sale directly across the road. Rather than continuing to come to a complete stop and walking across the road, the driver decided to suddenly whip across the road to park on the other side, just as I was passing. :mad: In spite of my yelling right into the vehicle, he continued coming over, forcing me into the path of other parked cars. Brakes clenched, tires skidding, I ended up in someones yard luckily still upright. Needless to say, things just started coming out of my mouth - I think I used the F word 5 times in one particular sentence 5 different ways. After I spewed obsenities at the driver, I regained my composure, got back on the road and finished my descent without further incident. :redface: At the bottom, I decided it would be best to postpone any further sojourns up White Rock Acres until the yard sale is over.

Guess I can go cut the back yard before the picnic.

[Pink]

Sounds like you've used up one on your lives, Liz. These yard-salers can be vicious. I've seen near riot breakout over some old piece of junk...no time to consider not killing a cyclist.

[NJspin]

Well at least we know that you will not be using those nice 4 letter words during the picnic as you have used your quota for the day.. sorry about the ride Liz... be watchful of that SUV tho.. he might come try and do it again somewhere....
Ok - so today was my day to work on climbs before heading off to a picnic and then doing some yard work. :) .................:mad: Brakes clenched, tires skidding, I ended up in someones yard luckily still upright. Needless to say, things just started coming out of my mouth - I think I used the F word 5 times in one particular sentence 5 different ways. After I spewed obsenities at the driver, I regained my composure, got back on the road and finished my descent without further incident. :redface: .....
Guess I can go cut the back yard before the picnic.

[like2bike]

Wow Craig--that is one serious meat-head driver you encountered. Did he even apologize? Man I am glad you are OK. That could have turned out to be something serious. Just goes to show we must always be on our guards as cyclists. DH says the same thing when he rides his motorcycle. Never assume the car (or SUV) sees you. Always assume they DON'T (because 9 times out of 10, they don't).

Glad you made it through with no injuries. Oh, and doesn't it just feel so GOOD to say the F-word sometimes? I mean, sometimes there just is no better word. Wonder who invented the F word? I have to remember to thank him....

[SpinBob]

Glad you came away unscathed. In spite of the verbal assault, you were incredibly restrained. I probably would have tried to mar the paint job on the SUV.

[cfoam4me]

Craig, I'm glad Lizards have multiple lives. Have a great picnic!

[lizardbiker]

I feel better - confessed to DW about the episode. Although not supportive of the language (even though I clearly explained that I gave the driver the benefit of the doubt that he was just stupid and not malicious so I called him an F'n idiot instead of an F'n A'hole), she was thankful that I (and Cal II) were unharmed. With the ADK540 coming up in a month she still has bad memories of the drunk driver getting pulled over about 2am as I was getting ready to head down the very road the drunk driver was coming from. My guardian angels must get some incredible overtime pay for keeping me safe cuz I've been through enough episodes with nary a scar to brag about. I just gotta get this RAAM qualification and RAAM ride over with while my guardian angels are still on the payroll!!!

[megale3]

I feel better - confessed to DW about the episode. Although not supportive of the language (even though I clearly explained that I gave the driver the benefit of the doubt that he was just stupid and not malicious so I called him an F'n idiot instead of an F'n A'hole), she was thankful that I (and Cal II) were unharmed. With the ADK540 coming up in a month she still has bad memories of the drunk driver getting pulled over about 2am as I was getting ready to head down the very road the drunk driver was coming from. My guardian angels must get some incredible overtime pay for keeping me safe cuz I've been through enough episodes with nary a scar to brag about. I just gotta get this RAAM qualification and RAAM ride over with while my guardian angels are still on the payroll!!!

Did you flat spot a tire on the poor girl?
M

[lizardbiker]

I posted this on "the other site", but wanted to show that the reptiles of the world are "one" with me, this one even willing to give me his last energy to finish strong at the ADK540 last year...

[SpinBob]

Cool photo, but I can't tell where on your bike that is. Is that on your handle bars?

[lizardbiker]

Did you flat spot a tire on the poor girl?
M
Just ran out to check... yep... good thing is I have new tires coming in for that wheel set on Monday (from Portland - Biketiresdirect.com). That would have probably really bummed me if I ruined a new set of Krylion Carbons for a friggin yard sale junkie!

[Pink]

I feel better - confessed to DW about the episode. Although not supportive of the language (even though I clearly explained that I gave the driver the benefit of the doubt that he was just stupid and not malicious so I called him an F'n idiot instead of an F'n A'hole), she was thankful that I (and Cal II) were unharmed. With the ADK540 coming up in a month she still has bad memories of the drunk driver getting pulled over about 2am as I was getting ready to head down the very road the drunk driver was coming from. My guardian angels must get some incredible overtime pay for keeping me safe cuz I've been through enough episodes with nary a scar to brag about. I just gotta get this RAAM qualification and RAAM ride over with while my guardian angels are still on the payroll!!!

So what's the going rate for guardian angels these days?

[cfoam4me]

A listening ear would be my guess...

[like2bike]

So what's the going rate for guardian angels these days?

47 Million for 3 years of guardianship. :cool:

[lizardbiker]

So what's the going rate for guardian angels these days?

Just a sincere thank you to the Big Guy for assigning them to you :)

[jsejt]

Just a sincere thank you to the Big Guy for assigning them to you :)

Whoa~scary! The Big Guy was definately looking out for you! :)

[lizardbiker]

Whoa~scary! The Big Guy was definately looking out for you! :)
I've had many instances through the years that I'm very thankful for - like the 45mph double blowout on my Memorial Day 1000km ride. Nailed a pothole on a nice long mountain descent heading towards Binghamton, NY at dusk. Both tires went, but again, Cal II & I were able to come to a safe controlled stop with the correct orientation with respect to vertical.
The White Rock Acres event however was the first incidence involving a vehicle in a looooong time.