September ride
I took part in the York ride on 7th September and was involved in an argy bargy. A car driver got rather upset at being behind a group of cyclists and overtook, mounting the pavement on the opposite side of the road to get past, and sped to the traffic lights at Clifton Green, where the car stopped partly in the green cycle box, and we cyclists surrounded it, including me with my trailer infront of it. One of us had a conversation with the driver and he said he'd run over anyone who got in his way, and threw something at this person. Someone else berated him for being in the cycle box and this wound him up further. The lights changed and the cyclists in front started to go forward, he revved up and charged at us, hitting my trailer and tipping it over, spilling it's contents of some recyclable copper pipe I'd found in a skip, and bending some struts on it a bit more than they were. I got the reg, and wrote it down. I wasn't hurt, and I should think that his vehicle would have had some scratches. A witness came out of a nearby house and gave me his name and contact number. I rang the police today, saying I wanted to report him but not make a claim, as I don't want him knowing who I am, he was far too violent!
The moral is to give aggressive wankers a bit more of a wide berth, don't push them too far. Our lives and machines are too precious to be sacrificed for making a point! I've learned something anyway.
It was, apart from that, an excellent ride, and we had a good meeting afterwards in the Ackhorne. Cheers for the perry, Rich. Good to meet Dave, Sarah and a couple of other newbies, plus 'old hands', you know who you are!
John Cossham (not in 1970!!!)
Best moment...
Just to balance this out, and to make the point that, while it can get a bit hairy, CM is really a lot of fun after all, I thought I'd share the moment when we decided not to head along Leeman Road to get into town, but instead, take a ride along the river side... As we headed down by St Barnabas Church and onto the flood plains, we spread out, and rode in crazy random patterns, with a couple of riders going nearly 50 meters wide of the riders who stayed on the cycle path by the wall. Was that the widest mass ever, I wonder? Then we all merged back in, rode past the rowing club, and began to rejoin the world of traffic.
Also, Bradford held a Critical Mass ride on the Saturday. Bit over-organised, but you have to be in Bradford. They're currently doing 2nd Saturday, might become 2nd Friday if numbers permit, but it takes more people to be safe when riding around a city who's council takes pride in 3 lane urban race-ways and who's average driving competence is half that of York's. One guy even got out of his car to confront a cyclist, thankfully didn't come to blows. Anyhow, Saturday 13th October, Centenary Square, 5.30 for 6pm (right near Interchange; 16.13 Blackpool train goes direct, 16.28 Manc Airport/change at Leeds, no bike bookings needed!).
there's always one
...but you don't let these people stop you enjoying the ride.
(in this case he was in a white car, registration GL51 DND - so if you see him, say hi from York Critical Mass!)
Funny thing is that his wife appeared to be phoning the police even as he was threatening to run over cyclists! It looked like she quite sensibly gave up on this tactic as his behaviour got even more unreasonable.
But a great ride on a beautiful evening: some Sinatra in the park, Anarchy on the Nunnery Lane gyratory, excited kids on the Kingsway.