Saved by the Lycra

What I witnessed this afternoon was the most inappropriate piece of driving I've ever seen. And I'm no spring chicken! I can't imagine what was so important for someone to feel that they had the right to drive so fast and so selfishly around narrow Cornish lanes. It was the action of an inexperienced and immature driver completely lacking judgement. The fact that he and I are still here, came down to luck, not his skill.

This afternoon I went for a bike ride. Thought I'd go for a quick blast while I had the chance. I turned out of our road heading past Carruan Farm on my left. As I approached the final bend before heading along the straight towards the turning for New Polzeath, this car came around the corner. And it was shifting. Shifting so fast that the back wheels were struggling to grip the road and only inches from the hedge. It was in effect traveling sideways, it's headlamps pointed in my direction. Yeah it was a bit scary. I could tell from the drivers reaction that he too was concerned. He was out of control and out of his mind. What was he thinking?

Mad? I was furious! But I knew who he was. I'd seen the same driver with most of his wheels off the ground traveling at ridiculous speed over the brow of a hill, just outside Wadebridge. My ride was over. I headed back to the beach where I knew he worked. A female police officer happened to be there, so I took up my complaint with her. Still dressed in lycra, confrontation didn't seem like the most sensible thing for me to get into. If I'd have been normally attired, I may well have boffed him one on the nose (something I've never done before). If the police officer had witnessed what I had just seen, he would have lost his licence, no question. I cycled home, got changed, calmed down and drove back to the beach, where he still was.

We had a chat, and to be fair he apologised. He knew he'd done wrong. He's not a bad lad, just a young boy lacking experience. He thinks he's invincible. But he's not. There have been plenty of fatal car crashes in this area. We don't want another one.

We've all been there - that taste of freedom and independence. We've all gone too fast. I know I did. But this was rally driving on a minor road. So this is his wake up call. Had there been walkers on that side of the road, as there sometimes are, he'd have got them all. Had he slid one more inch and clipped the bank, neither he nor I would be here this evening. How we chooses to drive from now on will say a lot about his character. Let's hope for mine, yours, you kids and his sake, he considers his actions and slows down.

His friends will probably find this all very funny and heroic. The people that really care about him, will take him to one side and I'm sure will have a little word in his ear.

Update: In recounting my story this morning I hear from others that he likes to time his runs! Around small Cornish roads? See how quick he can get from A to B. I'm going to report him this morning to the police. Hopefully a considerable hike in insurance premiums will focus his mind and with a bit of luck get him taken off the road. That would be the best scenario for all concerned.