Riding through the Meadows east to west I slow down behind an older lady as we approach the junction with Marchmont Road. There is stationary traffic to our right and no space there in the cycle lane to overtake, so I might as well take it easy. There's a gap that has been left by the stationary traffic for cars to turn right into Marchmont Road, and she stops as a BMW starts to turn. All very nice. The BMW stops, the driver waves her past, she insists that he goes first. Then a chap appears behind me and goes round us both, with the nugget of wisdom, "Why are ye stoppin' for him?"
As we set off again I mention to the lady cyclist that 'some people just don't like being polite' and we have a brief conversation about how she wanted to let out the van that was coming OUT of Marchmont Road as she knows traffic can wait there an age and she finds it hard work on the bike let alone in the car.
At this point I'm behind her so she can't see me, but there's a break with the traffic positioned further right, so I pass as she says "sorry, you probably want to go quicker." I assure her that it was no problem, and then hear a shout from her of, "And where's your helmet?", I respond that we're not going to get into that argument (all with a smile that she returns).
She catches as we approach the lights at Tollcross (which are red, so I'd been slowing down - save my commuter racing pride with that info) and she draws alongside telling me there is no debate, and she lives with a brain damaged husband after he fell from a bike. But what followed was a remarkably good-natured discussion where we agreed that informed choice was really the nub, and her information naturally and correctly comes from the experience of her husband, while mine comes from things I've read, and both are utterly legitimate.
We part with me saying that sod's law dictates I fall off and land on my head now, to which she replies "oh I hope not!" and that's it, we go our separate ways, after a really pleasant conversation on somethng that usually ends up in people clashing horribly.
Made for a nice morning. Before I had to sit at my desk.
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