I can't really put my finger on it, but the roads felt.... 'unfriendly' this morning.
I saw Min this morning which always brightens things (if I'd seen Kirst on the Innocent as well then the unfriendliness may have been balanced out altogether), but this was just as I was catching a chap going up to the tunnel. He'd been tanking along the flat in a big gear, leaving me behind, but he kept the same big gear going uphill (yes, he did have gears) and slowed down dramatically. I'm not sure if he didn't like me going past, but he caught up later as I was stopped at lights, then I could feel his frustration behind as I fell in behind a slightly slower cyclist on the cycle lane through Melville Drive.
I don't like squeezing between cyclist and cars, so waited for a gap in the cars to pop into trafic overtake, and consequently get past the person in front. No such qualms for Mr Frustrated (who on the Innocent had passed a few peds quite closely with cyclists coming the other way...), but I was still ahead of him even after his squeezing.
Then down Lothian Road I keep fairly left because I turn left at the Western Approach. Not too far left however, otherwise you end up behind the taxi queue, or in its door zone. Unfortunately many many cyclists who are going straight on not only also stay left (to filter) but further left than me, despite the fact I'm turning off. I'd been checking round myself all the way down because there were a lot of cyclists, but even so I think someone managed to sneak up on my left into the metre or so gap I was leaving for the upcoming left-side stopped traffic. Pretty certain I didn't cut her up as she at least looked like she was also paying attention (then got trapped in the traffic as I cut round a taxi - able to do so due to my specific road positioning). Tellingly of about 8 cyclists around me, with around 6 of them further left, only one more turned left down the Western Approach with me.
And that was just the other cyclists. The drivers.... Ooh, there was a frustration in the air. Nothing dangerous, not even anything mildly stupid, but there was just a feeling I didn't like. Hoping the commute home is more relaxed!
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