Too Close for Comfort

On my cycle to work yesterday I was delighted the sun was shining and there wasn't a puddle in sight. A stark contrast to my previous commutes which usually ensured I was soaking wet. I was quite chuffed with myself happily cycling to work at 8am in the morning (it's like I don't know myself any more!) trying to ignore the lorries and buses whizzing by within an inch of my handle bars. Then my delight was cut short as I lost control on my bike due to a lorry getting far too close for comfort. He didn't knock me thank goodness, but the sheer shock of how close he came made me panic and as a result I came off my bike. Again thankfully I wasn't left sprawled across the road. There was an empty bus bay to my left so I kind of threw my bike into it whilst trying to jump off at the same time. 


No harm done in the end. I was just a little shaken but I managed to cycle the rest of the way to work. It was the first time I'd fallen off my bike and was hoping I never was, it does knock your confidence a bit. What makes me angry is how invisible I feel as a cyclist. Other motorists just don't care (well I would say 90% of them anyway) and would quite happily drive straight through you.


I have decided, for my own safety, to give cycling to work a miss for a while. My route is a busy one popular with lorries and the thought of coming off again at rush hour, but next time not being so lucky and ending up in the middle of a road just doesn't seem worth it. I'll keep training but cycle after the traffic has died down and chose quieter roads.


Ending on a good note I have nearly raised £1,000 for WaterAid so far. Thank you to all of you who have sponsored me, I really do appreciate it. It makes all this drama worth while knowing that people will gain access to clean, safe drinking water due to the generosity of my supporters.