close encounter of the road kind

As I commuted to work this past Monday it seemed no different to any other Monday.

That was until I had a Close Encounter.

I thought I'd just about seen it all. I was crusing downhill past Latrobe University at a comfortable 40kph. Approaching the cemetery, a small car hurtled past, indicated to turn left as it came barely got past my front wheel, then yanked on the anchors so hard that the tyres squeeled and smoked as the car turned HARD left, nearly tipping and barely making the turn nearly clipping the iron gates at the entrance.

Naturally to avoid contact I'd had to perform a similiarly short stop and hard turn.

I immediately thought I must have annoyed the driver somewhere back down the road. Why else would you perform such a mad manouvre?

Usually I'd let it slide, and continue with my commute. Confrontation gets you nowhere. I was more curious than anything so I approached the driver and asked why he'd turned so erraticly without giving way to me. An older man in his late 70's of european descent, he apologised saying 'Sorry. Sorry. I didn't see you'. He looked like he was squinting as his face turned into the morning sun. Close inspection revealed he only had one eye. The other lid appeared to be stitched shut.

Yes. He honestly did not see me - he only had ONE EYE!

My only other question was why he was in such a rush to get to the cemetery.

Pop it up!

Young Dave has been on the road in Melbourne for as long as I can remember. Young Dave is poetry in motion when it comes to wheelies. Wait for the splitting trams shot!

We crossed paths.

On gertrude st.

Slowly unfurl

Radiohead is not everyone's cup of tea. For those who like drink 'radiohead'...

Infected / Readers Rides

The Big Bag Wolfe loaned me a Cinelli Steel Track stem to complete a piece for the latest Retro Review I did in RIDE magazine on The Gaz's Columbus Max track bike that he won Sprint/Keirin World Titles on.

Over coffee we got talking of current projects, a Cinelli BMX which we both had watched on ebay came about. The Wolfe had won the auction and had the restoration in full swing - a 2 step approach. Restore now for his son to ride (World's Coolest Dad?) and then restore later to hang. For stage two the original NISI tubulars and other assorted goodies lay waiting. I suggested perhaps a custom BUSYMAN BICYCLES top tube pad.

Step 1 with Cinelli stem, saddle, post and Gold Anodised Campagnolo Strada BMX cranks and pedals Complete!