What gives today???Tri group ride Tuesday night in Arlington, VA and my ride home.

This evening I left work around 6:40pm. One of my co-worker said watch out for the weirdos out there. I chuckled and said I would. After only going two blocks away, I had guy who decided to walk in the middle of the road not watching where he was going, I had to brake and swerve at the last second. Then a car behind me decides to tail me very closely. What's the deal tonight?

Ahead I saw a bunch of riders in a group. I was pretty amazed and joined up with the bunch of riders going out towards Military Road. This was a pretty decent size group. First of all I was amazed that they got an Arlington police officer directing traffic to allow them to cross Washington Blvd at North Quincy Street. Nice....As I approached the back of the pack, I noticed a few with tri-bars. Then more and more. I noticed a few local racing jerseys and noticed many were wearing DC Tri Club jerseys. They were all having a very social ride chatting. I started riding past many of them on the road and all of a sudden someone swerves almost taking me out. I swerved over the yellow line, luckily no cars were coming. A block later another guy swerves as well and almost takes out another rider. Then another guy breaks wide and almost takes me out. What the hell? I have nothing against Triathletes, however these guys definitely couldn't ride smoothly in a pack. There are a few Triathletes who I have ridden with and I definitely trust, Mayor Adrian Fenty is one of them. A guy who rides the "goon" ride, well he was very dangerous in the beginning a few years ago, crashing on a curve. I think that taught him. He's a very strong rider, however I still don't totally trust his handling. I don't know what it is however Tri riders don't ride the same way as road racers. When a road racer decides to make a move towards the side, I usually can anticipate it. When the tri guy does it, it seems unexpected. I don't know why it's different. It could be that the road guy has more acceleration where the tri guy just goes sideways or backwards, I don't know. However, one thing it does teach me is to stay away from those tri guys.
Well, on I go, making the turn on to Military Road and I lose them from my sight when I look back. I'm cruising down the 2nd hill on Military going about 40 miles an hour, two girls are starting to walk across the road, I yell out to them. One girl stops, the other continues to dance across, I slammed on the brakes narrowly missing her as she is looking she's doing jumping jacks. Fricken weirdo! I could have made some major damage here going that speed, luckily, I didn't have an accident. I then pass a recreational rider without a helmet and yelled to him to get a helmet. I get to where Military merges with North Glebe Road and I merge on going with some good speed downhill. The car on North Glebe Road who was behind me gains on me and then follow me too close for comfort especially with the off camber turns. I just keep my pace and make sure I keep the rubber in contact with the road. Luckily, the lady driver gets caught at the light before Chain Bridge. I follow an SUV over the bridge then down to the left turn at Arizona Avenue. The light is green and the SUV doesn't turn. (It's the only way to go as Clara Barton Parkway is one way North, South of Arizona Ave. The light turns Red. Then it goes green. The driver still stays there and cars behind me are honking, (I noticed that the driver plates are from Florida), that must be the answer. Finally, they turn, and I of course can't seem to clip into my pedals. I finally get them on and cruise up the street and into the neighborhood street. The a guy who is walking his dog in the middle of the street decides to let his dog move into the intersection and doesn't tighten or retract the 25 foot leash. I slow down thinking the dog's going to run across. The guy not only doesn't stop and pull back he continues to walk. Luckily the dog had more intelligence than his owner and stops. I ride by. I did ride by a few riders today without helmets and pointed at my helmet and yelled out, where's your helmet? Wear a helmet it will protect you.
I'm riding up Del Carlia Parkway, the cars were zooming by without giving me much clearance. WTF? There are two lanes and they need to pass me in my lane? Now, Westmoreland Circle, the drivers are looking at me on Mass Ave. however one was still moving forward, I thought he might just run into me. He finally stopped and I shook my head as I have the right of way, but I'm just a cyclist and he's got a car.
Now on Western Avenue, I have this FedEx driver who seems to be in a rush. He accelerates hard at every light, I'm going pretty hard, he gets blocked in behind a car turning left, then passes me a few blocks later. I catch up as he's caught in slow traffic, my lane is clear and I keep thinking that he's going to move into my lane and take me out as he probably can't see me in his mirror I am almost up to his sliding door. Luckily he saw me from before and never came into my lane. I finally get home safely. Wow.. it was one of these crazy nights! I've never seen it as dangerous as tonight. Was it a full moon? What was the deal tonight????

Well tomorrow, I'll be driving in. Of course, I'll try to drive from Arlington to Greenbelt, hopefully the traffic will be light in the evening so I can make the race in time.