I've also done the Half Vättern, Swedens 2nd largest lake and for obvious reasons this ride doesn't go halfway around the lake at all, but is close by.
All this aside, there's been one very, very disturbing fact about most of my training rides this last month.
In each and everyone I've been forced to take extremely evasive action in order to not get hit by cars.
I believe a cyclist is safer on the road than on the cycling path. The reason I believe this is because motorists don't care when they turn if you're there or not. Well, they probably would if they knew you were there, but that's the problem, they don't seem to see cyclists at all.
On the road 3 weeks ago I had to hit the breaks so hard that both wheels skidded and the bike started to turn sideways. The ensuing argument contained expletives from myself and oddly enough the passengers who said my place was on the bike path (as though that very point itself warrented them trying to kill me)
The driver though was very appologetic which I was very greatful for.
Since then I've ridden that particular road on the bike path. And in 7 outings I've had to take action so as not to get crushed about 20 times. On one ride, 5 roads in succession saw motorists bombing carelessly out infront of me and then giving me that silly smile of "sorry didn't see you" before heading off.
I'm worried, very worried, for the first time in 40 years on a bike I don't feel safe. After years of riding in London; Camden town to Euston Road, to Edgware Road to Ealing, here in Norrköping I don't feel safe.
It's because I feel that drivers are actually out to get me. You reader may laugh, but on more than one occassion a motorist has accelerated just to stop in the middle of a zebra crossing and wag their finger at me to make the point that he (Yes, always a male) doesn't have to stop for a cyclist, just a pedestrian!
I have a very spooky feeling that soon I will get hit, and hit hard .... *gulp*
It's not a nice feeling at all ...
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