Friday I had an encounter with a salmon on my ride to work. He was riding in the gutter toward me; I was in the right tire track. Just before coming up to me he moved away from the gutter and rode toward the left side of the lane I was in. It kind of startled me so I shouted, "You should be on the other side." He replied agrily, "I'm on THIS side!"

I was riding a little later than normal so I kind of blew it off.

This morning, though, I was also running a little late and encountered him again, at almost the same spot. I didn't say anything but I must have rolled my eyes because as he went by he flashed the finger at me.

What a loser.

So now... if I see him again, do I:

- Smile sweetly, wave, and say good morning?
- Tell him he's a big boy and to stop riding like a 6-year-old?
- Tell him to read the transporation code?
- Flash him the finger back?

I'm leaning toward the first. I find that the best way to de-escalate is to be the one that blinks. What do I care if he "wins"? Basically, if he's made the conscious decision to ride on the wrong side of the road and feels he is in the right, so I'm not gonna change his mind in several 5 second encounters.