My ride didn't turn out to be as triumphant as I had planned.

Apparently an unknown event had just ended as there were hundreds of cars streaming out of the arena. I made an executive decision to change the route on the fly to a different road I usually don't ride. So I got jilted out of my groove by having to ride on some sidewalks and dodge stairs and the like.

In this discombobulated state, I reached this intersection where a police guy was operating the stop light (arena traffic was exiting out on the opposite side of the main road). I sat there for a few seconds, wondering if I should cross the smaller side street or wait for him to change the light. I decided to go. But then, I had trouble clipping in and a car approached and honked at me. I gave up on the pedal and pushed across the rest of the road by foot, arriving right in front of where the police guy was standing.

Again, I waited a few seconds, wondering if I should start up the main road or wait. Again, I decided to go. Only this time I had the added difficulty of having to clip in going uphill. I tried to start out not once, but twice(!) and failed both times. I didn't look at him, but I can just imagine the police guy was either (1) laughing at me, or (2) thinking "what kind of idiot would try riding a bike on this road when he can't even start up the hill."

What a facepalmy episode it was.