My commute started out innocently enough this morning -- it was cold (in the thirties) and I was enjoying the brisk air. I got a little past my half way point and heard some idiot honking behind me. I was in the right third of the right hand lane going at a decent clip -- there was an empty passing lane to my left as well. As it turns out, the honking idiot was driving a monster of a cement truck, and he came within an inch or two of me , almost knocking me off my bike, but thankfully I was going fast enough that gyroscopic forces prevented that.

At the next red light I came up beside him and asked, rather emphatically, what that was about. He then informed me that I should not be on the road -- to which I countered the DC code does not allow me on the sidewalks, and I am afforded the same rights and responsibilities that any other vehicle has on the roads. The guy was just smiling about the fact that he almost killed me. I got his plate number and employer and I think I'll give them a call this afternoon. Although, it probably won't do any good.

It never ceases to amaze me how people think that a perceived 5 seconds faster commute is worth endangering a bicyclist's life. And, point of fact, because it was in the city, I passed the guy again and again -- he saved no time being a reckless buffoon.

On the upside, I think I've proven to myself that I can stick it out for the winter (it doesn't get that much colder here). AND ... I stepped on the scales this morning after my commute and am down 8 lbs since I started a little over 2 months ago (and 18 from my peak weight). With the exception of almost getting hit, life is good, and I'm feeling better than I have in a long time.