Had an encounter that was at first very aggravating but in the end was kind of funny. I didn't get out of the office until after 7, well after downtown empties of state workers. So I took 15th Street, a street I'd never take during rush hour. It's a one-way, three-lane thoroughfare and it dumps on to the crosstown freeway on-ramp. But traffic was light and it's the most direct route home and so I thought I'd just take it.

I was tooling along at about 15mph, taking the center of the right lane, and having no problems since there were few cars and it was easy for people to move into the center or left lane. Then, this guy in a crappy pickup pulls up, swerves at me, and yells "Get the f--- off the road!"

I said, "Why don't you pull over to the curb and we'll discuss this?"

He said, "F--- you!," and drove ahead. Right to the red light, which I knew to be a particularly long red light. And I'm pissed, so I put it in the big ring and hammer to catch up. When I get within a 100 feet or so, I yell "Hey! I want to talk to you!"

I could see him look in the rearview and his eyes got really big and he jumped the red light and darted across 3 lanes to get on the freeway on-ramp. I just had to laugh.

I was riding a road bike with a backpack and a dorky Giro helmet. I'm wearing dresspants with a reflective cuffbands. And a buttondown shirt and loosened tie. Not exactly the messenger/crazed anarchist vibe.

So, I ended a long workday with a laugh and an unscheduled interval workout.