Not to take away from your feeling of violation, but it's a daily thing. Isn't it odd how, at least when you live in a big city (mileage may vary) that there isn't a ride that doesn't involve a near-miss or more? I get feelings of road rage when ****e like that happens and the driver always gets the evil eye and I purposely slow down (when possible) and ride in front of them.

The oddest call I ever had was a while ago when I was riding on the side past Harold Washington Library here in Chicago going down Congress, which is a large entry point onto the expressway.

Next thing I knew, my entire left side of my body made contact with something -- I turned and there was a van who had tried to obviously either squeeze past me or something and now we were tied at the hip so to speak. I slowed down, yelled a "What the f@#k?!" but was mostly shocked than anything else that he didn't notice even.

But that's the thing with riding the streets, being courteous and whatnot doesn't work, on most days I act like a car, and know I own the road, as much as anyone else does. When it comes down to it on the road it's me first, everyone else later.

I will now call upon the title of an Iron Maiden song, "Be Quick or Be Dead."