Don't give up the cycling!! And don't give up on the lycra!!

It is legal to have both, and if you enjoy cycling then why give it up? yes there are absolute nutters out there who think of cyclists as moving speed bumps, but like the squeeky wheel, only they get noticed.

Lets be positive and think of all the drivers out there in the cars that didn't turn left once they got beside you, or gave you the fingers, or yelled at you.

It's hard not to flip the bird at the idiots (is it possible to get RSI on middle fingers alone?)but remember that they are a minority.

Ann, I am sorry you had such a bad ride. As for the f* comment, you compete in Iron Man events and are healthier and fitter than 99.99% of the population. The possibility of you actually being overweight with all the training you do is pretty much zero. Next time someone makes a comment like that, trade one f word for another and tell them to go f* themselves.

I had the opposite experience this weekend when my last six months of training paid off and I competed in my first ever event - the Auckland quarter marathon. Completed within my target time (though not within my "dream" target!). Had a fantastic time and feeling like a half marathon might be on the cards over summer, or at least a few more 10ks at a much increased pace.

Anne, you mustn't give up something that obviously means a lot to you because of one bad day. Summer is coming, people's mood and behaviour will improve with the added sunshine and all will be good. p.s. I'm sure you're fit and health and certainly not fat :-)

Should have come up for K2, 184km of traffic bliss in the sun :D

But yeah, sometimes you just have days like that. Don't give up, just think that it should be a long time since you have another one like it.

Oh, and in a single lane situation like that at an intersection, ALWAYS sit in the middle of the road anyway. Safer for everyone, especially for you.

Ann - your problem is where you are biking - get out of the traffic and away from the people and you'll have a much better time, the water front is always nasty, also when do you go out? the earlier the better in my experience!

Your skater altercation reminds me of the skateboarder I saw skating uphill on willis street recently, on the road, holding up cars, and abusing anyone who tooted at him. Maybe it was the same one :)

Is it worth it? Yes! Yes! Yes!

1: I always find after a bit of a layoff on the roadbike that it really takes a few weeks to get back into the groove of things.

2: First incident = stupid knuckle dragger with limited vocabulary. I suggest, by way of retibution, you use your position as a journalist/prominent blogging opinion shaper to ask Michael Laws what he plans to do about the scourge of skateboarding (given other councils anxiously await the outcome of other Whanganui by-laws).

The other incidents sound to me like former cellphone users who are now readjusting to actually focussing on the road and struggling with the other road rules they've previously been ignoring.

3: Done blame the bike for the knuckle-dragger. You might just have well be running, walking or roller blading (ewwww.). The waterfront in carnage regardless of how you get around it.

4: By my count you had three noteworthy incidents, and only two on the road. How many cars passed you without incident?

Stay strong and arrange an interview with Mayor Laws

We can't give up. The only way we can change attitudes is by continuing to ride, and riding our best. If we let fear and frustration get in the way, everyone loses.

I am feeling the same as you after an awful ride round the bays last night.

Started off nearly getting squished between two cars that were blissfully unaware of me. Numerous cars reversing along Oriental Bay meant that I was continually swerving or braking then getting abused and tooted at by a car full of people, for what we have no idea, they hadnt even been near us! Lastly going through the tunnel by the airport an a**hole with a new car came speeding past us at 100+km/hr without even shifting over to the right, nearly knocked me off my bike.

The more I cycle the more I hate drivers, and I am a driver too!

Personally, I just don't think that Oriental Bay etc is fit for cyclists. Especially over summer.

As for the skateboarder, I am pretty sure it is illegal to ride your skateboard around in the CBD, so maybe there are some rules around Oriental Bay too that could be enforced? I know in Upper Hutt if a skateboarder rides in the CBD then they get their board confiscated and a $50 fine.