Great rides last week.  Longest one was to Magnolia a total of 35 miles.   Since this is the season for farmers bringing their crops to market the route I take was inundated with more traffic than normal.  The biggest obstacle for me are the tankers, grain haulers and other semis.  Normally I can count on 13-14 semis passing me. During my ride last week there were 30,,,of those monsters.  As stated in the past, route 89 north has a minimum amount of shoulder so when approaching vehicles get near, I ride as near to the white line as safety allows. Of the thirty truck 28 passed showing a vast amount of respect. With no vehicles coming in the opposite direction the respectful 28 would change lanes and give me plenty of room.  Yet there are always some idiots that have some kind of dislike for bikers.  The first was a tanker. While passing it came within a foot as it rolled by and produced a long, loud blast from its horn.  I figure the only reason for doing that is to do personal bodily harm to me.  A startled cyclist, or a startled anyone,  will react in a manner that is reactive and defensive.  These actions often result in crashes and injuries.  I witnessed it many time on my various rides.  Fortunately for me neither of these occurred but I was not very happy someone would try to do that. 

The second episode was far more dangerous.  In previous posts I mention a maneuver I call a doubler.  I can ride for miles and miles and not encounter any traffic.  Yet, more often that I care to remember, a vehicle will be coming in my direction on the opposite side of the road.  Not normally a problem but for some odd reason a vehicle will be approaching from the rear.  And, both will pass at exactly the same time as they are passing me.  Very odd indeed.  Thus a doubler as I'm being double passed.  On this particular ride a semi was approaching from the front and low and behold another semi was closing from behind.  Normally the one from behind will slow, put on their flashers and wait until the oncoming truck passes.  Well, this jerk didn't.  And as it passed, the other  oncoming semi passed at the same time.  Less that six inches was the space between me and a multi-ton truck moving at at least 55 mph. I gripped my handlebars tightly, looked straight ahead and held on for dear life.  Unfortunately my bike camera was not on so I could record this near catastrophy.and I certainly dodged a bullet.  But all in all a great week for riding a bicycle across central Illinois.  Still looking for proper conditions to do my first century.  Later