(<~~~Over 30< barely > and already KNEW what that meant)

I CAN'T BELIEVE I TOOK THE WEEKEND OFF!

THIS IS HILARIOUS!

Euson~~~  That intersection @ HP Creek and Battleground along with the "regulars" are well known to all. I too make allowances for blue hairs and folks with Virginia Tags, and occasionally a trucker cause I figure they are out to make a living, they MIGHT be lost, and they are LOTS bigger than me!

 Let me tell you a little about that strategy that you have been describing... It is called the SLINGSHOT method.  The "regulars" wait for a "choker" like you to get stuck at the light and they maintain a steady speed from Auto Zone, never actually having to stop at the light and then before you know it, the light has turned green and having the advantage of already being in motion, they have gunned it and shot past you before you know it.....

Now, since you are my friend, I will tell you how to alleviate this slingshot problem (from the left lane perspective) in the future. Starting just before Auto Zone, you notice a "regular" beside you or just behind you.  You check to be sure the suspected "regular" is far enough back to be out of harm's way, and then you throw in an occasional regimented swerve, like you might be considering changing lanes (not enough to warrant a DWI, but enough to make that driver a little leery of what your intentions might be....twice will be sufficient.

THEN, you continue to ride the white line AS IF you are going to change lanes at any moment. There is no need to cross over into their lane, that would be dangerous, and you have no intention of doing so, however, they don't know that!  It is psychological warfare, but hey....you can go as slow as you like and it works every time!!

It is very rare, but I have been known to start out at BiLo in that right lane thinking I would have plenty of time to get past the 20 or so "chokers" in the left lane before reaching the light in question.  If by chance I am caught in that right lane, I am not proud to say this, but I have turned right just to save face. Say if I am inadvertently trying the slingshot method and that choker in the left lane pulls out power from heavens knows where, I will put on my turn signal as if to say, "Ha Ha, I was turning all along"..... Then I'll just turn around at the store and catch the light on the way back out.  The choker and anyone else who saw me turn are already home at their computers by then, so no one is the wiser! That's probably what that chick did to you today, so YOU WON!

And I am surprised at you people for not having more patience with our dear biker friends!  I find it particularly useful if they travel in PACKS rather than the more logical single file line (Especially on Lake Brandt Rd.)... See, if they are in PACKS, you can't possibly get past them, BUT you can run more of them over at one time!!

(OK, I was so TOTALLY Kidding! After the Dead Deer Parts episode, I am wary of what I say in public!)

Don't worry Steve, I ALWAYS wear my helmet when I go out Road Raging!!

Oh, and bama..... I SAW those colors!