way to go Nashville...you're the WINNER

So on another in a series of miserably hot days, we rode into the outskirts and around the edge of Nashville to Mt. Juliet Tennessee. I am very familiar with the Nashville area and have traveled there many times. Even while driving in a car I felt bullied and threatened by local motorist there. So...imagine my horror when I realized that we would be biking on one of the most busy, dangerous and life threatening roads in the Nashville metro area...Old Hickory Blvd. I would imagine that "Old Hickory" himself, Andrew Jackson, that slave owning, indian removing tough guy, would have been scared stiff to ride on this road named in his honor. I have ridden across the US on my bike...I have biked in 13 states and close to 5000 miles and this was the worst ride I have ever experienced. I have never been just just absolutely terrified to the point of holding my breath on my bike....but I was this day. I had so many close calls in a short 10 mile stretch that I considered getting on the sidewalk and walking. As a matter of fact, that is EXACTLY what one very foul mouthed "motor"cyclist yelled at my wife. There was no bike lane at all...not a surprise. We rode practically in the gutter which was a HUGE risk as there was a lip between it and the pavement. We were literally within 1-2 inches from the curbs edge of the sidewalk and we were STILL being almost brushed by passing motorists. Two of the cyclists actually witnessed a hit and run right in front of their bikes as a car rudely and impatiently swerved around them and cut back in clipping the car right directly before them. I really do not know if motorist who do not bike know how unnerving and dangerous it is to pass by so close and so fast. I do not get this arrogance and sense of entitlement that makes people feel like I am in their way and do not deserve to be on the road. Nashville is not...I repeat, NOT a bike friendly city and I really hope I never have to ride there on the streets again, I would rather go 30 miles out of my way to avoid it entirely. I just don't get this "us vs. them" mentality that continues to exsist between car drivers and bicyclist. The team experienced more rudeness in one day than on the entire two week ride to date. We had, up to this point, been receiving a lot of grace from most passing motorists as they tried to slow down...swing out...smile...wave and give us a few "thumbs-up"...but on a hot steamy Friday coming down Old Hickory on bikes, both patience and grace was in very short supply...but that's ok...I would imagine that's how it is everyday and everywhere there in Nashville. I am certain that you all made a real big impression on our team...we just want to say a big THANK YOU for not killing us...