Excellent post Cellar Door.

Urban cycling should be everything that travelling by bus, car or taxi is not. I love the fact that when I pass someone I know I can just stop to chat or wave as the drivers with their Edward Munch faces can only motor on past.

Like you there are now a few miles on the body clock so road rage isn't usually a problem. As a helmetless cyclists sails past me through a red light all dressed in black I may tut tut but anything more is really too much.

I have also learnt something that should really be obvious. If you see an example of bad driving that endangers your life (using a laptop whilst driving down the Old Kent Road springs to mind (I kid you not)) the driver is rarely mature enough to acknowledge their faults. Indeed they may assault you in their rage.

If, however you feel youself being sucked inexorably into the vortex of the dangerous driver's inner scream, my technique is to hum something calming. Current favourites are the theme tune to Local Hero, various tunes from Mary Poppins and "I wanna be like you" from the Jungle Book.