My question is pretty much the same as Veronica's ..... If the road is steep and she was descending was she doing at/near the speed limit? Did you only want to pass here because "I'm in a car and cars go faster than bikes".....

I find that descending I often go as fast or faster than cars *can*, especially on winding roads because I don't have to slow down as much to corner. I also take the lane because it is safer - see Grog's list!

In my view, your cyclist wasn't "hogging" the road - she was using it.... Sometimes it is just better to stay where you are. If someone has to wait a little bit, its not the end of the world...

I go through a section on my way to work that is a two lane road with a wide center barrier. The lane is narrow. Sometimes there is parking on the right, sometimes there is just sidewalk. There are curb bulbs (sidewalk that sticks out beyond the parking) at intersections. In the parking lane (if it is not full of cars) there are several large metal utility covers - one grated, one smooth, both rectangular and about 2'x3' - big). I'm not sure what the exact mileage is, but the whole distance I travel on the road before I turn left takes me 40 sec to a min at the most, depending on how frisky I feel and how much junk I've got on my back that morning.... I'm usually going about 17-20 mph - maybe a little slower near the end as it starts to gradually pitch up a little bit and I am preparing to turn left. The recommended speed is 25 for most of it (yellow signs) the limit is 30. I take the center of the lane. Even if there's a gap between parked cars I don't dive in there to let someone by - one its just safer to keep moving in a straight line, two - there could be something hazardous in there I can't see - like one of those slippery metal plates, three I could end up with not enough time to get back out or stop and crash into a parked car or curb if there's more than a single car behind me. I'm sure some people think I'm "hogging the road" - but guess what - I think my safety is more important that the several seconds they have to wait.... (and remember its not even the 40 secs that they are waiting, because I am moving....)

The cyclist on your road probably has a similarly complex thought out process to why she rides where she does and she doesn't do it to p*ss you off - she does it because it how she feels safest. Remember - unless they are limited access interstate highways... roads aren't just for cars - just because *you* wouldn't feel comfortable riding on a particular road, doesn't mean it's off limits to everyone and no one ever has the obligation to get out of your way if it means compromising their own safety...