Not defensive at all, at least in the sense Jim Carroll means it. Certainly defensive in that I have no desire to be killed by a moron who thinks it's funny to drive dangerously close to cyclists or to pretend that it's funny to joke about running them down.

Since you're in Ireland, Jim Carroll, you can listen to George Hook and Pat Kenny foaming at the mouth about cyclists in terms that bring to mind Radio-Television Libre des Mille Collines. Nasty stuff.

I had intended to bring my bike to visit a friend who lives in the Burren, but I'll take your warning and skip the visit, which would have meant spending some money locally, and will warn all my high-spending cyclist buddies to stay clear, and instead cycle the Beara Peninsula, which is said to be beautiful.