20mph is a petty fast pace on a bicycle, pudgy as described e was running at close to maximum effort. He may have been pushing for a personal best on that stretch, was on a roll and didn’t want to interrupt that by stopping to put on his lights. It might be he actually lives right by you and was almost home but had to make these crazy detours on account of some crazy pickup truck driver following him.

At 20mph ya don’t got much time to avoid potholes, especially in bad light, likely he was in the middle of the lane because he couldn’t see well enough to ride close to the side of the lane.

Not saying he was right.

"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744