Harry Potter sat in his room at Hogwarts surfing the internet on his iPad. Ron Weasley was lying on the bed gazing at the mirror on the ceiling while Hermione was sitting on the rug scrolling through her Garmin. ‘Have you heard of Wiggle?’ Harry said. ‘Professor Snape had one,’ said Hermione. ‘It’s a magic … Continue reading Harry Potter and the Order from Wiggle

‘So how d’you get on?’ ‘It was rubbish, a long 1.’ ‘Oh tough. What was the course?’ ‘The G17/29.’ ‘What? With all the roundabouts?’ ‘That’s the one.’ ‘So who won?’ ‘I’m not sure. I think it was old Charlie Starkweather with a short 53. But I didn’t hang around, it was cold.’ ‘Who was organising? … Continue reading Cyclist Conversations

Nick took his bike down from the rack and wheeled it out of the shed. He had many bikes but this was his favourite. It was a good bicycle, one of the best. He loved the clean lines, the pale blue colour, the shiny components. Nick was old and tired. His hair growing thin, his … Continue reading The Old Man and the Seat

Far beyond the evening's early glow and the late commuter traffic is damping down, there is a cool breeze as I glide down the hill to Corkscrew. I see Mike mad miling from Selsdon past the dog walkers and ipod runners as he eases past the roundabout changing down for the early rise to Layhams. … Continue reading Ultegrysses

Films about sports are seldom successful; actors aren’t great sports people and sports people don’t make great actors. ‘Escape to Victory’ was a film set in a prisoner of war camp where the inmates started a football team; I seem to remember Bobby Moore and Pele were in it (they couldn’t act) and also Michael … Continue reading A Farewell to Armstrong

Jeff turned left and soon the road started rising. It had been warm, almost hot in the valley with the strong sun and little cloud but as he climbed higher the sun slipped behind the trees and the temperature fell. Jeff didn’t mind; he wore a base layer beneath his top and the exertion of … Continue reading Tangfastic

'I never knew the old Vienna before the war with its Strauss music, its glamour and easy charm.' Graham Greene - The Third Man.

Before the coming of Starbucks, coffee was sold in cafes (greasy spoons) or in tea shops where it was tolerated but not encouraged. Starbucks’ greatest trick was to get people to believe that paying £3 for a cup of coffee with a silly name in a ‘coffee shop’ was better than paying £1 in a … Continue reading Sportives – toll roads for cyclists

A week in Mallorca Day One December was cold with gusts of snow and biting winds and even though I got out on my bike I needed some warmth. Steve and Sally, Mig and Father Jack had all been to Mallorca and recommended it and the Sky team and others used it as a training … Continue reading A week in Mallorca

Try everything once, said Lord Beeching, except incest and folk dancing. To which I would add – the Roubaix sportive. It was cold and drizzling as the Old Ports headed out of our hotel in Tourcoing to the Roubaix Velodrome and the start point. Once there we delayed as first one, then another Old Port … Continue reading Roubaix Sportive