What did you do for lunch today?

Did you know it’s Bike Week this week? I only found out yesterday during a chance conversation in the changing room, and that one of the guys here had organised a ride out today to ‘celebrate’. 4 of us duly turned out, including Chairman Ed of RAF Cycling! It was promoted as a 14.5 mile ride at a reasonable pace. It quickly became apparent that one of the riders was struggling to ride at the pace of the other 3 so we kept a lid on the pace, although I did launch one attack up the only hill on the route and managed to stay within a few metres of Ed at the top. At the end of the first lap 2 of the guys peeled off and Ed and I launched into a 2nd lap. This was more like it! Although it was windy (the usual perpetual headwind, regardless of what direction you’re travelling in) we maintained a reasonable pace. Coming back along the seafront I kept it 25mph despite the wind and was ‘surprised’ when Ed came passed me at about 27mph. I grabbed his wheel and he ramped it up to 30mph. A little further on, a set of traffic lights and a roundabout later and we entered the last half mile at about 25mph. I eased past and took it up to 30mph working on the assumption that if he could overtake me then ‘Good Luck’. He didn’t and I felt good, but when I looked back he was sat up, smiling, spinning easily! So, 80 minutes and about 29 miles completed with the 2nd lap about 6 minutes faster than the 1st!

Now that’s how lunchtimes should be!