A few things I learned on my cycle to Southend
Tim and I cycled 59 miles yesterday as part of the British Heart Foundation's charity ride from London to Southend. We left Victoria Park at 08:00, made it to Southend by 14:30. We were on a train back to London by 15:30pm and by 17:45, we were at the Londsborough (our local pub), celebrating with cold beer.
Here are a few things I learned along the way:
- Contrary to my prior belief, the weather does not improve when one leaves London
- A bicycle ride through the suburbs of London isn't so bad when the route is signed and lined with an eternity of other cyclists to follow
- Anyone with legs and a bike can cycle 59 miles, even people with really heavy mountain bikes, big beer bellies, or painfully squeeky gears
- A beer belly won't stop an Englishman from brandishing flashy, skintight cycle gear
- Tandem bicycles are absurd
- Sunscreen should be worn at all times, even in cloudy England
- A flat tire always occurs at the most inopportune time, such as after the journey, back in London, on the bike ride home from the train station
- My bicycle seat (a Selle Italia XO Genuine Gel Saddle) rocks - 59 miles and no bum-pain. This may have more to do with my rock-hard ass than my bike seat
- 1 pack of pumpernickle bread, 1 handful of walnuts, 1 handful of almonds, 1 block of cheese, 2 apples, 2 bananas, 2 slabs of leftover tofu steak, 1 tomato, and 2 Whole Earth raw food bars are almost sufficient for 2 people's journey, but it doesn't quite cover the insatiable craving for salt on the train ride home
- Really long bike rides make fully-leaded Coca-Cola tie with extra-cold lager for most thirst-quenching beverage EVER (lager wins, I think)
- Southend is a dive
- Leaving London is good for the soul, and I should do it more often, but not to Southend
Oddly, neither Tim nor I are muscularly sore today. I think this has something to do with my pre- and post-ride stretch, 8 solid hours of very sound sleep, ample food for the journey, proper hydration, and post-ride carbo-loading with beer, wine and a generous pile of delicious pasta. Either that, or my rock-hard ass.
Comments
"A beer belly won't stop an Englishman from brandishing flashy, skintight cycle gear".
Ha, spot on. It's every Englishman's right to get a beer belly, and then show it off in the most outrageous way possible!
Posted by: jim | July 17, 2007 11:27 AM