My New Toy!

Early mornings at this time of the year are just the best - there is nothing to beat being on the river, paddling under all the bridges whist on top of them the traffic is building up and people are getting frustrated at being delayed.  And meanwhile I'm just gently floating on by....
But now another challenge has been set and I've had to treat myself to a new toy to enable me to take part (well, that's my excuse!  On July 24th a crowd of us are taking part in the Dunwich Dynamo!  Described as "A turn-up-and-go, challenging, slightly-scary, free-entry, overnight- on-tarmac, just under 120 mile bicycle ride to the lovely lonely Suffolk sea at Dunwich".  As usual the friends that are not taking part have told us we are crazy......... and they are possibly right (I will confirm this, if and when I ever return)!
But in preparation I realised my trusty, and rusty, old mountain bike was not going to be fit enough for the job and a road bike was what was needed - I had always wanted one, and now here was my perfect excuse.
So, I picked the brains of my mate Charlie who is experienced in these things and he came up with the perfect bike for me, which I duly then ordered from Evans.  On Friday the call came through that the bike had arrived and was awaiting my inspection.  So off I went to try out my new wheels.  Interesting taking a bike for a test ride when you have no idea what it should feel like.  Even more interesting when you get about a mile away from the shop and realise you have no idea how to change gear!  So there I was in Syon Park flagging down any cyclist who I thought looked like he might know a thing to two about bikes (as it turned out I realised this was  pretty good way of pulling a fit bloke - must mention it to Liz!).  So I was off, at speed, and happy with my choice.  Only other decision was whether to have SPDs fitted - they're the clippy things that stop you getting your feet out quickly, just before you fall over.   Thought I should go for it big time and really look the part, so told them to fit those too and I would pick it up on Monday.
Not quite so confident today - called them early this morning to suggest maybe normal peddles whilst I get used to the bike (I shall probably be falling off enough without the clippy things).  While I was waiting for my bike a young guy was being given instructions on his new purchase - a £2500 full suspension mountain bike.  While this was going on a little old man was waiting to be served, watching in bewilderment.  Finally it was his turn to be served and he asked to see their range of bicycle clips for his trousers!  Isn't life so full of extremes.
On leaving the shop I decided I would head straight for Richmond Park (where all the serious cyclists do their time-trials) and have myself some fun.  What I actually did was scare myself quite considerably - hills that seem perfectly fine in a car suddenly seemed like a skiing black run, with no snow-ploughing allowed!  And although I knew how to change gear I didn't really understand when!
So, having scared myself one final time on the last hill going down to the river to head home, I bump into my neighbour Tim, a keen cyclist with Twickenham Cycling Club.  He is so impressed with the new bike he insists we take it around Richmond Park for a spin - telling him I've just done that does not put him off.  So finally I get to ride it with an instructor at my side, and at last I feel like I might be on the way to knowing how to ride a bike!  Which is lucky really, with only about 7 weeks training to go!