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@dancing james
A day that started with frustration ended perfectly.
Was meant to go to Swinley today with Tom. and unharmed, unharmed sms'd at an ungodly hour, he was feeling unwell. I got up late and checked train times, to discover that there was a rail replacement bus on offer - so basically we were never going to get to Martins Heron.
So I called Cliveo to congratulate him on his fantastic new frame and commiserate regarding his awful choice of groupset. Turned out he was planning on a jaunt into Surrey and was going via Putney so we arranged a meet just after mid day on Putney bridge.
The way out of town was amusing, I had just commented on a pedestrians "awesome observation skills" for which Clive was telling me off when another ped with "awesome observation skills" walked straight off the kerb into Clive - one mentally dense object being drawn to a physically dense object.
At the next set of lights a woman was creeping into the ASL, so Clive started gesticulating at the front of the car and I was nodding my head in concerned agreement. Eventually the driver got out of the car to come and look at what was troubling the two of us, and Clive explained that she had encroached (well filled) the ASL with her car. This was just as the lights turned green, so we pootled off as she got beeped at for holding everyone else up.
We stopped off near Epsom to visit the house Clive grew up in. Sold years ago by his parents the place is about to be redeveloped so we had a look for old times sake and Clive took some photos. It was a day for sights of interest, Clive pointed out a park where a palace belonging to Henry VIII had burned down, and I pointed out the lane nearby I had previously used for a natural break.
We were taking a gentle pace, Clive is training for his road trip in a few weeks time. His new bike is perfect, Serotta Legend, fitted to him. He just looked so comfortable and was clearly enjoying the difference between his old CX bike and the custom road bike.
At Box Hill Clive tried to challenge me to do 4 reps in the time it took him to do two, I turned down the BOGOF and instead aimed for 3 for the price of two. Box Hill was busy and due to traffic jams I had to fully stop 3 times.
On one descent I saw two motor bikes come perilously close to a female cyclist, one of them was trying to pinch her bum as he went past. He got an utter earful of abuse from me, turns out they came within a cats whisker of Clive too. I caught up with lady concerned on my return up the hill, she was thankful for my intervention. Its arseholes like that who have left me unwilling to cycle in the countryside without companions. I have had someone try to push me off my bike a couple of years ago when cycling up a hill coming back from Brighton, any twat who is willing to take such risks with a cyclist is clearly not likely to stop if a serious accident occurs.
I just managed to catch up with Clive for the crest of the hill and we then grabbed coffee, bidon refills, and a bite to eat at the cafe. I then saw the most stunning Baum Coretto bike. Di2 Dura Ace internal routing, integrated seatpost, Tune clamp, cranks and headset, ENVE forks and with Lightweight wheels with the logos in black. The bike was utterly stunning, I hope to meet up with Richard the owner again soon. We ended up nattering about bike fitting and all sorts. The bike was utter high class filth.
Clive and I then took a slightly more direct route home. It really was a near perfect day out on the bikes, though we did look almost like a couple of clones, having both opted for black lycra, white extremities (gloves, shoes and catlike helmets - I almost used the term contact point, but fuck I don't actually want my head to be a contact point), and our titanium bikes. It was fantastic some breeze to take the heat off, but sun gently shining down on us.
Most important was having perfect company to ride with, for me cycling is so much about the banter, the chat, sharing titbits of information and the odd bit of gossip. Time on a bike is so much more fun when done with interesting folk.
So thank you Clive, I was almost going to spend a day feeling frustrated that I had not got out, instead I had a near perfect few hours turning pedals and taking in the Surrey countryside. Your new bike is awesome and I hope it serves you well for many years.