Thursday, August 16, 2012

Going Over to the Dark Side

I've become a touring cyclist. To be honest, it was always on the cards. The lifestyle risk factors have long been present: 1. I have a beard. 2. I have a fair and improving knowledge of Real Ale. 3. I prefer holidaying in Morfa Nefyn to Magaluf. It was only a matter of time before I gave in to the urge to strap a makeshift house to my bike and follow those little blue signs around the countryside, with a map, a cheese and pickle barmcake and only a rough idea of where I'll be spending the night. Yes, countryside. Peace, fresh air, and nothing to worry about but turning the pedals. Heaven.

Of course, any new cycling activity requires a new bike. That's one of the coolest things about our sport; every cycling-related purchase is healthy, sustainable and feel-good. It's the guilt-free spending of hard cash.