assault and battery

I know I said no more cycling tales for a while, but a comment on one of my recent YouTube videos reminded me of this funny occurrence while cycling home from work one day many years ago.

I'd retired from competitive cycling in 2001 after my daughter was born, but I kept on cycling and in 2004 made the strange decision to enter one last race - a 2-day, 3 stage event based near my home.

So, needing to train for the event I upped my mileage and used my journeys home from work for some high quality speed work.  I devised a route of around 25 miles giving me ample time to warm up before hitting some fast intervals.

As I was just getting into my stride one evening, I spotted a fellow cyclist a few hundred yards ahead and thought he or she would provide an excellent target.  As I got closer, and progressively faster, I could see that the cyclist was a man of shall we say advancing years.  Anyway, something strange then happened - he started to pull away from me.

me at the start of the time-trial stage of my last ever race

Who is this rider I thought to myself.  I mean, I knew all the fast guys around and I couldn't place this chap. Undeterred, I upped my pace but I still wasn't eating into his "lead" on me.

Approaching the final climb of my ride home I really stomped on the pedals and sprinted up to my adversary only to find him on an electric bike!

I was in no fit state to respond as he cheerfully said "evening" before turning off and sparing me even more torture.

Electric bikes.  I hate them!