I’m a happy and at times bemused subscriber to Al Leigh’s ramblings and rantings on the Pickled Hedgehog. He has a way with words which was probably not what the original progenitors had in mind when they thought them up but then again, who’d have thought we’d be riding downhills for fun 100 years ago?

Al’s latest missive is particularly apposite I think. How does this quote sound as an overall description of who we are? I bet you can fit yourself into one of these categories and your mates can probably fit you into one of the others too:

…whilst I say your riding world is peopled with those sharing similar mental DNA, there are always leaders and followers, fast guys up hill, nutters streaming down the other way, talkers and silent types, tech heads and don’t give a shitters…

Strangley, no mention of ‘bike nerd’ which is Mark’s favourite description of me at the moment. Doesn’t he realise if I didn’t have this I’d have nothing? Well, I’d still have the list of household jobs a mile long and a wallet that echoes to the hollow clang of emptiness but apart from that, nothing. Well, saying that I’d have a much clearer and less muddy garage too I guess. And I might have tried blending inanimate household objects just to see what would happen, but basically? Nothing.

So perhaps it’s best for us to keep with what works for us, which seems to be a never ending grind of mud, water and expensive components aimed, (but rarely steered) by adrenalin fueled loons in the general direction of the Surrey Hills.

Happy riding folks, whatever your place is in the cycling diaspora and whoever you’re with.