The Prologue

"prologue or prolog, is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information."


It is also the day of the Tour de France......


The seeds are planted and from these small seeds grand oaks will grow. Thanks to a government  who is cutting costs throughout the country I am able to purchase a new bike on a scheme which results in a 49% discount. Not only has DC replaced the dour Brown but he fuels my dreams to roll down a starting ramp in London and finish with champagne in hand on the Champs-Elysees - the long night of election night TV has given me my first reward.

So the Bike is bought and I know now that there are two kinds of bike. These are simply the Bike you have and Bike you see on the road and want. The very second you buy your dream bike you see someone else with a bike you want more -it looks lighter ( something I am told is important when I weigh in at 16st), it is definitely quicker ( this im sure is due to the Bike and not the person) . The only comfort you have is that other cyclists are looking at your bike thinking the same. Spare a thought for the chap looking at me on my Bianchi wishing that it was him.


The Bianchi is as light as two feathers black with red and white flashes it is the best bike in my work parking yard.

It is therefore a great disappointment for this Italian flying machine to find out that its new owner is none other than Adam " Lanterne Rouge" Bindman. We met for the first time last night and this morning made our first entrance into the world of cycling. Banging the flying machine off every wall in the house and stumbling up our stairs was hard going. Crossing the road a mission and as for changing gear its is only comparable to attempting a rubicks cube when blindfolded. But 25 mins later, two aggressive climbs in Hyde park and a fantastic lead out from a red bus I have completed my first ride. With less tongue in cheek than before I feel I can say I am a cyclist......I get in the lift at work wondering how long it will be before I can cycle with no hands on the handle bars as I zip up my cycling top and celebrate the final sprint into Paris.....12 months might be enough. If not it is only 2 years to the Olympics so maybe I can pull out this move as I power past Chris Hoy on the velodrome straight.

However weeks of watching the Tour and 28 years of life have taught me something very valuable. You cant win the tour without your team and you cant get to Paris as an green behind the ears cyclist without your friends. So the scene is set I have a bike I just a group of like minded friends willing to look beyond the obvious  challenges which London to Paris sets. So with great excitement I send out an email to those who I think will be as enthused as I am about this  and wait.........Like Kevin Costner and his corn field I have a sense this should work out, if it does not im certain Kevin would have been happy hitting home runs by himself.


So I build it and hope they will come....