It's getting crowded on the roads up and down to London.... cyclists everywhere.
As I was pootering along near home last night drifting away in one of my M.P. daydreaming moments, a chap on a Bianchi pulled along side for a chat. We got the pace back up to something sensible and nattered away.
Chap called Austin, rides with the Old Ports, used to be in ACC about 20 years ago apparently.
Says hello to mrPVT, let you know he's doing the etape this year and hasn't thrown the towel in yet!
Asked if I knew (the legendary) Michelle and Keith.
Was a really nice change having a bit of a chat to someone rather than the normal solo run. Certainly a lot more agreeable than the miserable bunch of London Dynamo riders who crowded around me at a junction at night a few weeks back, and continued to have their conversation to each other through me without so much as a single hello. They got a double strength Paddington stare.