A tough day at the office
The perks of my job are a bit like hens’ teeth, so yesterday’s time at the coalface was akin to being attacked by a rabid, fully dentured chicken – I got to go for a bike ride. Which, as you might have guessed, is something that I like. What made the ride so special is that it was with Chris Boardman, Olympic champion and Tour de France yellow jersey wearer, among many, many other achievements. And it turns out that he’s a regular guy, too.
That's Chris on the left.
After riding a Boardman bike in the Cape Epic, I got to interview the people who produce them, including David Wild, the ceo of Halfords, and then, yesterday, Boardman himself. It was hard to say no to an offer to go for a ride with him, but we hummed and hahed a bit about where to ride. He wanted to go for a road ride, while my preference – I hesitate to say my discipline, perhaps I should call it my indiscipline – is for off-road.
But finally we agreed to stay on-road, and were joined by Andy Smallwood, Halford’s point-man in the Boardman bike project.
Chris B and Andy didn’t laugh when I turned out in my lycra, but I did feel kind of puny when they displayed thighs like tree trunks. And when he saw my 23-year-old steel-framed Zini, Andy asked if I liked the retro look.
They were kind to me, and towed me around the 22-mile course on the Wirral’s back lanes in an hour and a quarter. Chris and Andy chatted while I hung in there, trying to breathe. Afterwards Mrs Boardman kindly proffered coffee and ham rolls to restore us. Not your regular day at the office, but one to remember.
June 18th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
like a 10 year old boy meeting his hero. Great stuff.