routes

Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use

It’s one of the worst things in the world to wake up and not see your bike where you left it

Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling

(In an interview, revealing the secret of how to become a champion cyclist) – You must do three things; Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike

Wednesday January 7th: Nigel came round on his new bike this morning. It has got a water bottle, a milometer, a speedometer, a yellow saddle and very thin racing wheels. It’s wasted on Nigel. He only goes to the shops and back on it. If I had it, I would go all over the country and have an experience

As a kid I had a dream – I wanted to own my own bicycle. When I got the bike I must have been the happiest boy in Liverpool, maybe the world. I lived for that bike. Most kids left their bike in the backyard at night. Not me. I insisted on taking mine indoors and the first night I even kept it in my bed

Bicycles are almost as good as guitars for meeting girls

I came out for exercise, gentle exercise and to notice the scenery and to botanise. And no sooner do I get on that accursed machine than off I go hammer and tongs; I never look to right or left, never notice a flower, never see a view – get hot, juicy, red – like a grilled chop. Get me on that machine and I have to go. I go scorching along the road and cursing aloud at myself for doing it

Here’s the routine I’d advise for the evening before a race: a pheasant with chestnuts, a bottle of champagne and a woman