The lady on the BBC said it was three degrees outside but i don't blame her. The lady on Sky said the same and the Meteorological Office put out the same. They were all hapless victims of a conspiracy by a foreign power to entice senior cyclists out to death by Hypothermia.
It became evident as soon as you got out on the road; burning cheeks, shriveling fingers. We wondered if anyone would turn up at Beddington Park and if not, whether we would go on some form of short ride or just go home. But Ken was there waiting for us and just as we were about to give up and set off I espied Roger and Anna.
I proposed Elmers End; we have not been there for a bit But Roger wanted to come on his first ride with his new pacemaker and he did not fancy it going wrong in Croydon. So on a freezing day we ended up cycling towards the Arctic when we could have been going South.
I kept up a steady Beginners pace, which took some self-control because I just wanted to get warm. I almost envied the Nonsuch riders, who would at least be going fast up a hill or two and getting warmed up. Eight miles an hour on the flat was no thing to be trying this day.
The spread of broken bottles and bent cans and much other detritus made the Beddington Industrial Estate seem even more desolate than usual and at the Colliers Wood intersection the leader had to explain to the team that they were enjoying themselves.
Happy Campers leaving M.E.D in brave defiance of the North Wind
M.E.D was as warm and welcoming as ever but we had to leave and in Morden Park the Happy Campers needed reminding that this was better than sitting at home on the sofa. Who makes up this stuff?
Well done Roger, the pacemaker did not freeze. Neither did your electric bikes, Anna and Ken. And we all got back in time to have a warming meal before it got dark.
British oldies are more resilient than the enemy realises.
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