Cider and wind!

Long weekend down in Mirepoix last week to attend the annual apple and cider festival - some of the cider being potent enough to cause a wobble in the unsuspecting after only a few small glasses. A good restorative after a ride if not with quite the kick of a Lance Armstrong chemical assist.

The Martins also took the opportunity to go for a few shorter rides and to be blasted by fierce headwinds - at point Nick and I came round a bend to be literally blown to a standstill! Still the return legs with the wind behind us was almost worth it. At one point on the flat I notched up 57km an hour and could have gone faster if only I had not run out of gears... and of course had been fitter!

My eldest Seb was also out with us on a rare visit and rode with me one morning - he is definitely built for the flat and sprints with powerful muscular thighs that make Usain Bolt seem weedy. Hills are another matter!