BurbleChaz

We'll be picking up our shiny new bikes tomorrow. If the weather lets us, we'll go for a little ride. The last time I bought a new bike, I had to ride it home from Bath to Bristol. It was dark, and below freezing. It took me an hour and 45 minutes to do seventeen miles along the cycle path.

Because of the general lack of sub-zero temperatures and early evening darkness here, I am hoping that tomorrow's gentle ride will be a bit less character-building. One of the major reasons for coming here was to avoid riding in the cold. I've done enough winter rides where I've kitted up with shorts, long woollen trousers, two t-shirts, a sweater, two pairs of socks, mittens and gloves, only for all sensation in my feet, fingers, ears and nose to fade ten minutes out of the door. After an hour of riding hard (to avoid hypothermia) a warm shower is wonderful, until feeling starts returning to the extremities. It's not 'pins and needles', more 'nails and spikes'. I really felt I'd earnt the beer when I did a ride like that. For some reason, the Sensible One never joined me on those.

Here, sunburn, dehydration and heat exhaustion are the problems. Not to mention spiders, snakes, drop-bears and the occasional bunyip. I doubt our riding will be so extreme that we need to worry about sharks. Yet.