Well I picked up my bike 3 days ago on Thursday, a Bianchi Camaleonte 3 hybrid from Bike Doctor in Fallowfield in Manchester. Had to have the front wheel taken off to get it in the car as I wasn't going to risk riding home and when I got back it was clear I didn't understand the principles of the quick release wheel and cocked it up putting it back on. So, yesterday, Friday I mounted up and rode it back to the shop which was 6 miles (the Tour de France to me) via the Fallowfield Loop and found it to be as described above; well surfaced and populated by parents bringing their kids home from school, dog walkers who, even if their animals were off the lead kept them well under control, and other cyclists. The shop sorted out my problem without a trace of condecension. So a 12 mile round trip as well as a new bike. The only downside was that on the way back about a mile from home I had to ride down a hill that led to a bridge over the M60. Up onto the bridge then down the far side watching the speedo climbing up to 22mph and then up another hill watching the speedo reading go from 22 to 21 to 20 and so on until it dipped below 3mph and stopped registering and I gave in and walked the next few hundred yards before remounting and getting home.
I stuck the bike in the back garden and went upstairs and I've got to tell you, even taking into account when I was on crutches earlier this year, that was the hardest 13 stairs I've ever climbed in my life. It felt like I was wearing wellingtons filled with concrete!