Mrs Uncle Phil and I can beat that. She had a contract in Lista, Norway. We cycled there. She had much the same conversation with various people when we got there. It took us two weeks and was about 950 miles. (And it was a fantastic trip). (We didn't do it in one day, though, unlike Colin).Well, I only got asked this question once but it was such a pleasure to see the reaction to my reply, I have to mention it again here ...
I was going down to Coventry to visit my elderly mother and had decided that at long last I was fit enough to cycle down. My route took me over some tough climbs in West Yorkshire, and then down through the Peak District. I hadn't told my mum that I'd be cycling; she was expecting me to catch the train.
I had just arrived when my mum's evening carer turned up. I was standing in the hallway next to my bike and was wearing my cycling clothes.
Carer: "Hi Colin - have you just cycled up from the railway station?"
Me: "No."
Carer: "Oh, so you are going for a ride now?"
Me: "No, I've just arrived!"
Carer: "Eh - where from?"
Me: "My home."
Carer: "What - in Yorkshire!"
Me: "Yes."
Carer: "How far is that?"
Me (checking GPS): "Er, 227 km or 141 miles, with 4,000 metres or 13,000 ft of hills.
There was a perfect, long, stunned silence ...
Mrs Uncle Phil and I can beat that. She had a contract in Lista, Norway. We cycled there. She had much the same conversation with various people when we got there. It took us two weeks and was about 950 miles. (And it was a fantastic trip). (We didn't do it in one day, though, unlike Colin).
"You're kidding. You can't cycle from England - you have to fly... don't you?"
And to answer the question properly...
I'm usually asked at the coffee machine at work "Are you still coming in by bike every day?"
To which I usually reply "Yes. And are you still coming in by car every day?" (with a not-so-subtle glance at their belly, if there is one - and there often is).
Sounds great, but technically you can't cycle all the way from England unless you were doing circuits of the deck of the ferry!Mrs Uncle Phil and I can beat that. She had a contract in Lista, Norway. We cycled there. She had much the same conversation with various people when we got there. It took us two weeks and was about 950 miles. (And it was a fantastic trip). (We didn't do it in one day, though, unlike Colin).
"You're kidding. You can't cycle from England - you have to fly... don't you?"
Own a Brompton?
Get used to smiling and agreeing "Yes, it is just like 'Transformers'"
Own a Brompton?
Get used to smiling and agreeing "Yes, it is just like 'Transformers'"
Yes, that is often the riposte!!!Why do you need 6 bikes?
I get asked how long have you had that, have you lost your licence and how do you cope without a van? The answers are since 1999, no I've never had one and I'm going to learn to drive next year. I think I usualely cycle depending on where I'm working about 10-14 miles a day .