Yesterday I was supposed to go for a ride with Velopixie.  You’ve not “met” him before, and either had I!  That’s the wonders of twitter for you.  And it’s always a little nerve wracking meeting new people especially when, as I may have mentioned before, I can be a bit shy underneath the brash exterior.  Riding is good for such things though, because there’s frequently things to talk about, to be distracted by, effort and hills and scenery to fill any awkward gaps…

…but the weather meant that riding was not to be.  It was horrible from the start, and then got worse.  Getting from Chippenham to here was apparently a journey of a thousand flooded miles.  At some point amidst the flurry of updates, tweets, texts and calls, a judgement call was made.  Even if the weather were to clear, which seemed unlikely, the roads were still going to be horrible, and time was running out.  However, being nearer here than there, we decided to make the best of a bad deal.  I had time to change into civvies and make myself presentable, as I had to work later, and when the man himself finally rolled into town, we had to roll out again so that we could head to Cheddar in search in coffee.  Well, we’d picked the one day the Almshouse is closed, to add insult to injury, so there was no room at the café ;).

We headed for Costa in the Gorge.  Not possibly everyone’s first choice, but it’s always open, has a free car park opposite, and does gluten free brownies to go with perfectly acceptable coffee.  What’s not to love?  It’s not Starbucks right? ;). (ooh, look at me getting all topical).

I clearly hadn’t thought this through.  Blame the nervous babbling.  Because, as I mentioned, there had been a lot of rain.  Possibly biblical amounts.  There were floods everywhere as we made our way there.  And what caused the Gorge?  A river.  From a river it came, and thanks to the overnight and continuing downpour, to a river it had returned.  Back to it’s flooded roots.  Because if they weren’t flooded the water wouldn’t have been overflowing everywhere, bubbling up from down below, to join that already pouring down the road.  I’ve ridden the Gorge in some truly horrendous weather, but I have never seen it like that.  So much water, so deep, flowing so fast, that without decent wellies you couldn’t get from one side of the road to the other.  We went a little up past the car park, which was not all that accessible in such conditions, parked on the bend, and contemplated canoeing, since that was going to be the only way to get anywhere without wading, and I so wasn’t dressed for that…

Back in the car then, and time to formulate a Plan B.  The rest of the Gorge was busy sandbagging or being out of season closed, so we headed to the little community café back in town for coffee and gluten free shortbread instead.

It was all very pleasant.  It turns out that pixies aren’t scarey at all 😉 *grin*.  We chatted, exchanged the usual stories, had more in common than just cycling, and happily killed a couple of dry warm hours.  Next time we ride though!  Honest…though since the second storm has arrived this evening, I’m starting to wonder when I’ll ever get on a bike that isn’t in the gym ever again!  Yes, I’m sulking and, to be fair, I’m very good at it ;).

Today my fantastic mechanic Andrew performed his usual magic on my old bike.  My poor Cube, it’s been through so much.  This time around, as suspected, the bottom bracket was seized.  Luckily Andrew had a second-hand spare to tide me over until we get a new one.  It also now has a new front wheel to replace the one I borrowed earlier in the year, so that at least one bike – his t’other half’s – has matching wheels.  He’s handy like that – so many bits and pieces lying around, from bottom brackets to wheels!  He put the winter tyres on both wheels, tightened up the loose cassette, and hopefully it’s now ready to ride…again with the if I ever get to!  Thanks Andrew :).  We agreed to get a bigger cassette – 12/32 for the Cinelli, and I’m going to try out some Kalas winter tights through him as well.  Yes I’m a girly wuss.  Bite me ;).

In the meantime the Cinelli stands in the hallway forlorn and still filthy.  However I now have my lovely gold bundle from Purple Harry and if I ever get enough time to do so, it’s going to get a darn good cleaning before resting up over the winter.  Well, I don’t currently envisage much by way of sunny dry days, do you?  But just in case…it’ll be there ready and waiting and raring to go :).