What we all do for a crust...

[librarian]

Cycling...
A great leveler.
Me?
I started audaxing with an ex-con in the summer of 1986
Gypsy Bob kept me amused with his complete lack of p.c awareness and yet would scoop a fallen bird out of the road rather than see it...
His tales of the road... fist fights, police cells, £500 quid a week in 1984 all on booze and girls, working on dams, roads, Irish life and conversion to non-smoking near tee total audax man ( L.E.L rider 1st edition)
 My father who was a Naval Officer enjoyed his company too and would join us for summer evening jaunts to the Little Chef for Maple syrup pancakes and coffee (free re-fills)

It is 2007 and Bob is crippled by his earlier hard living so no longer rides with us.
We know where he is though... in here.

I now often ride with a chap who has fat legs which I often remind him of.
He is a scientist, vegetarian and a remarkable fellow in his own right.
A company director, world traveled and a leader in his field.
I reckon he earns squillions yet rides... economically.

There is my regular wheelman.
A gardener by trade.
Often so discreet as to never say more than a few words per 100km ridden.
Yet always there... to follow or to lend a hand/tube/energy bar.
I am also a gardener and so know the spending limits of one in this trade only too well.

There is John.
He built and sold a bus company in the north of England.
 Drives a model 'T' on special days and owns a third share in a private jet.
John enjoys Youth hosteling with the C.T.C and local beers.
Buys big boxes of broken biscuits from Macro to share amongst the group.
Know the value of a dollar, penny, dinari...
Rides a cheap and cheerfull Dawes what ain't been cleaned never!

I could go on...
 Yet I just wanted to say that the  real revolution happened with the invention of the cycle (not the bicycle!)
 The great leveler and the creator of a classless society... at least until we peel off for home...