THE WIGHT STUFF

As I haul myself up the steepening slopes of Cowleaze, towards the southeastern corner of the Isle of Wight, I’m pleased to note that I am going a bit faster than the last time I went up here. Then, I was the lead-out man for my mate George, drilling it on the lower slopes of the climb before pulling over and almost coming to a halt. As George came round and rode away to improve the Strava KOM he already held, I caught my breath, then crawled to the top, where he was waiting.

I’m riding solo now, and still getting nowhere near his KOM time, but that’s not the notable part – he thinks there’s a good chance that he’ll still have it after Sunday 11 September. That’s the date the Tour of Britain rolls through these parts and George thinks they won’t necessarily take his place at the top of the virtual leaderboard. I don’t share his confidence but I’m definitely not going to be bothering it.

Reaching Cowleaze,