Rugby with Brian the Lion

Today I had porridge for breakfast (with honey & raisins).

Then I rode over to Rugby (15 miles) in my best lycra to go see Bilton school. My good friend John Pinkney is the deputy head there and had asked me to go over to talk to the kids about my ride and in return he would arrange some fund raising opportunities.

I didn't really know what to expect on the way over and its not often I ride in rush hour traffic. But once I left Cubbington the traffic died down and away I went, a pleasant enough ride. Arriving at the school ten minutes early I delivered my sweaty lycra clad body to reception to be greeted with a blank stare. They weren't expecting me, no-one knew who I was to meet and John was away on business. Hmmm. I waited until the appointed hour of 10:00am on the off chance someone would come. They didn't. A few boys hung around admiring my bike, with the words, "you must be that bike geezer that's going to ride about a bit". Recognition at least. Anyhow they seemed to like my bike, particularly the spokes. Don't ask me why.

So 15 more minutes go by before a teacher and very nice man, who's name escaped me in the excitement arrived to announce that I was to meet representatives of the school council. So two pretty girls and 4 cool lads stand around and listen whilst I talk about aluminium, carbon fibre, oversize lungs (on professional cyclists, not me), clipless pedals, cot death and other general nonsense. And guess what? They seem to find it genuinely interesting. They ask sensible, searching questions about babies, about bikes, about the Tour de France and generally engage me, make me feel welcome, wanted and worthwhile. I can honestly say that it was an absolute pleasure to meet these children. Even the ones wandering past and staring at the incongruity of a grown man in tight sweaty clothing standing defensively next to his v. expensive bike seemed engaged and vibrant. I don't know about the kids but I enjoyed every second of their company I hope they felt the same. If all schools are like Bilton then our country has a great future ahead of it.

So that's me all emotional. Anyhow, we had our picture taken together and I promised to take Brian the Lion (the school mascot) on my tour. I stuffed him in my back pocket for the journey home, but I think he felt homesick because he jumped out about a mile down the road. A old woman in a following car stopped appearing to think a cat had fallen in the road in front of her and must have looked in astonishment I turned around on my bike, casually picked it up, stuffed it in y back pocket and pedalled away.

I came home the scenic route, through Long Itchington and Offchurch. A further 59k to my training this week.

So all in all, I felt pretty good. The kids made me smile. The ride was pleasant and all is good with the world. Oh, and they raised about £800 for the FSID by having a none uniform day. Three cheers for the kids of Bilton school. Watch here for the adventures of Brian the Lion.

(one downside of the day was that all the way home I couldn't stop singing the Arctic Monkeys Brianstorm in my head because of the word association, but I only know the chorus..."Cause we can't take our eyes off the t-shirt and ties combination Well see you later, innovator" and it gets really annoying 400 times over)