'Are you training for something?'..

...is always one of the first topics when I meet someone out on the road, and my usual answer is 'I ride with my friends to ride with my friends'.
Mock me, if you will, for this faux-zen wankery but it is the truth.

This makes the Race of Six Friends, an event for which I can claim some responsibility but no credit, the perfect competitive outing.

At the first edition in late August, our team of Emma, Jay, Gayle, CTB, Gaz and myself finished unbloodied and, most crucially, still friends.

For the second edition on September 25 we have subbed Kate Mullarkey for Emma who broke her wrist on an R6F training ride a couple of weeks ago.