I’ve always sworn at f’king cyclists when I drive past them – the w*!kers! GET A CAR for Christ sakes.

Now I look to see what they’re riding! Yes I caught the bug (there’s a lot of it going around).

For the last couple of months if the weathers fair I’m out putting in some miles on my meticulously over loved new road bike! And when I’m off the saddle I’m researching 0.889 saddle measurements, tyre pressures and lubes.

Yes im hooked.

But you have to draw the line somewhere and that somewhere is Lycra!

I dont want to be a racerboy. The gang is too big, too inexclusive! As I speed down a road at 18mph reaching for my Coke filled water bottle in my slightly chafing denim; no doubt a racerboy will speed past at 25mph, clad in Lycra with an expensive sounding drivetrain churping back at me like a smug cricket. But I won’t mind. I have my excuses on a flag strung high from my flat bar! (Incidentally, I saw a geeky looking man riding in a replica Team Sky top the other day. I mean PLEEASE!).

However the best part of resisting the Lycra is what I call the Recognition Deflection. You know that 60 year old couple in matching Lycra coming towards you on the other side of the road. Their look of “Hey we’re the same aren’t we?” Bounces right off!

Now then, Im off for a ride!

By Darren Cross

Picture featured in the Daily Cycle Flickr Group – added by andyreevo