“How far do you want to go?” asked Steve.

Maddy looked at Harry, “Not too far please.”

“You up for a twenty?” Asked Steve. Jenny and Drew nodded, Maddy thought about it and then nodded and Harry, feeling himself out on a limb, reluctantly agreed. He looked at his mountain bike, then at all the other bikes. He was going to struggle.

Jenny, sensing that something was bothering him asked him what it was. “Maybe I'd better just go home.”

“You can't do that.” Cried Drew, “All the way here he was like, crowing he was going to ride with a world champion.”

“How about if I ride the MTB?” suggested Drew. They were still discussing this when Matt came out.

“Problems?” he asked.

“Only the weakest rider has the weakest bike.” Voiced Steve, oblivious to the shame being displayed by Harry, who was incandescent with embarrassment.

“Give it here,” said Matt, “I've got a hire bike in you can borrow, but I want it back tomorrow.”

“Sure, Mr Davis.” Squeaked Harry. Matt disappeared and re-emerged with another Saracen, which Harry accepted with a beaming smile.

“Any damage, you pay for.”

“Fine.” Said Harry, who except for a ride on Drew's Specialized , had never ridden anything half decent. They adjusted the saddle height, and set off in pursuit of Steve, who had taken it upon himself to lead the way.

“Where we going?” asked Maddy riding alongside Drew.

“Dunno,” said Drew, “but we're heading west, towards Chickenville.” Harry laughed at this.

“I think you mean Chickerell. It's where we went with Tim that day. So we could be following the coast road.” A car beeped at them, and they formed a single file. Steve gave the driver ‘the finger' as he went past.

“I wouldn't bother if I were you Steve,” offered Jenny, “it only makes them worse, and they think they can justify their bad driving by blaming it on ill tempered ‘ lycra louts'.”

“Okay,” said Steve, “I get the message.”

“Where we going Steve?” called Drew.

“Out towards Abbotsbury and back through the lanes to Dorchester, and then to your village. Is that okay with everyone?”

“Cool,” said Drew.

“Won't there be some big hills?” asked Harry, feeling a little apprehensive, although he was keeping up, so far.

“One or two. You alright Gaby?”

“She'll be alright, she won a hill climb.” Called Maddy, “It's me who'll struggle.”

“Shout if you're in trouble, we'll wait.” Said Jenny, using her seniority to set the rule. Besides, if there was a struggler, they would have to wait sooner or later as only Steve knew his way, so it wasn't just a question of stragglers finding their own way back. Plus of course the risk to Gaby or Maddy, from the lunatic who'd tried twice to kill her. “Was this such a good idea?” Jenny asked herself, she looked behind her and Gaby was beaming. “Maybe,” she said to herself, answering her own question.

As previously mentioned the road to Chickerell, rises to the west, cresting on a bend with a mini roundabout. Thereafter, it goes down a little and then has several quite steep ups and downs after ‘Knights in the Bottom'. On the descent to the pub, with the aforementioned silly name, Harry pointed out a farm entrance to Gaby. “See that Moor's Farm?”

“Yeah.” Replied Gaby.

“That's where John, who was dancing with your sister does, archery.”

“Archery?” said Gaby.

“Yeah, you know, bows and arrows.”

“I know what it is, I know someone who does it back home, a disabled girl.”

“John shoots for the county, I think.” Called Harry, from behind his heroine.

They continued, the road rising more steeply after the pub, and Harry was beginning to struggle. “Use your gears.” Called Drew, aware of Harry's distress.

“I am.” Puffed Harry.

“No you're not. Drop the front mech.”

“What?” Puffed Harry.

“Drop the front gear, the one by your pedals.”

“Oh. Oh bugger!” exclaimed a voice behind. “My chain's come off.”

“Wait up.” Called Drew, which Jenny echoed to Steve. He stopped, then seeing a problem turned back and went to assist.

“Problems?” he enquired, as Harry was trying to put his chain back on. Gaby not wanting to chip a nail, only offered advice.

“He's not using his gears properly.” Said Gaby.

“Oh, I see.” Said Steve, knowing that if you get the combination wrong, it's quite easy to slip the chain. He handed his bike to Harry, then within two ticks had the chain back on, albeit with a couple of oily fingers. “Right Harry, before you start to struggle, change down on the front mech. Don't wait until you run out of gears on the back. That's why you lost your chain, it also puts lots of strain on the chain and if it's a worn one, it can snap.”

“Right, I'll try and remember.” Said Harry, feeling chastened for his relative ignorance.

As Steve went back to the lead, Drew, seeing Harry's downcast face said, “Don't worry, we all do it from time to time, don't we Mad?”

“I still do, but I'm better at replacing it now. Had lotsa practice.” Said Maddy grinning. In some ways she was quite pleased someone else was the tyro, usually it was her, but as a girl she only had to smile sweetly and someone would sort the problem. Well, until Drew said, ‘if you don't do it yourself, you'll never learn'. But that was before he went all girly. She had noticed he didn't offer to do it for Harry, even though he could so easily. Still, as Steve was leading the ride, there wasn't much chance for Gaby and him to interact too often, but Harry was struggling, a bit out of his depth against Steve. “This could prove quite interesting.” She muttered to herself.

They set off again, Steve, Jenny and Drew cycling well within themselves as they waited for Harry. Jenny, slowed down for Drew to come level. “Gaby, if you want to have quick burn up with Steve, carry on, but wait for us.” She felt that as long as Steve was around, Gaby was fairly safe.

“No, it's okay. But if you want to do one, you go on, we'll find you.” Drew said back to his mother.

“No I'm quite enjoying this dawdle,” she said.

Drew suddenly pulled out and rushed past her. “Hey Steve, give my mum a blast.”

“What?”

“Give her a chance to work out a bit.”

“What you mean race her?”

“Yeah, what else?”

“We could do Portesham hill, I suppose.”

“I'll tell her.” Drew let Jenny catch up with him. “Steve will race you up Portesham hill. Turn left at the bend, and follow the road up the hill.”

“Sorry Gaby, I'm not racing on a road I don't know. But you obviously do, so you go.”

“Are you sure?”

“Go, I'll bring up the others.”

“Okay.” Drew began to speed up until he tucked in behind Steve. “Mum said for you and me to have a go. We'll wait at the top.”

“Okay with me.” He dropped a cog and flew away from Drew, who for once was taken by surprise. Steve was pulling away, until Drew upped his cadence and his gears. The Campags , clicked and whirred, and Drew's legs pumped but he was gaining on Steve.

They were both lucky turning right in the village of Portesham, there was no traffic about. As they began to climb, Drew began to realise Steve was not a strong climber. He was okay, but it wasn't his strong point. Drew began to scent blood.

As they began the ascent proper, Steve was leading but was now out of his saddle. Drew now knew he had him. He stayed sitting and remained just behind Steve, using whatever slipstream the older youth was making. Then as soon as Steve slowed just a fraction, Drew's killer instinct kicked in, and he kicked too.

Glancing behind to check the road, Drew now rose from his saddle and began to up the pace. He overtook Steve and kept accelerating. He'd seen Lance Armstrong do it in the mountains, it demoralised opponents. His bike was better for the new wheelset and gears and he was using them. He heard Steve change down again, while he was still accelerating away. He reached the top of the hill twenty seconds before Steve.

“What kept you ?” He smiled sweetly at Steve.

“Jeez…..puff….zuz…..puff, where the……puff……hell…..puff….did you learn…puff….cough…..to do that?”

“Be thankful it was me, mum would have beaten you by twice that.” The smile was innocence masking a killer.

“You're hardly out of breath!” Exclaimed Steve, coughing as he took a swig from his drink bottle.

“I quite like hills, so does Nicole.” Said Drew, referring to Commonwealth Champion Nicole Cooke.

“You haven't raced her have you?”

“No, I wish.” Sighed Drew.

“Carry on like this Gaby, and you might well get the chance.”

They were stood admiring the view when Maddy, then Harry, and finally Jenny hove into view. “Your mum, practically pushed me up the hill.” Called a breathless Harry.

“She helped me too.” Said Maddy, dismounting to rest her aching limbs for a few minutes.

“How did you get on?” asked Jenny.

“She beat me fair and square.” Said Steve, blushing a little although it was difficult to tell on his already reddened face.

“You have to watch her on hills, she's wicked.” Said Jenny, beaming with pride at her offspring's achievement.

“Chip off the old block, according to her. She told me you'd have beaten me by even more.”

“Don't believe all you hear, Steve.” Riposted Jenny, smiling.

Harry, having recovered from his exertions wanted to show some ownership of Gaby before this new interloper. “I'm glad you won, I think you're so clever.” With that, he kissed her on the cheek.

Embarrassed, Drew, shrugged his narrow shoulders and replied, “I have a good teacher.” He glanced at his mum, and she smiled back.

“I reckon it's in the genes.” Said Steve, “Which meant I never had a chance. I was a lamb to the slaughter.”

“I left my jeans at home!” exclaimed Drew, wilfully misinterpreting what Steve had said. At this everyone laughed, especially when Harry pointed out the error. “ There's always one.” Thought Drew.

“You rode that hill like you've been here before.” Said Steve, as he struggled to understand how he'd been beaten by a younger rider, and a girl at that. One he fancied like crazy.

Drew stood with one hand on his chest and the other touching his face, “Moi?” He said, sounding like Miss Piggy.

“Oui, tu!” answered Steve, which confused Drew. It also confused Jenny, who spoke reasonable French, as to why Steve had used the intimate form of address.

Maddy had missed the language clue, but was carefully watching for body language. Steve was mirroring Gaby, and so was Harry. “Oops!” she whispered to herself, “Stand well back if the fireworks begin.”

“Everyone had a long enough rest?” asked Jenny, deciding to move things on a bit. She wasn't sure she wanted Steve hanging around Gaby, he was a bit too old for her. A feeling shared with Harry, who was beginning to feel a little hostile towards the competition. “If she wants someone who is a good rider, then I'll become a good rider.” He thought to himself, “I'm going to ask dad to buy me this bike, when I get home tonight.” He felt in dire need of some demonstration of the seriousness of his suit to Gaby, telling her he had bought a decent bike, he felt was one such example.

The rest of the ride went without much drama. Steve led, with Gaby in second place and the others jostling for the other places, except Jenny, she cruised along behind the others content to guard the rear as best she could.

Steve showed his knowledge of the local geography. From Portesham, he led them down the back roads to Winterbourne Steepleton, there they crossed the main road following it for a short time, before heading north and up a climb and a steep descent towards Grimston. Then they went across another main road and followed the road to Sydling St Nicholas, thence to Cerne Abbas. “Anyone want to see the Giant?” Called Steve. The answer back was a unanimous ‘yes', so they detoured the short distance to the viewing point.

“This is the one with the huge thingy,” sniggered Gaby in schoolgirl fashion to Maddy. They stopped for a few minutes in the lay-by and looked at the ancient carving. Jenny trying to remember if she had seen it before or was it the one in Sussex, the Long Man of Wilmington ? Maybe she'd seen them both. It didn't really matter. She watched Maddy and Drew acting like schoolgirls, giggling together.

“Who wants an ice cream?” she said, and they trouped off to the van parked just a few yards further on. It was an expensive call, but then they always rip off tourists at these places. The five ices cost her ten pounds.

Drew knew where he was now, he'd ridden out here a couple of weeks before, if necessary he could lead them home. They would certainly have done the twenty miles by the time they got back. He glanced over at Harry, “You alright?”

“Yeah, great, really enjoying it.” Answered Harry. It wasn't quite true, the saddle was beginning to chafe, he would have to add cycle shorts to his wish list. But maybe he was making progress with his true love.

“You okay, Mad.” Drew enquired.

“Of course. I'm glad we came up here anyway. Thanks Steve.”

“No problem.” He replied blushing slightly. Then picking up his bike, he said, “We all ready to get back?” A chorus of ‘yes' was accompanied by the rest mounting their bikes. “Move ‘em up, head ‘em out!” He shouted, and off they set back towards Dorchester.

On reaching Charminster, he took the same route Drew had followed, crossing the village, up a short but steep rise, then down the old Sherbourne road, to another lane, which by-passed most of Dorchester bringing them out at a roundabout by the Dorchester bypass at Kingston Maurward/ Stinsford. “Thomas Hardy's heart is buried in the churchyard over there.” Said Steve, “Anyone want to see the spot. CS Lewis is also buried there.”

“Who?” asked Gaby.

“Remember Narnia, Lion, Witch & Wardrobe?” Offered Jenny.

“Yeah.”

“He wrote it.” Completed Jenny.

“Oh.” Said Gaby, shrugging shoulders.

“I thought you enjoyed it.” Said Jenny, feeling a little perplexed at Gaby's nonchalance. Then thought, “Teenagers!”

“I did, so?”

Ignoring this odd behaviour, Jenny said, “I'd like to see the grave yard, even if this lot wouldn't.” That decided things, and they biked the short distance to see the grave yard. It wasn't very special, but they had been there. It was something to tell Dave.

“Back to your village?”

“Yes.” Was the reply. So Steve led them back through some more lanes with one or two further ups and downs, but they all managed it. They got back to the cottage and Gaby opened the door with her key.

“Anyone want a cuppa?” Called Jenny, “Put kettle on Gabs.”

“It won't fit.” Came back the response moving towards the kitchen.

“Tea Steve?” Jenny asked their guide.

“Not for me.” He answered.

“Well thanks for a really interesting ride, I really enjoyed it.”

“My pleasure, thanks for coming with me. Oh Gaby mentioned something about a signed photo…” he said blushing.

“Hang on, I'll get one.” Jenny disappeared in doors and re-emerged two minutes later with a photo which she signed for him. They shook hands and he set off for his home in Weymouth.

Jenny was putting the borrowed bike away in the garage when she noticed Harry rubbing his bottom. “Saddle sore?” she asked smiling at him.

“A bit.” He confessed, blushing.

“It happens to us all at first. Rub some cream in after a warm bath. The best cure is a good pair of cycle shorts with a gel pad, and lots of practice. It gets easier with practice or you get tougher, I'm not sure which.” She said this with a warm smile, she thought he was quite a game kid.

“Thanks. I'll try that. Can you recommend a good make of shorts and bike?”

“Speak to Matt, he'll be better informed on what is available these days than I am. I get most of my kit from my sponsors. How do you like a road bike compared to a MTB?”

“It's great, it goes quite a bit faster.”

“It's tougher on hills though.”

“Yeah but, I'll get used to that.”

“Spoken like a true athlete.”

“I'll have to, it's the only way I can keep up with Gaby.”

“I think you might have a bit of catching up to do there, she's well on her way to winning some major competitions in her age group, even some older ones. She is very good, so don't feel despondent if you never quite catch her up. Steve is a few years older, and she lost him on the hill climb. He's a local champion……”

“I see what you mean.”

“She is a very special young lady.” Said Jenny, thinking, “ And boy, I hope you never find out just how special she is!”

“Well, she's your daughter.” Smiled Harry, still rubbing his stiffening rump.

“Indeed, she is. I think if I were you, I'd get off to that warm bath.”

“Yeah, good idea. Thanks Mrs Bond.”

“Bye Harry.” She waved as he pushed his bike home, his bottom too tender to remount it. She chuckled to herself as she went in.

“What's so funny?” asked Drew, presenting his mother with a mug of tea.

“Harry is a bit saddle sore, well more than a bit.”

“Well I'm not rubbing it better!” Exclaimed Drew.

“I think he wanted you to kiss it bet….” Called Maddy, disappearing out the back door with Drew in hot pursuit. Jenny laughed at the antics of the teens as she sipped her tea. Then she wandered into the kitchen and looked at the clock, it was time to have a snack and think about the evening meal, give Carol a night off. She's also have to call Germany…. Thinking about that made her feel a bit sad, it was good to be with her family, even one with two daughters!

Angharad ap Gwilym 27.03.06 © 2006
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