Next Saturday: anything planned?

BT,DT, so I'll most likely spend a day giving the SV its last proper
thrash following Bonwick. I trust Ken's taking something slower this
year to avoid being shown up by a 650.

 

Heh, each to his own.

 

On the way to Chimay, it is the Monotreme's habit to lunch in
Maroilles, and Tarte de Maroilles is absolutely fab.

 

L'Estaminet - lovely restaurant!

 

Maroilles also has L'Estaminet, preferred restaurant of the cognoscenti on
the Chimay team:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14328327@N08/1640459719/in/set-72157602537605637/

 

I've no idea what to do on the Saturday. The last French run I was on,
I got stupidly pissed in the afternoon with Dick Dastardly, and I'm
not doing that again (I mean, not getting pissed in the afternoon,
obviously Rich isn't going to be there). Problem is, I'm seriously
fucking slow on a bike at the moment, so may just bimble around on my
own, or choose to hang around with some other clearly slow folk
(Platy, Hog, Cab etc.)

 

I don't want to start the London -v- Paris thing again, so just accept
it: for someone used to living in London with all the sophistication,
attractions, culture, fine dining etc. that is available there, Paris
really is shit.

 

I'll defintely go to Bruges. I may even take a trip up to Damme which
is a village about 8km the other side IIRC and has a *superb* cake shop.

I've only been using the bike regularly for a month or so, and I'm
seriously down on confidence at the moment. The roads seem to be so
busy at the moment and I can't help feel that every fucking car is
going to do something fucking stupid. They invariably do.

There'll be plenty of people wanting a nice bimble as opposed to the
FBC Run but the roads will be clearer and in better nick than in the UK
and I'm hoping it's not long before confidence returns. With me, it
helps following someone who is going just that bit quicker than I
would normally.

I have plans to remain relatively sober this year, and to have some
nice pleasant rides out. I suspect at least one of those plans could
fail.

 

<G> No skin off my nose.

 

thing is, I was in Bruges about 14 months ago, and can a) remember
everything about it and b) not think of anything worth re-doing. I had
lunch in a great little shitty-looking-but-actually-bloody-great cafe,
but it isn't worth going back just for that.

I'm not lacking in confidence per se, I just am so out of practice.
I've ridden a bike twice this year so far, and one of those times was
a no-front-brake CCM flattracker on shale and mud, so not exactly
useful for road riding experience. I also hope that this run will get
me "back up to speed" as it were. Of course, then I'm selling the bike
afterwards, so whatever.

of course.

 

IKWYM, but I promised P that I would try and get her some chocolate
from the same place we went to last year. I guess I could just do a
quick stop on the way to or from somewhere else.

And anyway, it's easier to let someone else do the planning thing and
just tag along. It's worked for me in previous years!

 

You know, you /can/ lie to SOs.

sheep!

 

Good point, well made.

For sure.

 

But of course, although as I suspect there are plenty of others also
going, it will be probably be one big group. When we start out anyway;
there'll be about 6 smaller groups by the time we get there.

I suspect also that there will be "early", "a bit later" and "very
late" groups leaving )

There are going to be some "I thought you said you were slow!" comments
at some point, aren't there?

 

it's not exactly a big town and if I want to spend an afternoon guzzling
Belgian ales I've got enough sitting at home.

It doesn't take long for things to click and before you know it you're
right back into the groove. You proper pair of PFFs.

 

Post corrected.

Paris. Really. It's rubbish. I'd rather go to Brussels.

 

You're right; on both counts. However, in my defence, the commute from
Harrow to Maidenhead isn't really conducive for getting back up to
speed. My filtering speed is pretty good, though.

 

I've ridden a bike 3 times since October.

 

Well obviously the last thing you want to do is start riding one now.
Heaven forbid, you might have fun!

 

Having lived in both cities, I'd opt for Paris. With Belgian residents.