Give that man a biscuit
In an earlier blog I described how John views unkindly being overtaken by ‘whipper snappers’, and cited a specific example of the humiliation he likes to deal out. Well, he’s done it again.
There I was, struggling up Arnside hill from the Albion pub, when another cyclist caught up with me. We exchanged the usual pleasantries – nice day, better than yesterday, good to see a little sun, etc – before he pulled ahead to reel in John and add another scalp to his handlebars.
John, of course, had seen him coming. Just as Junior caught up to him he stood on his pedals and was off over the hill, leaving the younger guy wondering what had hit him.
Reminds me of the film Seabiscuit, about the little horse who could. In the final race in the film (a true story, by the way) Seabiscuit takes on the champion horse who had won everything in racing in the USA. Just like the horse, John looked into the eyes of this would-be challenger, measured and tested him, and in that glance ultimately found him wanting. He put on a spurt and left the other cyclist, who in reality was half his age, floundering far behind.
It’s all too easy for John. Ordinary mortals like me need oxygen, whatever our age.
