sunny but erratic

I'm shattered. I stayed up too late and threw my clothes on this morning to get up to the pool in time to meet the club. The repaired tube hadn't been fully pumped so the tyres got a refresh. Energy drink mixed, money for coffee, pump, spare tube, gel. cool. The 9.40 group rolled on time, clicking into pedals as the swarm took over the road and slipped down the side street. Comforting chat of good weather and new purchases takes us to Dalkeith as we split into three.

We soon meet a taxi on a junction with a bike and body in the back - the fast group had lost a man to a nasty accident - the victim, reaquainting his shoe with his bike sent all his force down on an imaginary pedal. The resulting bloodied hand cut away to the bone. Immediately our pace is quickened as we slip into the Belgian rotation style - a smooth chain of riders following an elongated oval shape. obstruction warnings litter the air - smooth as the chain may be, Scottish roads are far from it. We swallow up fallen riders and lose others.

The pace is erratic - inexperienced riders pushing too hard on the front, breaking rythmn and flow. My legs burn at Prestonpans and five of us are dropped. A scrabble to get the wheel ensues and we're soon back. We change direction within the rotation as the west wind blows. A young, impatient guy pulls out, almost into an oncoming car when the pace is not enough, gathering insults from almost everyone of us. The pace lightens as we hit Musselburgh and it's civilised chat again - holidays and DIY - we're all friends - not gritted teeth and slabber like the last 40 miles.