Let There Be Rock

If you've ever watched a group of kids playing, you quickly notice that they are really good at just mucking about. They laugh and giggle, find fun in the smallest thing , and generally enjoy themselves. Sadly, most adults have forgotten what it feels like to just have a good laugh and it becomes difficult to do things purely for the hell of it. I know there are exceptions to the rule, but most adults will understand the gist of what I mean. The gradual onset of an ever increasing combined burden of responsibility.... job, mortgage, parenthood, debt, etc slowly chips away at the carefree hedonistic 'feelgood' factor which we used to feel in our early twenties. Then there is the inevitable physical decline, even amongst those of us who are lucky enough to be healthy. The hair ...what's left of it, goes grey, the eyes slowly fail, achey backs and joints, indigestion, hangovers, piles, droopy bits, incontinence; need I continue? Depressing. The point is, it gets more difficult to act like a child, to just get out there and have unbridled fun. However, most of us find things that we enjoy doing and try and get around to our pastimes as often as possible. We also tend to find hobbies which match our income and social class. Which brings me to the subject of greasy leather-clad bikers. Here's a group of people who haven't forgotten what it's like to have a good time, doing what they like best, riding their bikes and partying hard.

There were two rallies less than 5 miles from our house this weekend. One is called The Over The Edge rally, the other The Gurt Gallybagger. Over a 1000 scary grebos on their bikes camping in a couple of fields. They're a sight too. Choppers, rat bikes, trikes and every other conceivable smoke-belching noisy machine. Then there's the Nazi helmets, goggles, rough-hewn skin cuts, boots and lots of black leather. It's probably true to say that some of them are not the most athletic chaps on the block. I would imagine that this vision of hell puts the wind up middle-class England? No need. What do you think they get up to ? Fighting the locals, rape and gang-bangs, orgtastic drug taking, knife fights, theft, thuggery and general mayhem? Well, no actually. Nothing of the sort. Most of them are as soft as pussy cats. They may look like an unruly bunch, a little scruffy and unkempt, but they are no worse than the semi-naked ladettes with their tattoos, short skirts and low-cut tops who stagger around most town centres every weekend drunk as skunks.In fact they are probably better-behaved and less of a problem to our police force .
The bikers are just a normal cross-section of society who happen to be united by their enjoyment of motorcycles and haven't forgotten what it's like to meet up together with their mates, tents and camping gear and have a great weekend. By day they laze around chewing the cud, take the bikes for a ride, and visit some of the Island villages. They eat a lot of food, and drink some beer. By night, it's more beer, music, dancing and general high spirits in the confines of a marquee in a field a few miles off the beaten track. OK, the odd spliff may be passed around, but that's about it. And they have a really good craic. Just because they can.
Hopefully Riptide contributed in a small way to the fun. We really enjoyed the gig.
The top 5 songs from our set list I hear you ask?

1.Motorhead....................Ace of Spades
2.The Proclaimers...........I'm Gonna Be (500 miles)
3.Shania Twain................Feel like A Woman
4.AC/DC...........................Let There Be Rock
5.The Darkness...............I Believe In A Thing Called Love.

Eclectic. You bet. Variety keeps it interesting.

Sadly, I'm not anticipating much variety during my next bike ride. I think I know every inch of the Island roads by now, but I need to keep racking up the miles if I'm going to complete this Etape route with any modicum of comfort. I'm definitely a bit bored of the long sessions over the same routes, and wish I could cycle across a bridge to the mainland and have a go through The New Forest.
Fellow Blogger Craig http://www.cstewart.net/blog/ has unnerved me by posting his account of a trial run along the Etape route. Quote.. 'On this week’s form I could certainly make it, but it will take superhuman effort. L’etape du tour is no cakewalk. Make no mistake.'
We're reaching a crucial stage of my training programme when I can still make big improvements as long as I continue to push myself. There are 9 weeks to go. Not very long is it?