PALE GREEN

James Cracknell and his 'Ride Across Britain' circus rolled into town today with the carbon wheel print of a sizeable city. Pity Simon Usborn felt the need to headline the event in The Independent on Sunday's 'Green Living' section.

'The Ride Across Britain (RAB), sponsored by Deloitte, offers a third way. A mobile festival of cycling making its debut this year, RAB will give more than 500 riders the chance to tackle a tour of epic proportions. In effect nine "sportives" in a row – with all the equipment, feed stations and mechanical support you'd expect – it's tied together by a vast mobile tented village that will race ahead with the gear during each stage to set up camp and put on the pasta.'

'The mechanical support you'd expect' included numerous king size trucks, coaches the size of Penzance , portable generators that could have lit half of Cornwall, portable lighting systems that did light half of Cornwall, chuck wagons galore and acres of canvas...all to keep the lycra clad yummy mummies and the wannabe JCs within their 'comfort zones' during their epically proportioned efforts. Can't wait for the noise from the after show party to drift across the horizon!

Remember when cycling was a genteel mode of transport requiring nothing more than your trusty Raleigh, a Sturmey Archer 3-Speed and a pair of cycle clips? I suspect it has been hi-jacked by a more creative and cosmopolitan set and Mr Deloitte must be rubbing his hands together with glee at the idea of his company name being splashed across Master Cracknell's ample thighs.

Remember this guy?

Michael Taylor...did the ride in 9 days....completely unsupported...raised a bit of cash for his local charity...didn't make much fuss about it...and is one of many who set off each year from Lower Treave to do their bit.. He's my hero...and not a tour bus or an IOS journo in sight!

.