today i rode over to watch the east midlands classic - the u.k.'s only elite level road race that takes on road surfaces like those above

it was great - just like paris-roubaix apart from:
a) there were hills
b) there were only two people riding who i had heard of, and
c) i could ride home in time for tea

info here

and pictures here

now playing: 'third' by portishead. certainly not easy listening...
i still vividly remember (which is unusual for me) seeing them for the first time on jools holland. the next day everyone was talking about them. ok, everyone with similar tatses who wasn't out on a friday night instead of being in watching telly.
i don't think they'll ever re-capture that time but the new album but is pretty good all the same