Believe.

Unknown fan photographed at the Tour of Britain, Glasgow 2006.

Tour Series...

...started this week and Rapha Condor Sharp took the lead just ahead of Scotland's Endura Racing. Good excuse to start digging in the archive.

Dean Downing photographed at Meadowbank Velodrome 2007.

Rural Signage.

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Golden Hour.

...and it dosen't even cost anything.

Ohhh The Good Life...

Despite getting soaked before i even got out of town and the fact that i was visibly resembling a pile of shit by the top of the Auchendinny climb, steaming and covered in flies, i couldn't help but laugh when the sun burst out and a van passed me with "despite the high cost of living it still remains popular" written on the back. And then for the second time in a year my road provided me with that special feeling.

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Bella Italia.

Majestic, the beautiful sport of racing bicycles. If i felt inclined to use the dreaded E word to describe half a day on a bike then today might merit it but i refuse as i've read too many books on the subject of Everest expeditions.

Photos by Roberto Bettini, cyclingnews.com

Found.

Backyard, Leith.

Reality.

Being a true Scot i am usually happy to deal with most weather situations but i have to admit that even i am becoming demoralized by the fact that its mid May yet still climatically mid winter. A mug of hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows was enough to warm my cockles but not even a large slab of home-made carrot cake could cheer up my Italian cycling companion. Take solace in the fact that you wisely purchased a waterproof jacket rather than a jersey with an upside down flag.

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Pink.

Ok not my first choice but you could tell on the start ramp and certainly after the first few shots of him taking corners that it was going to take a brave or intoxicated man to beat him, so fairs fair. My gripe on this day is not with Mr Wiggins but Mr Harmon, seconds before the former rolled down the start ramp Mr Harmon proclaimed "niiicce bike", i disagree. Gripe over.

Photo by Roberto Bettini, cyclingnews.com

Outro Mundo (dois).

I personally don't think that modernisation is all positive progress but i live in a cosmopolitan city where i have the luxury of choosing how much modernisation in which to indulge myself. This stretch of road running between Burgau and Salema, two small fishing villages in the western Algarve, has been recently partially resurfaced due to a new luxury estate halfway between the two, partially as a section of dirt road remains in an area of natural wetland, progress with a conscience. The new estate is a blot on the landscape and a further intrusion into an area of stunning beauty but the road would never have been resurfaced for the locals alone and maybe it is to their benefit. I as a mere tourist am torn between the road as it was, from a romantic and nostalgic point of view, and the road it is now, from a selfish roadbike slickness point view. Due to the lack of veteran cyclists/cycling fans with whom to interact i found myself pestering a veteran of a more seafareing pursuit.

Outro Mundo (desligado-estrada).

Being stranded in Portugal by volcanic ash wasn't all a bed of roses but it did have some benefits. Turns out the local bike hire trade isn't doing that well though, my name was the last one on the hire sheet, from two years ago.