I am ill
I am very very very ill
Indeed I thought I might be next to death's door.
I have had the first signs of an extreme case of man flu.
The men I have spoken to have understood perfectly and been most sympathetic. Indeed one said that he had heard a rumour that the local hospital had opened a special ward for OAPs in my condition and staffed it with particularly young, attractive nurse to dab my fevered brow..
However, the response I have had from the females that I know has been completely different!
My wife has ignored me!
Others have gone * pfft, humbug * and just walked away!
And those who are cyclists have told me, in a very scornful voice, to obey #Rule 5 from The Way of the Cycling Disciple
There seemed to be only one cure for my illness, and that was to follow #Rule 12, the correct number of bikes to own is N+1 where N is the number you currently have.
So, I have acquired another bike !!!!!
It is a Giant TCR Advanced SL3 but equipped with Ultegra Di2
The specification sounds very impressive but some of you may be asking :-
" Is not that an aerodynamically contoured racing machine constructed out of Advanced SL CARBON Composite Grade Frame ? And does it not have a Compact Group Set and hence only two chain wheels?
I thought you were wedded to Steel? And high quality Reynolds Steel Tubing at that ? "
Another friend has pointed out that the Giant P-SL0 Wheel System seems to be short on spokes compared to his 1983 Raleigh Royal with 36 spokes in each wheel.
I also had to defend myself by pointing out that, though it did indeed have an electronic Ultegra Di2 Groupset, it was not all of Ulregra build, the Bottom Bracket is Dura Ace.
I can only put down this turning to the Dark Side and acquiring a Death Star down to the fact that my extreme illness must have rearranged some of the neural pathways in my brain and caused a moment of insanity
It is very nice though :-)