I'm doing a bit of part-time work for a local firewood supplier, and today we had a tall, thin, bloke with a beard in a flash Merc van, wanting 20 bags of hardwood. I recognised him as a local cyclist, and told him about Steve's ride. I also asked the usual questions. Was he getting out much in this cold weather? 'Not before 11, because of the ice', was the reply. What plans did he have for the coming season? 'The opposite of your mate; the Hour Record'.
Sir Bradley seemed impressed that Steve was attempting such a feat in this country. When I told him about the 205 miles a day, it didn't seem to compute, as he wondered if that was the weekly figure.