This is what can happen if you engage in a bit of light hearted social media banter with some friends from your cycling club.
Brompton recently held their 2015 World Championships in London and as a new Brompton owner this year, I entered. My run of luck with balloted events (see Ride London, London Marathon etc etc) continued and I didn't get a place.
This coincided with a bit of banter between friends on the subject of folding bike races and we ended up running our own event.
Taking the dress code from the Brompton World Champs, opening the entry to any folder or collapsible with wheels smaller than 24" and adapting the format to a simple 7.1 mile time trial on a well used local course we had an event on our hands.
The final piece, and the bit that I think makes this race unique, is finishing it off by making a cup of tea.
With riders being friends from Colchester Rovers, Manningtree Wheelers, Amis Velo RT and Re-Cycle Colchester there was no entry fee, although voluntary donations were left for Re-Cycle to help with their work in providing serviceable bikes to communities in Africa where they can make a massive difference
At the start, riders set off at one minute intervals. They were counted down by the starter and at that point they were able to unfold and set off. Everything required to make a cup of tea had to be carried on the 7.1 mile lap of the Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race circuit.
On completion of the lap, riders refolded their machines and brewed up, the finishing time taken at the moment a cuppa was presented to the timekeeper.
What made this race special? It was pure fun. All the competitors hurt themselves as much they would have done in any other event but I have never seen quite so many smiles from spectators, officials and participants at any other bike race.
The variety of bikes surprised me - from the smallest wheeled machine, Ian Fox's Carry Me to Kenny Baker's Moulton Stowaway (the hardest bike to assemble) there were also bikes from Brompton, Dahon, Apollo and Dawes
I suspect we may have a bigger field if we repeat this next year...
All photos pinched from the club Facebook page - taken by Lois Mansel-Thomas, Carol Fox, Kevin Ollett, Christopher Douglas and Julie Clayton
Our winner - Graham Collins of Manningtree Wheelers gets aero
It might be early August, but my mind is turning towards a winter training camp.
I blame work. I had to book a flight for a business trip last week and for some reason thought I'd better check flight prices for Mallorca in February... let's just say they were attractively priced.
Lets be clear right now about what constitutes a training camp. My definition is going away with a bunch of mates who happen to ride bikes. And you all want to ride as much as possible.
This works because we all want to take advantage of completely free, clear days to ride our bikes without having to worry about anything else - chores, work, commitments, responsibility. Its the closest you can get to living the life of a Pro. Most of us will never get any closer and that's just fine.
The riding is as intense or easy as you want to make it, but recovery sessions may include more Dutch beer and Lamumbas than a marginal gain would normally allow.
Last February in Mallorca it wasn't hot but it was 10 degrees warmer than home, the roads were great, it was cheap and because the winter economy of the island depends on cyclists, the drivers were courteous to a level no British rider is normally exposed to.
A lot of hotels also have superb facilities for cyclists. We saw some snow, but it was where it belonged - on the tops of mountains and not on the roads (well maybe a little at the side of the road). We saw plenty of sunshine.
Oh, and there's scenery - did I mention that Mallorca is a beautiful island - particularly in the mountains. You couldn't ask for much more without building a justified reputation for being greedy.
The one thing I would change from the last trip? I won't expect to be in peak form for at least a couple of weeks afterwards... as a desperate Northern European who has escaped from the worst road conditions of the year at home, you want to make the most of it. And so you should... just expect to be knackered for a while on your return.
You can get a flavour of this year's trip with Velo Schils Interbike here
