Here's a funny thing.

When you learn a new language - like French or Russian - you're taught that conversations go like this:

"Hello"

"Hello"

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, how are you?"

and so on.

I'd do the russian too, but you get the point.

You're never taught to say - "actually, I'm feeling a bit shit". You're taught only how to say "I'm fine". Whether this is because you're not allowed to be anything else in a foreign country, or something else, I'm not sure.

Cockle will be swotting up on his Russian for next year, and will be able to proudly declare - in Russian - that he has "rejetted his main jet and now he can't keep his front wheel downski".

To be honest, there's a lot of stuff sloshing around right now which is fighting for braintime along with bike-related stuff. Most of it is really in-your-face-right-in-front-of-you stuff.

It's amazing how much psychic energy you can use up simply by worrying and fretting. It's amazing how these wories and frets just disappear when you're concerned with finding grip and avoiding Martin's oustretched lap-counting fingers.

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