There is an amusing anecdote about the transition from the old bike to the new bike......
I used to ride on many of the charity bike rides. My friend rang me at work but I was very busy and distracted - so she quickly asked if I wanted to take part in one from Kings Cross to Cambridge - I said yes then quickly asked how long this ride was (we usually did rides of 35-50 miles long). She said 'oh about 35 miles'. I didn't give it a thought. She sent off for the forms etc.
Meantime my husband (then boyfriend) had persauded me to switch to a mountain bike. When I bought it I asked if I should use my existing saddle or the new one as I was doing a 35 mile bike ride. I was told 35 miles should be fine with the new saddle.
The week of the bike ride - she phoned and asked how I was getting to the bike ride. Bear in mind she lived in West London and I lived in South London and we both regularly rode to work into the centre of London.....I said I was riding from South London and she replied "Oh you're brave! I am putting my bike into a black cab". I thought it a bit strange but didn't query it.
So on the day I cycled from South London to Kings Cross (no big deal). We lined up at the start, and the man on the loud hailer said (and I quote) "Ladies and Gentlemen, its 65 miles from here...." I looked at my friend horrified. She looked at me a bit sheepish and said "oh yes...ummmm, I meant to tell you".
You think of Cambridge as flat, but you don't think how many country lanes have hill after bend, after hill over and over.
After about 50 miles of the charity ride I was feeling the pain. Children were overtaking me (ahem) and for the first time ever on a bike ride I felt sorry for myself!.
I didn't finish the ride. I managed until about 2 miles - I just couldnt pedal anymore. I felt a failure.
The joke is, after the train ride back to Kings Cross and a lovely rest on the train I then cycled home to South London! I arrived walking like John Wayne had lost his horse and had several blisters on my backside.