Coast to Coast

You knew he was there as soon as you entered the hostel room - not in person but the signs were plain to see. It was the clothes line strung up across the window that first gave the game away - complete with that day's washing.

And what washing! Each piece of clothing was a technological masterpiece. Designed to speed the serious cyclist on his dash across, or around, Holland. The vests were aerated, the shorts slick. Even the sneakers - I do the name an injustice - would have garanteed Michael Jordan an extra ten points a game.

And then there were the medications set out on the shelf. Pills to deaden pain, fight off allergies and give you an extra boost. WADA would have are started an enquiry.

All told I felt provincial. No wonder I was struggling against headwinds on the first day of my trip. If I had prepared like Him then I would have been in Switzerland by now.

I eventually met up with him and we had a beer together. He was actually a nice guy, Canadian, from British Colombia, on a trip around Holland where his ancestors came from. He'd already done the south and was averaging 100km a day. That will give me something to aim for, but never achieve.

But then he was the slow one amongst his friends. Some girl he knows did Coast to Coast USA in 11 days on her bike.

Of course, it's easy if you have the right equipment.