I was recounting an encounter I had while out cycling last Sunday to a friend, who suggested I wrote it down for all at BCTS, so here goes.

I had agreed to meet a friend at Rowland’s Castle for a short cycle ride around the area. We decided to ride to Buriton have a break and then cycle back. Well the best plans go awry and as we both failed to make it up the first of the two ‘lumpy bits’ we left a marker on the bank of the road for next time and turned off at Chalton. We then made our way back to Rowland’s Castle for Tea and toasted teacake.

Several other groups of cyclists had invaded the café and as it was sunny we sat outside. While we were nattering a couple of cyclists pulled up. It was obviously dad and teenage daughter, aged about fourteen years old. They had identical top spec bikes and were out on a run. We noticed the youngster was wearing a GB racing strip and my friend asked if she was in the team or not. I said possibly, but you can buy replica strips although I had been told they were expensive.

Dad went in to order their refreshments and the girl took her helmet off and the blonde hair was on her shoulders but not well styled. She kept her sunglasses on and her build was quite thin about five foot four in height.

We continued our conversation, my friend Teresa recounting her rides around this area when she was young.

During a lull in our conversation I overheard the youngster talking to dad.

Hang on, that voice didn’t fit the teenage girl.

I looked again at the bikes, they were identical, complete with men’s frames. The bright red lips had faded while they sat there.
I was rather shocked to have run into Gaby in real life. However from the snippets of conversation overheard HE was moaning about something in school.

After they left, as we were preparing our second ride, I told Teresa what I had heard. She was also convinced it was a girl. She said beauty is beauty, and wondered if he had as many problems she had as a ‘pretty’ boy at school. But that’s another story for another time.

Love to all

Anne G.