An Inspiration

Graeme Eng!
Leading the pack up a steep climb.
Sure, he does have a great bike, but it takes a damn good pair of legs and lungs too.
Graeme has been a friend since I was at high school. There, he taught me English. Graeme was one of those teachers that teaches more than the subject. I liked the fact that he did not wear a tie; he was on the protests against the Springbok rugby tour; he acted on stage with the students; he encouraged differences. And lots more. Graeme was always training. He cycled to school. He ran around the school track after school, puffing like a steam train. Once I met him when I had just ran up on to the Port Hills on a blistering hot day. My first ascent. He told me I would not be up there again. I thought he was wrong. He was right.
Way behind Graeme you can see younger guys, in more fashionable lycra outfits, riding lighter bikes. I would like to go for a ride with Graeme. He would be civil enough to wait for me.