I luuurve dee caaaaayke

When a blogger is Downe, when a cyclist is blue he get's in his car and what does he do?

He drives through the lanes and for his sanity's sake, he stops at a tea shop and has a nice cake.

And what a lovely cake it was (it would have to be to move me to poetry). Many times I have ridden through the sleepy village of Downe and, together with contemplating the origin of the species I have also contemplated what the cake shop might be like. So, with little motivation to ride on a dull and drizzly Saturday my beloved and I strapped in futurestar and headed to Cake in Downe.

What an absolute delight - friendly staff that looked as if they cooked (and ate) with love cheerily talked through the daily delights. Beloved went for a classic Victoria sponge (light, fluffy, perfect balance of cream and jam) whilst I 'plum'-ped for the warm plumb crumble cake ('freshly picked from the garden) - it was utterly heavenly. All washed down with a pot of tea whilst we sat in the window watching the wheelers cruise by as many a customer will have done to me.

Please go - you won't be disappointed.

A little bit dicey

Sadly by the time you probably read this post it will be irelevant but I'll carry on typing in this knowledge.

I have just spent the last 14 minutes watching 'A Throw of the Dice' which is one of Rapha's attempts to elevate the sport into an art form. Now, whilst they have undoubtedly elevated the sport and the clothing I think it's fair to say that they have probably gone a little bit further than they needed to with this cinematic offering.

If you read this post before midnight tonight (I think, although their website says 12.00am on Saturday 14th August which means that it should have actually ended about 14 hour ago) then you too can have the privilege of a 'preview' of the Nick Livesey directed guff.

The subject is great - the tale of the Lion of Flanders himself - but the intercut scenes of war and poetic prose is, quite frankly, utter, utter crap and totally overrides (no pun intended) the great footage and narrative of the Lion himself.

So, Mr Motram et al, I implore you, get a grip and keep doing what you are doing but please don't disappear too far up your own Arenbergs. Merci

Picture courtesy of Nick Livesey / RSA films (I hope they don't mind after what I've said)