“My ageing friend will keep riding with the 20mph group, even if it bankrupts him"

Fear of failure is good for business, reflects the Doc

- Dr Hutch

I don't often compare myself to Joseph Stalin, but occasionally I feel I must. In 1928 Stalin instituted the first five-year plan for developing the Soviet economy. He set tractor production targets and launched a propaganda offensive to encourage the workers. The five-year plan was completed in four years. It was at a considerable human cost, but very little of that was to Uncle Joe himself. Every subsequent five-year plan had to be completed in four years, or he literally had people shot.

I have a regular two-hour training ride. It takes about an hour and 50 minutes. I might not have myself shot if it took two hours to do it, but I'd certainly be a little ashamed of myself.

I was reminded of things like this when a friend called by last week to chat about the performance improvements he might see from some equipment upgrades. He needs to keep up with his preferred club-run, the race-training one which averages about 20mph, but he finds that's a little faster than he's comfortable with these days.

"How about going on the 18mph ride?" I asked. "It would be about £5,000 cheaper, and you might meet a better class of person?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

He's simply not an 18mph personality. There was a time when he'd have ridden at 20mph if it killed him. Now he'll ride at 20mph if it bankrupts him. Such is age and wisdom.