Gaby Book 28  Balancing Trick by Maddy Bell Copyright© 2023 Madeline Bell

 
"Gab!”
"Urgh.”
"Gab, wake up, its six fifteen!”

The urgent tones of my room mates voice eventually registered.

"What?”
"We’re late, come on or we’ll miss the train.”

Train, train, train! Shitza!

It’s a good job the station was literally like fifty metres away, you’d think half an hour was plenty of time to get up, dress and get across the road but it was gone quarter to by the time the five of us scrambled across the road to get the five to seven train. The others weren’t much better than us, out of necessity the breakfast stuff went in Josh’s holdall along with everyone's bikes shoes – we can eat on the train. Finding someone with a key for the storeroom where the bikes were stored was the other issue but that was resolved when the day manager arrived, thankfully early for their shift.

The RE7 rolled into the platform almost spot on time, as usual the bike carriage was the opposite end to where we waited so that meant a sprint down the platform to board. We were still parking the bikes when the Zug set off again, luckily it wasn’t busy so we were able to grab table seats on the top floor for four of us, Daz with the holdall filling two more directly behind us. We held off with the food until we’d cleared the Hauptbahnhof where the train took on a surprising number of passengers, when Josh checked, our bikes were hidden under a mass of machines so I guess we aren’t the only ones heading for this RTF thing.

There was a bit more passenger movement at the Ostkreuz after which we quite quickly moved through suburban East Berlin, the crossing of the Spree heralding our departure from the capital into the countryside of Brandenburg. We were filling our faces by now, our breakfast picnic wasn’t exactly ideal – no coffee for starters, but it did have plenty of sugary carbs the way a five year old might enjoy. Pumpernickel bread, sliced cheese and ham made quick no fuss sarnies, a packet of sponge fingers served as spoons for the tubs of yoghurt, all washed down with bottles of fruit juice and finished off with a pack of Madelines, you know, those sweet little sponge cake things with jam in.

Beyond the glass, the Brandenburg morning was looking quite bright but the patches of ground mist in some of the fields hinted at some coolness. There wasn’t really a lot to look at, there were more trees than fields and being essentially flat they provided the horizon.

"Wonder what that's all about?” Daz mentioned as we slowed into another station, this one surrounded by trees with barely another building in sight.
"Brand Tropical Islands,” Tal read from the name board.
"I’m sure that's the place on the flyer back at the hotel, some sort of waterpark,” Mand opined.
"Thought that was nearer Berlin,” I suggested.
"We’re what, an hour tops from central Berlin Gab,” Tali pointed out, "Hardly a long way.”
"Its only two more stops to this Lubben place,” Daz told us.
"Luebben!” me and Tal corrected.
"Whatever, we’ll be there in ten minutes according to the screen,” our tour guide advised.
"Best start getting ready then,” Josh prompted.
"Slave driver,” I complained even as I helped Tal and Mand with the clean up.
"Ah’ll go down to the bikes like, you gonna bring the bag Daz?”
"Yeah, got it.”
 

Lűbben was actually the third stop, we’d spent the last five minutes of the journey jockeying with at least twenty other cyclists to untangle steeds from the morass of bikes using the service. The train squealed to a halt and the exodus began, our five bikes being amongst the last to emerge. By the time we reached the front of the station pretty much all our fellow travellers were gone.

"About time, I thought you’d missed the train,” Gret admitted appearing from the shadows.
"It was close,” Tal supplied.
"Where’s your dad?” I enquired.
"Down at the event, its not far, you can ride in those.”

Not far she said, I suppose its all relative but try riding a kilometre, over cobbles, when your feet keep slipping off the pedals. It didn’t take long but I wasn’t the only one who barked their shins on the way. The event HQ was of course awash with bike kind, not just ‘serious’ riders like us but there are events for all ages and abilities right down to kindergarten. A lot of riders were already queuing up for the start of our event, just thirty minutes away, we had time but not to dally about.

Dieter had set up an impromptu team HQ complete with a workstand, Gret’s mum, Sonja had a table laden with bottles and, I was pleased to see, a big thermos jug that I hoped contained coffee.

"Morning everyone,” our leader for the day greeted, "We’ve not got a lot of time we’d best crack on. Josh, Greta, if one of you can check tyres and the other give the bikes a quick wipe and put on the numbers, I’ll check everyone’s gears and brakes, any known issues?”
"They were okay on last nights ride,” Tali advised.
"You rode last night?”
"Not far, just to get some dinner,” I told him, Tal and Mand giving me looks that suggested I not go onto more detail.
"As my husband hasn’t told you, the toilets are just behind the beer trailer,” Sonja Luchow mentioned, "Then I’ve got coffee and pastries here, you’ve had breakfast?”
"Aye,” Josh replied, "Ah need to make a visit an’ ahl be reet back Deetur.”

The toilets were both clean and queue free, within ten minutes we were all back with the Luchow’s, munching pastries and sipping the slightly bitter coffee in between stripping off legs and changing footwear.

"Okay guys,” Dieter started once he’d got our undivided, "Just remember, this is not a race, the roads are fully open to traffic so obey road signs and marshalls, you know the score. There’s no prizes, just treat it as a training ride with more riders. On the other hand a good workout ahead of tomorrow is the main reason you’re here today but that doesn’t mean riding through all the stops, you need to get your cards stamped anyway, we’ll be parked just before the Straupitz stop but otherwise you’ll be on your own. Questions?”
"When’s dinner?”
"Gabeee!” the others all chorused.
 

We joined the other several hundred riders waiting for the start, the MC doing his best to enthuse the assembled masses. There were easily a couple of hundred riders ahead of us, the first few kilometres will no doubt be a mad chase, I’ve seen it before at these events.

"If we get split up, Dad says we should regroup at the first stop at forty K,” Gret suggested.
"The traffic should’ve settled by then,” I agreed, "We all okay with that?”
"Aye, me an Daz can ride as sweepers if you like,” Josh offered.
"See how it goes.”
"Okay.”

By now the start was imminent, the local mayor was poised with the flag, a countdown was playing over the PA, an air of expectation settled over those waiting to start.

‘Paaarrrppp!’

 
The start was actually on closed roads, mostly I think to get everyone out of town as quickly as possible. Even so, a selection amongst the long snake of riders had already caused several splits in the field before we cleared the town and headed out into the Brandenburg countryside. I think we’d easily passed a hundred or more riders but there were plenty still ahead of us.

It might not be a race but we were cracking along at around forty K, part of a group of maybe thirty who by twenty kilometres were steadily eating through those who’d started too fast and were already feeling the pace. It wasn’t organised as such but there was already the makings of a chain gang, a group of loosely similar ability in a double line of through and off.

The fact we were still eating riders suggested we were far from being at the head of affairs but a look behind revealed we were some way ahead of the next group even if the road between was strewn with riders either trying to move up or dropping back.

"Tropical Island,” Tal stated pointing across the road.
"Looks like an old airfield,” I opined as we swept past.

We nearly rode past the first stop at Krausnitz, well half ‘our’ bunch did and ended up doing a u-turn to take Schulstraße, the lane which for this morning the village was hosting these rides. There were indeed a good number of riders ahead of us at the stamping station and the food tables.

"Push on to stop two?” Josh suggested.
"Go for it,” Gret replied.
"Lets get jiggy then,” Daz added pushing off through the chaotic scenes.
"What he said,” I added following suit.

I’m sure without the stop our little peloton would’ve stayed pretty much intact but the reality was that back out on the course the six of us were about as big a group as departed together. The next few kilometres we picked up a few strays, a few more caught up to us, well after the frenetic first hour we were now cruising at a more sustainable thirtyish kmh. Our new group was a bit smaller but it looked like everyone here had experience of these things and whilst they were mostly individuals, there was a happy competence that needed no words.
 

"So how’s ya doin’?” Josh asked, a missed turn having caused a change in pairings.
"Fine, I could ride all day like this.”
"Ah wasn’t meaning this hen, Manda was saying your gonna be like a pop star.”

She’s got a big mouth that de Vreen.

"Ah that.”
"Aye, that, ah know you sing with that band like but she was saying you’ll be making records an’ stuff.”
"Nothing’s settled, its all hyperthetical really.”
"So yous won’t be hanging up yer wheels then?”
"As if!” I snorted, "Give up all this for a life of luxury and fast cars.”
"Yer Mam already does the fast cars ah hear.”
"Tell me about it, Mand won’t get in the car if Mum’s driving.”
"Did I hear my name?” said women asked over her shoulder.
"Was just telling Josh about Mum’s driving.”
"I swear she thinks she’s Schummie,” Mand proposed before returning her attention to following Gret’s wheel.

Josh gave a chuckle and me a sideways glance.

"Ya would tell us like?”
“’course I will, I mean would.”
"Ah owe you a lot Bond.”
"Think I owe you more.”
"If you say so, remember, I’ll always have your back lass.”

What’s that supposed to mean? Have my back why?

Our conversation ended when we hit a stretch of nasty big cobbles in the centre of one of the villages, the ensuing jouncing reset the group and soon afterwards we embarked on a stretch of several kilometres of single track lane which unusually had a few ups and downs in this mostly flat countryside. The last of the ups was the biggest, not exactly steep but a bit of a drag over about a kilometre then at the top we were directed to stop two.

I think a lot of the faster riders were on a similar strategy to us, I spotted several riders from the start but there were others who I suspect were the tail end Charlies from the two hundred event which set off forty five minutes ahead of us. This time, after getting our stamps, we partook of some of the food and drink on offer. It was getting quite warm now, the earlier chill long gone so eking out the on bike liquid supplies seemed sensible.

We weren’t stopped long, maybe ten minutes but there was mow a continuous stream of new arrivals. I think a few of our previous bunch mates had been looking for us to depart as by the time we reached the main road, maybe a kilometre away, we had a fair facsimile of the pre stop group around us. After more village cobbles the road was wide and well surfaced, the shadows suggesting we were heading south.

Whether it was the road or the result of the short break I couldn’t say but the speed crept up and once again we started to hoover up a few slower movers. The road bobbled about a bit but the ups never needed a downward gear change, when we had a bit of gravity assist we were pretty much freewheeling at forty five! Things settled down again and we started to pickup some riders from the later starting shorter events, we were not far off ninety kilometres in, they were more like a dozen or maybe twenty from the start.

It was a bit of a dodgem ride along to Straupitz, my first order of business after the stamping was done was the erm, facilities. We did see Gret’s parents as we navigated the village but with no need of their assistance just exchanged greetings.
 

"Here,” Tali thrust a crepe into my hand, "Local delicacy apparently.”

Well I never look a gift horse as they say, especially when there’s chocolate spread involved.

"Fill the bottles and go?” Josh suggested, "We should get ahead of most of the traffic.”

Whilst its nice to see all these hundreds of riders, they can be a distraction if you want to ride quicker and in a group. In fact some are downright liabilities and as Dad would have it, contenders for a Darwin award.

"The next stop is only about ten K,” Gret told us, "There’s a bit of a loop around some lake after that before the last stop.”
"Suits me.” I confirmed.
"Lets do it,” Mand enthused.
 
Our peloton all seemed to have disappeared this time so it was just the Apollinaris train to navigate around the slower riders, which was just as well given some of the riding. The road didn’t help, it wasn’t a bad surface as such, it was just very choppy due to subsidence, the waterlogged woodland and pastures scenic but giving the name Spreewald a different meaning to the obvious. After bouncing about for what seemed like ten kilometres we reached a main road which we followed into Burg where the penultimate stop was sited.

The set up here was a bit different, maybe to cope with rider numbers, after the stamping you either went straight through or into a lane where calories could be acquired.

"We stopping?” de Vreen asked.
"Thought we were pushing on.”
"You okay?” Gret asked her.
"Yeah, well no, a bit of cramp, I’ll be okay after walking on it a bit.”
"Stop it is,” Josh stated.

I wasn’t too happy about another stop so soon after the last but I could hardly complain. Of course within a minute I was glad of the extra stop, a rider eating what looked like Linsensuppe caught my attention and I was soon not the only one spooning the tasty soup into my maw. No one ever out and out will say it but in my experience, getting some salt into your system works wonders for relieving cramp and this soup, with its chunks of sausage certainly tasted a bit salty. Whether it was the salt or just the short walk I couldn’t say but by the time we reached the end of the food lane she announced herself fit to go on.

There were still a lot of riders on the lanes but on the wider roads they were less of a hazard to the Apollinaris train, there was still over thirty K to go but we started to wind things up. It came as a bit of a shock when, after several fairly sheltered kilometres, we came out onto the exposed land surrounding the lake, a stiff crosswind breaking our rhythm. The good news was that we soon changed direction and rather than a hindrance, the wind settled on our backs as we followed the lane around the water.
 

Having had the stop at Burg we did a stamp and go at the final feed at Lűbbenau, after all its just fifteen kilometres to the finish. We seemed to go round in circles at one bit before taking a little lane that took us to a slightly rickety footbridge over a sluice. It was a bit sketchy to ride over, after watching me the others all walked. We were now riding on the dyke next to the river, tarmac but quite narrow, with Mr Waugh heading our train we zipped along, a couple of times just squeezing past errant dogs and walkers.

I thought by the distance we’d go straight into the town along the river but we were signed off short onto a dusty lane that took us into a sort of village rather than the town itself. Which is where we got a last treat, best part of a kilometre of horrible cobbles taking us back to the event village. There was quite a traffic jam as we approached the finish arch as the squad of women wearing the local Kostum handed out the event gongs.

Okay it’s a prize of sorts, what felt like a lump of lead in the form of a gurken. Most of them were, as you might expect, painted green but the yellow stripe on our numbers awarded us trophies with a spray of silver.

"Aargh!” Mand squarked as we headed towards a purveyor of after ride refreshment.
"Your leg again?” Gret enquired.

De Vreen managed a nod before another yelp rent the air.

Which is when Sonja found us.

"Over on the bench, Gret, go find your Dad, he was over by the beer tent.”
 
Maddy Bell © 15.06.2023