Weird

This week's Comic has the air of the surreal about it.  It's two weeks too early for April Fool, so I can only assume that the staff of Cycling Weekly hit the laughing water a bit too enthusiastically on St Patrick's Day and we're all paying the price.

How else to explain the three most bizarre stories in there?

First, Cabinet Minister Tessa Jowell is pictured with the frozen grin and locked straight arms of the track novice, riding round Herne Hill, clinging to the blue line as if her life depended on it.  The future of London's only velodrome is once again in the balance, despite the imminent arrival of the Olympics and the huge success of Britain's track teams.

Second, an anonymous skater in a gorilla mask (don't ask) has been launching random attacks on cyclists in the capital.

And third, Mark Cavendish suffered mechanical catastrophe in Tirreno-Adriatico when his chain jammed into his Dura-Ace rear mech -- because of a fundamental design flaw.  The spacer is apparently only attached to the cage on one side. This makes it easier to change the mech, but also easy for the chain to jump off the cage.  Columbia mechanics have effected a temporary solution on all the team's bikes.

So let's get this clear.   You pay £165 for a Dura-Ace mech, £800 if you want all the bits to match -- and you still have to zip tie the cage together to stop the chain flying off?

I'm glad I ride Campag.