times at the end of the 19th century when cycle road racing was banned from main roads in Britain. A ban enforced harshly by police until the outbreak of World War II when attitudes to road cycle races changed for the better.
Rolley rode a top class Pinarello Dogma 60.1 road bike and for two weeks after he joined the club many of the members admired his bike and discussed the features he liked most about his ride.
At one of the break stops, out on a road in rural Hampshire, he gathered an audience of twelve road cyclists. They engaged in an intensive discussion about the merits of the asymmetric frame system for the chainstay on the Dogma bike, compared to most other bikes, with a single-sided drivetrain system.
Others were more interested in the new Japanese carbon fibre 60HM1K used in the frame which was reported to be more rigid, lighter and more resistant to impact damage. Rolley had allowed some of the club members to have a ride and they enthused about the balance, the quietness and the satisfying feeling that all of the rider's power was being transferred into forward motion.
Very quickly Rolley became a popular member of the club and one of his new friends confided that one of the prominent club members Phil W Pallston was the person to speak to if Rolley was interested in any under-the-counter supplies.
It was not until the start of his second session that Rolley met final year PhD student Phil Pallston. Phil said in passing he knew Rolley's brother, not personally but he'd seen Ray at many race meetings up and down the country. The second time Phil spoke to Rolley was at a road stage stop and Rolley initiated a discussion about nutrition and sports drinks.
Rolley looked uncomfortable, hobbled around and complained about foot and toe cramping and upper back pain. Tensing his feet and clawing his toes for long periods at a time caused his cramping. The upper back pain that he felt developed from his hunched posture and pushing his head down over the front wheel. A combination that caused flexing of his lumbar spine and shortening of the back of his neck.
Phil asked Rolley what he took for pain relief and before long they were talking about steroids. Rolley told him that from time to time he used a little test for aches and pains. When Phil asked if he wanted any test Rolley told him he had his own testosterone supplier.
Phil told him that his supply was pharmaceutical grade and not far eastern or European crap. Rolley agreed to take a sample of Phil's test for a trial. A few days later Rolley and Phil met up again at the first stage stop. Phil waited until Rolley was alone in the toilet before he spoke.
"How are your aches and pains?" Phil asked.
"Much better thanks. I've just got some finger tingling," Rolley replied.
"If you don't mind me saying you lean forward too much."
"I know, I know, too much weight on my hands. I feel more comfortable in that position. It's only when I stop I get the tingling."
"What did you think of the trial?"
"Excellent. Its better quality than I'm used to."
"It's pharmaceutical grade. When you need more, just give me a nod."
"Maybe next week. A month's supply."
"No problem," Phil said.
They sat down alone and a few of the others read from Phil's face that he was doing business so they left them alone. No-one likes other cyclists to know they are buying drugs although they all know that is what is going on with Phil. They sipped on their energy drinks and watched the other cyclists fussing over their bikes.
"I was hoping to meet Jemard Edmond," Rolley asked.
"Jemard?" Phil looked surprised.
"Ray says he's an Olympic medal contender."
"Yeah he's definitely got the legs. He needs to build up his stamina."
"He's a club member?"
"Oh yeah he is. He's doing a PhD in Sports Biology," Phil replied.
"I haven't seen him at any meets."
"No that's right. He's abroad at the moment doing the hard stuff, mountains and hills. I think it's something to do with his research. When
Rolley rode a top class Pinarello Dogma 60.1 road bike and for two weeks after he joined the club many of the members admired his bike and discussed the features he liked most about his ride.
At one of the break stops, out on a road in rural Hampshire, he gathered an audience of twelve road cyclists. They engaged in an intensive discussion about the merits of the asymmetric frame system for the chainstay on the Dogma bike, compared to most other bikes, with a single-sided drivetrain system.
Others were more interested in the new Japanese carbon fibre 60HM1K used in the frame which was reported to be more rigid, lighter and more resistant to impact damage. Rolley had allowed some of the club members to have a ride and they enthused about the balance, the quietness and the satisfying feeling that all of the rider's power was being transferred into forward motion.
Very quickly Rolley became a popular member of the club and one of his new friends confided that one of the prominent club members Phil W Pallston was the person to speak to if Rolley was interested in any under-the-counter supplies.
It was not until the start of his second session that Rolley met final year PhD student Phil Pallston. Phil said in passing he knew Rolley's brother, not personally but he'd seen Ray at many race meetings up and down the country. The second time Phil spoke to Rolley was at a road stage stop and Rolley initiated a discussion about nutrition and sports drinks.
Rolley looked uncomfortable, hobbled around and complained about foot and toe cramping and upper back pain. Tensing his feet and clawing his toes for long periods at a time caused his cramping. The upper back pain that he felt developed from his hunched posture and pushing his head down over the front wheel. A combination that caused flexing of his lumbar spine and shortening of the back of his neck.
Phil asked Rolley what he took for pain relief and before long they were talking about steroids. Rolley told him that from time to time he used a little test for aches and pains. When Phil asked if he wanted any test Rolley told him he had his own testosterone supplier.
Phil told him that his supply was pharmaceutical grade and not far eastern or European crap. Rolley agreed to take a sample of Phil's test for a trial. A few days later Rolley and Phil met up again at the first stage stop. Phil waited until Rolley was alone in the toilet before he spoke.
"How are your aches and pains?" Phil asked.
"Much better thanks. I've just got some finger tingling," Rolley replied.
"If you don't mind me saying you lean forward too much."
"I know, I know, too much weight on my hands. I feel more comfortable in that position. It's only when I stop I get the tingling."
"What did you think of the trial?"
"Excellent. Its better quality than I'm used to."
"It's pharmaceutical grade. When you need more, just give me a nod."
"Maybe next week. A month's supply."
"No problem," Phil said.
They sat down alone and a few of the others read from Phil's face that he was doing business so they left them alone. No-one likes other cyclists to know they are buying drugs although they all know that is what is going on with Phil. They sipped on their energy drinks and watched the other cyclists fussing over their bikes.
"I was hoping to meet Jemard Edmond," Rolley asked.
"Jemard?" Phil looked surprised.
"Ray says he's an Olympic medal contender."
"Yeah he's definitely got the legs. He needs to build up his stamina."
"He's a club member?"
"Oh yeah he is. He's doing a PhD in Sports Biology," Phil replied.
"I haven't seen him at any meets."
"No that's right. He's abroad at the moment doing the hard stuff, mountains and hills. I think it's something to do with his research. When
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