Well it's not the Broom Wagon

It's been 6 months since the Broom Wagon closed and so today when I popped in to Serendipity, that which its new owners from Birmingham have renamed it, to join them on their opening day, I was filled with anticipation to see what they had done with the establishment during the closed season.

I entered at 14:00. Stepped out at 14:05. Big guy talking to lady tucking into pile of sandwiches. No one else in shop but these 2 and lady hidden behind coffee machine. No nod, no eye contact, no sign of wanting business. Strange smell, may be from kitchen. Picture hooks but no pictures.

Rightly or wrongly, I judge a location, establishment and people by the feeling I get from them in the first few minutes .. this is no Broom Wagon Coffee, I shall not be back but knowing how well Seaton greeted its very own proper Coffee shop and not just another cafe, it should do well!

On the flip side, I lunched earlier in another cafe which has just reopened on the seafront. It was bustling, airy and serving Mediterranean inspired platers which certainly befitted the temperature, blue sky and sea view. This establishment, the Hideaway Cafe, serving a very acceptable Black Bear Devon Coffee, I shall be returning to!

Coffee Shop Ride

What to do on a Sunday morning, when you're just 10 miles short of your 100 mile weekly target, and your legs are aching madly following an epic ride the previous day? Ride your bike to the local cyclist friendly coffee shop for a caffein and sugar boost, of course!

This also gave me the opportunity to further test out my GoPro camera which I've invested in ahead of my RideLondon event in just 5 weeks time!

For those of you who have yet to visit me in Seaton, you can also get a feel for where I am fortunate to live and the see the beach on which I have enjoyed many a lunch hour!

Saturday Exeter Loop

Okay, so we're just a week away from the Dartmoor Classic, that's a cycle ride of 67 miles and 6,300 ft of climbing across some of the most stunning and inhospitable scenery around. Andy and I covered 50 of these miles on our recce and hill climb training a couple of weeks ago and today we'd planned another long preparatory ride starting out from Seaton at 08:30, before the sun got too hot.

On the Cycle Way from Topsham to Exmouth with Andy, Jason and Kelly

We were pleased to be accompanied on our ride by Jason (my RideLondon buddy - [Note: the RideLondon is now less than 2 months away, so please support me if you can]) and Kelly a new member of AVP who, unable to join our Thursday evening rides, was looking to get some weekend miles in. Our circular route was to take us 60 miles via Exeter, Topsham and Exmouth, Kelly adding a further 10 miles having cycled all the way over from Axminster! Being one of our rides, we had 3 coffee stops, ending the ride, obviously at Glenn's Seaton "Broom Wagon Coffee" shop.

At the Broom Wagon Coffee Shop .. our final stop, with Andy and Jason

We did debate adding a further 7 miles to the route to avoid the climb out of Sidmouth up Salcombe Hill past the Norman Lockyer Observatory, but with 3 of us having not done it before, we thought, 'how bad can it be?' .. now we know!

This was a surprisingly quick ride, even taking 19 minutes off my 3hr:54m 50 mile record attained just a few weeks ago on that Dartmoor hill training circuit. Feeling good :)

Broom Wagon Coffee Shop Opening

The bank holiday weekend has started in good tradition, with the heavens opening and rain lashing heavily against the widows such that no sane cyclist would be venturing out today. However, recovering this morning after another session of lithotripsy yesterday, I'm pleased that the weather would be keeping me off my steed anyway and I am hopeful that as the sky clears towards the end of the weekend, my pains will do likewise.

Meanwhile, what better thing to do with oneself in this convalescing state, than to visit the new coffee shop opening this morning in Seaton. Glen, the naked man with whom we rode out with on the AVP evening ride to Lyme, is the man behind this new establishment. Serving strong, hot coffee and cake, it certainly ticks two important boxes for me and will hopefully be a new popular meeting place for local cyclists.

Glen, the naked man & proprietor

The Broom Wagon Coffee Shop, takes its name from the vehicle that follows a cycle road race picking up stragglers who are unable to make it to the finish within the time permitted, i.e. sweeping them up. 

I hear that the Broom Wagon is to add another attraction in the coming weeks, a TV screen to show coverage of the many global cycling events which, unknown probably to many, are longer and as frequent if not more so than the well televised Formua 1 Grand Prix ... I can see me making this a regular venue for my coffee and lunch breaks in future!

Looking forward to the killer attraction

Should it have perhaps a once a month (or more) Thursday late opening, hint hint,  I could see the Broom Wagon even usurping the Kings Arms as final watering hole for the AVP evening ride. Risking a political backlash, I would particularly be in favour of this after the increasingly late serving of fuel and lack of space at the Kings Arms. The need of a good pint of Branock then being satisfied perhaps every other week at the White Hart, where live music, good post cycling carbs and plenty of space would get my vote. Watch this space.