Wheels Of Fortune

It wasn't the spa break she'd hoped for, but Liz was going to make the best of it ...

THE first surprise for Liz was hearing that she'd won a big prize in an online competition that she'd entered months ago.

The second was that it wasn’t the week-long holiday in a luxury spa resort in Greece that she’d been hoping for.

That had been the first prize, and the main reason Liz had taken the time to enter.

She loved the idea of a week of pampering!

When she opened the e-mail confirmation, though, Liz discovered she’d won the competition’s second prize a brand-new bike.

A bike! What on earth would she want with a bike?

Reading the e-mail over again, Liz did some quick calculations in her head.

She worked out that it had probably been 40 years since she’d last ridden on two wheels.

“Ah, but they say you never forget how to ride a bike,”, her friend, Anne, remarked when Liz called to tell her about her win.

“It'll be good for you, Liz,” she added. You’re always saying you want to get fitter.”

Liz frowned.

“Anne, I’m fifty-six years old. There’s no way I’m going to make a fool of myself by cycling around in public!”

Liz decided instead that she would just sell the new bike and put the money towards the spa break she was dreaming of.

The large parcel arrived a few days later, delivered by a courier service.

Liz had to fight her way through several thick layers of reinforced cardboard and miles of bubble wrap before finally seeing the bike in all its glory.

She fell in love with it at first sight!

It was the most beautiful bike she’d ever seen.

The elegant, shapely frame was painted a pale denim blue with a soft matte finish.

The comfortably padded handle grips and saddle were tan leather.