In an attempt to both exercise and save money, I have done it. I have taken up cycling. After a few recent delightful sojourns on my ancient bicycle, simply running errands and getting to work, I decided it was time to test my new found skills and embark on a lengthier trip… with disastrous results.
Suffice to say almost everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong. After a beautiful ride in the spring time sunshine getting to my destination I felt exhilarated and full of love for my new found activity. But the night began to darken, a biting cold started to permeate the air and I started off on the 7.1miles back towards home. Things were going ok, until I realised that the bungee cord I had stored (perhaps unwisely) by looping it around the back of my bike frame had slipped down and become irreparably tangled within the rear cogs, preventing the graduation into a higher gear. This I was handling, until it dawned on me that the numerous potholes, loose stones and irregular pavements across London had caused so much turbulence on my tired old frame that the handlebars had became so loose they begun to slip down and over to one side of the bike, removing access to the brakes and more importantly, steering.
This I was also handling. It wasn’t until I inadvertently broke the gear controls on the handlebars, necessitating me adopting a vice-like claw position to hold the round plastic so that I could peddle and actually propel myself forward that the bike ride came to an end. A hero and chariot were called for and my broken self along with my broken bike were bundled in the back.
Far from put me off, this mini adventure only served to wet my appetite. I can’t wait to get back in the saddle (sorry) and spend what’s shaping up to be a beautiful sunny summer on 2 wheels.
I have already begun the search for a new, beautiful, functioning streamlined bike. My first port of call was of course Bobbin Bicycles, self proclaimed “Most Beautiful Bike Shop in Britain”, and I have to agree with them. Look at these beauties:
