What a day
Set off in the rain on a very tired bike after some prolonged poverty and unemployment, running gear just about holding together as long as there are no sudden movements or bad gear changes, front brake cable snapped two weeks ago (tried to replace but the sleeve is blocked and it's campy posh under the tape, and a rear wheel very out of true so rather feeble rear brakes doing the work, so braking has to start early and sir is disinclined to ride at any pace over medium. In the wet? Shouldn't be riding at all quite frankly. But don't want to pay for the train.
Anyway, off I go at a medium pace, uphill on Ferry Lane in Walthamstow, half see a guy bombing down the hill in the oppo direction and then a rather recognisable sound, turn to see him and a girl lying in the road. I U turned and got there as a driver stopped, rider seemed ok after getting up slowly but his chunky hybrid front wheel is proper ruined, girl on the deck with a lot of blood on her face. Ambulance called, I sat her down on a wall, a lady driver comes over and does some proper soft skill stuff, 14 year old on her way to school, blood mopped off and it seems to just be a cut to the nose and perhaps a split lip, coppers arrive and take names and numbers, and off I go, even slower after that.
Lots of rain and water and bad traffic through Finsbury Park, coming down the hill into Camden, dragging the rear brake and thankfully not going quick at all when the rear and last brake cable snaps, there's time to say 'shoot' before the bike starts accelerating down the hill, I'm trialling a new rather high saddle position and reaching the ground is a stretch, jamming my toes into the road just barely stops me, phew, the overwhelming feeling is one of relief and that could have been worse. I start a serene push, in the rain, along the pavement into Camden which surely has a bike shop?
It does, just about, a very small and rammed full of bikes shop called Camden Cycles, the mechanic has just opened up, I realise as he shapes up to make a then and there repair that I don't have my wallet. He makes a quick inspection and is horrified to see both cables are snapped and the front pads very very worn. I make non committal noises of relaxed complacency.
He very reasonably quotes me £13 to replace each brake cable, £6.99 for new pads and a bit more for a new outer if needed, he'll try and save the bar tape, he seems very au faite with the minimal budget commuter angle. I leave it with him and walk carrying pannier and helmet, in the rain, the rest of the way to work. It's further than it seems on the bike, 30 minutes, lots of tourists and puddles, arrive at work soaked, a hot shower and dry clothes and a hot coffee feels really good.
Camden Cycles closes at 7pm bless em, the Lady Wife pays over the phone and I collect, it has indeed called for a new outer but the bar tape look as good as new, two cables replaced, a new front outer and new pads on a same day service for less than £40. They make tut tut noises about the rear wheel and the half there half gone rear mudguard, I promise them I know what's wrong with the bike and that it will get fixed. Eventually.
Off into Camden in the rain, good lord front and rear brakes properly set up are marvelous, even in the heavy rain. Which gets heavier and heavier, my first ride home via Tottenham in a long long time throws me into the larey Broad Lane one way but now two way which I know has been rejigged, the dark and pouring rain in the rush hour is not a good time to be trying to work it out but through and onto Ferry Lane, many puddles, some flooding but finally home, minging wet, good lord a dressing gown and a cold beer feels good. After an hour the forecast for tomorrow for rain barely raised an eyebrow.
Bring it on (although the overshoes have some big holes on the toes)
oooh and I forgot what set the day off, my first right hand turn at the crossroads at the Bell, waiting at the front to turn right, hear a car revving and then was rather alarmed to find it passing me on the right and naturally having to cut back in sharply to avoid hitting oncoming traffic head on, I'm not saying it was a close pass but his left wing mirror hit the edge of my fingers wrapped around the brake hood. I'm afraid I swore rather loudly after the car as it shot up Hoe Street.
Set off in the rain on a very tired bike after some prolonged poverty and unemployment, running gear just about holding together as long as there are no sudden movements or bad gear changes, front brake cable snapped two weeks ago (tried to replace but the sleeve is blocked and it's campy posh under the tape, and a rear wheel very out of true so rather feeble rear brakes doing the work, so braking has to start early and sir is disinclined to ride at any pace over medium. In the wet? Shouldn't be riding at all quite frankly. But don't want to pay for the train.
Anyway, off I go at a medium pace, uphill on Ferry Lane in Walthamstow, half see a guy bombing down the hill in the oppo direction and then a rather recognisable sound, turn to see him and a girl lying in the road. I U turned and got there as a driver stopped, rider seemed ok after getting up slowly but his chunky hybrid front wheel is proper ruined, girl on the deck with a lot of blood on her face. Ambulance called, I sat her down on a wall, a lady driver comes over and does some proper soft skill stuff, 14 year old on her way to school, blood mopped off and it seems to just be a cut to the nose and perhaps a split lip, coppers arrive and take names and numbers, and off I go, even slower after that.
Lots of rain and water and bad traffic through Finsbury Park, coming down the hill into Camden, dragging the rear brake and thankfully not going quick at all when the rear and last brake cable snaps, there's time to say 'shoot' before the bike starts accelerating down the hill, I'm trialling a new rather high saddle position and reaching the ground is a stretch, jamming my toes into the road just barely stops me, phew, the overwhelming feeling is one of relief and that could have been worse. I start a serene push, in the rain, along the pavement into Camden which surely has a bike shop?
It does, just about, a very small and rammed full of bikes shop called Camden Cycles, the mechanic has just opened up, I realise as he shapes up to make a then and there repair that I don't have my wallet. He makes a quick inspection and is horrified to see both cables are snapped and the front pads very very worn. I make non committal noises of relaxed complacency.
He very reasonably quotes me £13 to replace each brake cable, £6.99 for new pads and a bit more for a new outer if needed, he'll try and save the bar tape, he seems very au faite with the minimal budget commuter angle. I leave it with him and walk carrying pannier and helmet, in the rain, the rest of the way to work. It's further than it seems on the bike, 30 minutes, lots of tourists and puddles, arrive at work soaked, a hot shower and dry clothes and a hot coffee feels really good.
Camden Cycles closes at 7pm bless em, the Lady Wife pays over the phone and I collect, it has indeed called for a new outer but the bar tape look as good as new, two cables replaced, a new front outer and new pads on a same day service for less than £40. They make tut tut noises about the rear wheel and the half there half gone rear mudguard, I promise them I know what's wrong with the bike and that it will get fixed. Eventually.
Off into Camden in the rain, good lord front and rear brakes properly set up are marvelous, even in the heavy rain. Which gets heavier and heavier, my first ride home via Tottenham in a long long time throws me into the larey Broad Lane one way but now two way which I know has been rejigged, the dark and pouring rain in the rush hour is not a good time to be trying to work it out but through and onto Ferry Lane, many puddles, some flooding but finally home, minging wet, good lord a dressing gown and a cold beer feels good. After an hour the forecast for tomorrow for rain barely raised an eyebrow.
Bring it on (although the overshoes have some big holes on the toes)
oooh and I forgot what set the day off, my first right hand turn at the crossroads at the Bell, waiting at the front to turn right, hear a car revving and then was rather alarmed to find it passing me on the right and naturally having to cut back in sharply to avoid hitting oncoming traffic head on, I'm not saying it was a close pass but his left wing mirror hit the edge of my fingers wrapped around the brake hood. I'm afraid I swore rather loudly after the car as it shot up Hoe Street.
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Try actually moving and being civil yourselves, you may like it. If not, why not go back to BMWs and golf. 
