Combing my hair….

Just over a month ago my friend Graham had his Dahon stolen from the train at Oxford railway station. To his considerable surprise he received a call this week from the police to say the bike had been recovered. Today he went to collect it. This is his tale.

The anger

Having my bike and personal stuff stolen and the apparent antipathy of those entrusted to protect these things.

The hope

We do however travel in hope, and so much time was spent trawling the internet for any signs of said bike.

The joy

Bike and gear found!.

The despair

The Custody Sergeant’s tale:

A man was released on bail from a prison in Birmingham one Tuesday morning in September. He was given £40 and put on a train to Oxford where a hostel had been arranged for him. On his way down he managed to spend the £40 but still needed to get to the hostel. An opportunity presented itself! A bike! So, at Oxford he hopped off the train with it. But this was no ordinary bike and so unable to use his new acquisition the, by now intoxicated young man, had to get a taxi to complete his journey. By the time they arrived at his new residence he had already forgotten about the bike in the boot. The taxi driver then passed the bike onto the hostel manager (whilst arranging payment for his passenger).

The youth was then quickly re-arrested for breaking his bail conditions and sent back to jail for a month. The following month he arrived back at the hostel and was asked about his bike by the manager, “What bike, I haven’t got a bike” came the reply. The hostel manager, then realising that he must have acquired it during his journey the previous month, contacted the police.

“’Ere, we’ve been lookin’ for that” came the reply. “Some Southern Softie’s been creatin’ merry ‘el about that, complainin’ to ‘is mp and all that”.

When questioned the young man explained that he had given “some white bloke (with blond hair)” £40 for the bike on the train on his trip down the previous month. Not quite believing his story, the young lad was swiftly re-arrested for theft and returned to prison. Total despair!!!

As the nights turn dark again, I’m approaching the third winter for my Alfine Tikit and I remain enamoured by the hub gear. The simple chain line and sealed gears mean it is simplicity itself to keep the chain clean and in good fettle throughout the winter. So it is good to see the range of bikes featuring the Alfine hub widening and in particular to see Versa have come up with a drop bar shifter, as on the Genesis Day One above. Put in a hub dynamo, a set of guards and a rack and the Day One would serve as an excellent year round commuter. Check it out at Tony Butterworths

An alternative, with hydraulic discs is the On One Pompetamine (interesting how the sixties bikies’ drug of choice has inspired the name – how long before we see an On One Clem I wonder?)

Trouble is, Shimano almost put you off investing. Back in February they unveiled an 11 speed version of the Alfine hub. Still waiting to see one in real life though.

The objective was simple, to win the Veterans’ team Prize for the Barnsley Hospice. The plan? Well there arguably wasn’t a plan. But the video shows it all. The nutrition, the target setting, the team equipment, the team presentation, the pre-race nerves and tactics discussions. And then the race itself….