HA!
The last time i wandered past Bike Barn (after sneeringly dismissing their collection of KMart bikes)I thought (in a rare burst of compassion for what is obviously a failing business)to ask if they might happen to have a Uniglide 13-23 cassette lying about in a back room somewhere.
At the mention of "back room",the gel-haired metrosexual who was obviously on a mealbreak from the Maccas up the road, offered me a latte,a gobjob, and a great deal on a Giant hybrid. In quick succession
I quickly punched him to the ground, with what I thought was a rather finely executed left hook, made my excuses, and left the premises, continuing on my way down to Blackman's to try my luck.
Unfortunately, I there encountered Graham. Before I could say a word, Graham began his sales spiel (as usual) with "When I was racing blah blah blah...", while simultaneously thrusting a pink 20" BMX tyre into to my hand and attempting to pick my pocket in a manner which would have shamed a gypsy.
FortunatelyI always carry a sharpened spoke down my shorts for moments such as this, and embarrassment was avoided. Luckily, Carl (who really knows his stuff) was working that day and while he was unable to sell me the Uniglide cassette I was after, he did point me in the direction of some bargains comin up on some nice 7400 Dura-Ace stuff on ebay. Oddly, I noticed that the mechanics were absent from the workshop at the time. Coincidentally, my 7400 group was missing from my bike when I returned to it, but thanks to Carl's excellent advice I know where to get a replacement. How lucky was that!
I suppose I should have gone straight to Universe Cycles up the road, where I know they have a warehouse full of Uniglide 13-23 cassettes,but I was a bit pressed for time, and couldn't really wait for one of their employees to hurriedly forge Lance Armstrong's signature on it while I arranged a transfer of cash via wheelbarrow to their Swiss bank account.
The day was not a total loss though as I wiped a bogey on a Council Ranger's windscreen and found 20c lying on the ground that the smackies had missed.
So it was all good, and the sun was still shining.
