Today I are been mainly being a Bike Buddy. Dan at work decided to
try cycling home form the office, on a borrowed 18-speed el-cheapo
mountain bike (think steel wheels). I did some basic adjustments (and
wished I had an oil can), put some wind in the tyres and off we set.
Despite being offered the excellent services of Messrs. First Great
Western at every station, he persisted and rode the whole distance,
just short of 25 miles, wich I think is a fantastic achievement for
someone who hasn't even ridden a bike for 15 years. To be honest, if
I'd been him I'd have got on the train at Goring and Streatley;
tackling that last section to Reading shows serious commitment. Time
door to door was about two hours, and it normally takes me 1:20, so
that's pretty respectable in my book.
He resorted to the 24" gear only once, for a couple of hundred yards
on the steepest bit of the hill out of Goring, which is no disgrace
and definitely smarter than trying to pedal up when you've run out of
gears.
No bike shorts, though, so I bet his [censored] will be sore tomorrow...
At least I was able to save him a ride to Homebase by fishing some
olives out of my plumbing box (and of course put some oil on his poor
protesting chain at the same time).
So, Kudos to Dan, and may it not put him off having another go. I've
suggested mixed-mode, bike to Reading Station (he lives in Wokingham).
If anyone knows a low-traffic route I'd appreciate it.
Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University