Saddle-sore in the wallet department?

A cyclist rides down Moorgate

I’ve been tempted to cycle to work, like many others, but my lack of distance fitness and my innate risk aversion keeps me out of the saddle, from the peridiodic stories of cyclists being squashed all the way down to simple things like repairing punctures in the rain, etc. Not my thing at all. One of my hardy colleagues, however, is more confident in his cycling proficiency than I am in mine so he pedals umpteen miles into the City on a daily basis and he’s happy to cope with the elements and whatever gremlins may beset him but just last week he was struck by an event that even this cycling ninja found to be challenging.

He’d already cycled 10 out of his 13 miles from Sutton and had just reached Oval when there was a loud crack as his saddle unexpectedly dropped off. He stopped outside a shop and a friendly shop-keeper looked through his toolbox to see if he could help but to no avail and in the end our hardy hero packed the broken saddle in his rucksack and cycled the remaining three miles standing on the pedals, risking impaling his chocolate starfish on a piece of protruding bike frame should he have to suddenly stop. Thankfully for both him and his family he made it in without incident but little did he know that his woes were only just beginning.

Replacing the broken thread should, at least technically, have been an easy matter but when he went into the rather dilapidated “Pedal-It” cycle shop near Elephant & Castle but they didn’t offer to replace the bolt and instead he was told that he’d have to buy a whole new seat post at the cost of £60. SIXTY QUID??? Understandably miffed he decided to take his business elsewhere but the story was repeated at “On Your Bike” and Evans Cycles, both on Tooley Street, so in the end he decided to try his local cycle shop in Sutton as a last resort before he had to submit to the hardware section of B&Q. He went off down to Pearsons on Sutton High Street and was directed through to the repair shop where they invited him to look through a box of odds and ends and came up trumps with the prized thread in there. He asked how much that would cost and they waved him off… nothing… free… gratis!!!

Saddle fixed, problem solved. Now THAT’S what I call service!

Do leave a comment about places that have given you great service.

“Changing Places” event for Cyclists

Cyclists are being invited by City of London Police to “change places” with HGV drivers, and learn more about how they use the road. The event is being held at Finsbury Circus from 7.30am to 11.30am on Wednesday 20th May, and will allow cyclists to take the drivers seat in a heavy good vehicle and get a better understanding of a driver’s experience on the road, including learning about blind spots. It’s hope that the session will improve the safety of cyclists who share road space with HGVs.

‘Changing Places’ is a joint initiative between the City of London Police force’s Road Policing Unit and the Metropolitan Police Traffic Partnership Unit.

Bike Hire Scheme Details Emerge

One of the Mayor of London’s election promises was the introduction of a bike hire scheme similar to the Velib in Paris. If all goes to plan, the scheme could be up and running next year, and TFL and started the job of putting in planning applications for the installation of bike “docking stations”.

In the City, the following bike hire docking stations are planned:

• Golden Lane
• Aldersgate Street
• Primrose Street
• Bishopsgate
• Silk Street
• Moorfields
• West Smithfield
• Aldersgate Street / London Wall
• Wood Street
• Finsbury Circus
• Blomfield Street
• Devonshire Square
• Chancery Lane
• Stonecutter Street
• Newgate Street
• Gresham Street
• Wormwood Street
• Bouverie Street
• Ave Maria Lane
• Cheapside
• Bartholomew Lane
• Bishopsgate / Leadenhall Street
• Carter Lane
• Godliman Street
• Queen Victoria Street
• Queen Street
• Crosswall
• Blackfriars Millennium Pier
• Great Tower Street
• King William Street
• Byward Street
• Lower Thames Street

More information here