We won't charge you for our damage!

[mugman]

Yesterday I decided to treat myself to a new bike. This is a folding one so I can slip it in the car and take on holiday. It has no high cross bar so will be no problem for use with a skirt too, but that wasn't the main reason for choosing it.
But what followed the purchase I couldn't believe...
This is a well known UK car and bike store starting with 'H'. They said they had three in stock, and could have one made up ready for collection the next morning. I paid for it and went home.
At about 4.30pm the phone rang. It was the guy who sold me the bike...
"I've made up the bike for you. Unfortunately there are a couple of defects in the paintwork. What I've done is to cover each one with a carbon sticker which are normally used to protect the surface from rubbing - from cables, etc...

The stickers are usually £5.99. But we won't charge you for them..."

[Milfmog]

Priceless Pete.

I assume they are now offering a discount before the story hits the local papers...

Have fun,


Ian.

PS Be interested to hear how you get on with the folding bike. I have had a hankering for an easy to transport bike for a while but I've never yet ridden a folder that felt like a "real" bike. I have heard good reports of a couple but am continuing my (rather lazy) research.

[mugman]

Ian - I'll let you know how I get on with it. Incidentally, I requested another attempt at putting together another bike for me, so later this morning I should be trialling it in our little cul de sac. It has six gears and a luggage rack.
I have a ten year old mountain bike in the garage which has never been much joy, with more gears than sense in an area without any mountains. The saddle kept sliding down the post so I had to bolt on two jubilee clips to hold it, but didn't stop the saddle rotating as well. You can probably guess where I bought it.
The new bike is an Apollo Transition, in case you want to look into it more...

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... _langId_-1

[Milfmog]

Thanks for the info Pete, I'll look forward to a road test report when you've had a chance to et familiar with the bike.

I suspect we may come at this from slightly different directions as my own choice of bicycle is a 27 geared full suspension mountain bike with a spare 27 geared hard tail mountain bike for those occasions when I want something different. Neither of them came from the company you mentioned as my own experiences with them have rarelt been better than yours. I now buy bikes and cycling equipment from my local specialist shop, I pay a little more but the service and support I get more than justify the extra cost.

Have fun,


Ian.

[mugman]

I expect the mention of a luggage rack dashed any thoughts of sportiness Ian. We're talking completely different poles.
Aggressive power biking, where calf muscles looked like Coke bottles, are far gone at this household I regret. Tootling is more my style now, and even that is nackering.
I got back earlier from an hour's leisurely pace along the Tarka trail (trousered at the moment). The bike seems to suit my purposes well, but the saddle is not the most comfortable. Also stability is slightly impaired due to the smaller wheels. Trying to steer with one hand whilst removing a fly from an eye was tricky. I think this will do me well though. The fact that it folds right down to fit the back pocket is also a boon.
Off to the music club tonight, and my first use of a new kilt in Modern Black Stewart tartan. I also have a tie to match, so I think a black shirt will complete the image. I had to have the kilt taken up 3" as usual at £25 (includes re-pressing) which ain't bad. I think they're getting used to my kilts by now, and appreciate them only being 8 yard ones.

[Milfmog]

I expect the mention of a luggage rack dashed any thoughts of sportiness Ian. We're talking completely different poles.

Not really, I have a rack I can quickly fit to either bike if required. I tend to use the bikes as much for running into town to grab some shopping as for playing in the woods. Obviously if I'm playing everything I don't need comes off, but when carrying stuff I'd rather have in on a rack than on my back.

Aggressive power biking, where calf muscles looked like Coke bottles, are far gone at this household I regret. Tootling is more my style now, and even that is nackering.

90% of the time I agree with you; shortly after the other 10% of the time I wish I'd agreed with you

I got back earlier from an hour's leisurely pace along the Tarka trail (trousered at the moment). The bike seems to suit my purposes well, but the saddle is not the most comfortable. Also stability is slightly impaired due to the smaller wheels. Trying to steer with one hand whilst removing a fly from an eye was tricky. I think this will do me well though. The fact that it folds right down to fit the back pocket is also a boon.

Transportability is the whole point of folding bikes and the reason I'm considering one. I have found a few with full size wheels; they do not fold as small but may be OK for easy transport in a car. Getting my current bikes to Tyneside requires a roof or tail gate rack and leaves me with the problem of storing the bike securely at the hotel (I suspect they'd object to me taking it into my room).

Off to the music club tonight, and my first use of a new kilt in Modern Black Stewart tartan. I also have a tie to match, so I think a black shirt will complete the image. I had to have the kilt taken up 3" as usual at £25 (includes re-pressing) which ain't bad. I think they're getting used to my kilts by now, and appreciate them only being 8 yard ones.

Sounds like an impressive outfit and £25 to shorten and press a full kilt is pretty cheap. Incidentally the Taz tie is still doing sterling service, very '80's and great fun, especially against a black shirt as all that people see is Taz, not the tie. It has proved to be quite an effective icebreaker on a couple of occasions.

Have fun,


Ian.

PS The saddle will get more comfortable once it moulds your backside to fit it

[mugman]

I'm sure my backside will blend in beautifully with the saddle given time.
At the music club there's never any comment on my kilted presence, except for the very first time four years back when it came across as a novelty. Since then I've enlarged my choice to twenty of various types.
A kilt styled Burberry denim skirt was bought on ebay recently for a few pounds which I altered slightly. It had a front apron with pleats which I wasn't keen on, but the flap behind was plain. I just switched the two buttons on the waist, which hold it together, to the other side of the waist band so that the front crosses over the other way and now has a plain apron with the opening on the right, like a kilt. There was a narrow denim tie up belt which I dispensed with and used in short lengths to make four belt loops, with a lot of material left over for maybe future use on similar skirts. The pleats at the back are wide and few but look fine.