Farewell friend, you were my favourite bike

[RedRider]

It never had a name, always just 'my bike' but we looked after each other and went some places.

We got to know the back lanes of Kent together, rode the Dock Rd in Liverpool, topped Holme Moss and took the Woodhead Pass on glorious car free roads, went to Oxford and Cambridge, took the sea air in Brighton, rode that ridge out of Lincoln with the Red Arrows playing above and we got to know London more, with it's shortcuts and backways.

I forgot to lock it on Tuesday.

We used to go the pub together, the museum, theatre, gig, to work and to hospital when I had that operation, and always there at the end of the day to get me home. My bike was there when I was down and and when up.

I was distracted

Not the lightest beast around nor the most obviously beautiful, but the black H Plus Son rims with silver spokes/hubs looked good on it and the White Industries free wheel sprocket used to sing. When I married those Deda Newton Deep Drops to it's unusually long top tube, my god we were like hand in glove. We wore out two Arione saddles together, the third was in place. The front rim wore out too so it was back to the original black spokes and Surly hub upfront.

I was meeting a client at the Aylesbury Medical Centre, in Thurlow St, Southwark, I was distracted for a moment. I forgot to lock.

The paintwork was a bit tired so I was thinking of getting a powder coat done, thinking grass green on a summer's day might suit.

But it was gone when I got out the GPs.

The police know about it, I've added a pic and description to the stolen bike website, I've put a reward for return, I've been checking bikeshd and findthatbike for online sales, I've been round the bikeshops on a loan bike looking out and my lbs is going to tweet a pic.

I hope we meet again someday but whatever happens, thanks for all the times.

With apologies for all the sentimental prose, my Surly Steamroller...

 

[raleighnut]

I hope you're reunited.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I hope the thief gets some seriously bad karma. I've had a bike stolen, so I understand how you feel.

 

[IBarrett]

Love your writing style and sorry to hear you lost your friend. I hope you're reunited one day.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I thought this thread was going to be about your bike having to go to the big bike rack in the sky. So sad to hear it's been taken from you prematurely!

 

[Pikey]

 

[Brandane]

It never had a name, always just 'my bike' but we looked after each other and went some places.

We got to know the back lanes of Kent together, rode the Dock Rd in Liverpool, topped Holme Moss and took the Woodhead Pass on glorious car free roads, went to Oxford and Cambridge, took the sea air in Brighton, rode that ridge out of Lincoln with the Red Arrows playing above and we got to know London more, with it's shortcuts and backways.

I forgot to lock it on Tuesday.

We used to go the pub together, the museum, theatre, gig, to work and to hospital when I had that operation, and always there at the end of the day to get me home. My bike was there when I was down and and when up.

I was distracted

Not the lightest beast around nor the most obviously beautiful, but the black H Plus Son rims with silver spokes/hubs looked good on it and the White Industries free wheel sprocket used to sing. When I married those Deda Newton Deep Drops to it's unusually long top tube, my god we were like hand in glove. We wore out two Arione saddles together, the third was in place. The front rim wore out too so it was back to the original black spokes and Surly hub upfront.

I was meeting a client at the Aylesbury Medical Centre, in Thurlow St, Southwark, I was distracted for a moment. I forgot to lock.

The paintwork was a bit tired so I was thinking of getting a powder coat done, thinking grass green on a summer's day might suit.

But it was gone when I got out the GPs.

The police know about it, I've added a pic and description to the stolen bike website, I've put a reward for return, I've been checking bikeshd and findthatbike for online sales, I've been round the bikeshops on a loan bike looking out and my lbs is going to tweet a pic.

I hope we meet again someday but whatever happens, thanks for all the times.

With apologies for all the sentimental prose, my Surly Steamroller...
View attachment 120801

Excellent obituary. The dirty thieving scum who took your bike have no conscience; they don't care where their next tenner bag of smack comes from.

I hope you get your bike back, soon, and in the same condition as you last saw it. Either that or it comes to a sticky end under the wheels of something very big, along with the selfish scrote who stole it.

 

[claudbutler]

Sorry to here about the theft of your bike, i know what its like to come back and stare at that empty spacefollowed by

 

[Venod]

topped Holme Moss

Was it fixed ? I have been over Holme Moss loads of times, as a youngster on 42/24 (hard work] nowadays 34/28 (still hard work) what gear did you use over the Moss?

Hope it was fixed and the thieving scumbag gets chucked off,

Hope you get it back,

 

[Specialeyes]

Beautifully written and properly heartfelt: really sorry to see you parted prematurely.

When my Brompton was stolen in Bow last summer, it took a month before it turned up on eBay, having been moved to Cambridge, so don't give up on the search websites too early.

 

[biggs682]

@RedRider sorry to hear about your loss , you never know you might reunited at one point but its highly unlikely

so what is going to replace it ?

 

[Levo-Lon]

The thing is we really do have a love affair with our bikes..some are are aggressive struggles and some are just boring day to day living together ,but we love them.

i think chopping a thief's hand off would help them understand the feeling of loss we feel when they take our nearest and dearest..

when i was building my RT58 on a sunny morning on the patio , the wife watched me through the kitchen window..she said to me after id finished....hows the Mistress ,you dont look at me like that anymore..


well thers no contes darling..

 

[RedRider]

Thanks for all these kind messages, I knew you'd understand and it makes me feel a little better.
I can't quite bring myself to 'like' the more violent revenge fantasies even though they flit through my mind!

Was it fixed ? I have been over Holme Moss loads of times, as a youngster on 42/24 (hard work] nowadays 34/28 (still hard work) what gear did you use over the Moss?

Hope it was fixed and the thieving scumbag gets chucked off,

Hope you get it back,

Holme Moss was the day the Tour de France passed over, I'd ridden up from London with a mate and felt in tip top condition. The gearing was 47:18, not fixed, but made a little challenge to make it up without stopping. The way up was rammed with people so there was a bit of weaving involved but got into a decent rhythm by standing and turning the pedals at not much more than walking pace at times. Didn't quite meet the challenge and stopped at the bit where it's 20% plus I think, near the switchbacks. The crowd was particularly thick there and blocked progress which was a handy excuse! Waited 20 mins for my mate then we rode the rest of the way to the summit.
After the race passed we went down the other side, nearly everyone else was carrying on to wards Manchester but we turned left along the woodhead pass towards Jackson bridge where some mates stay. It was us and a handful of other cyclists. No cars, just great.

Beautifully written and properly heartfelt: really sorry to see you parted prematurely.

When my Brompton was stolen in Bow last summer, it took a month before it turned up on eBay, having been moved to Cambridge, so don't give up on the search websites too early.

This gives me some hope, thanks.

@RedRider sorry to hear about your loss , you never know you might reunited at one point but its highly unlikely

so what is going to replace it ?

Well there's the question! Money's a bit tight at the moment but fortunately my friends loaned me his bike (the other one that rode up Holme Moss) so I have a little while to sort something out. I'd been thinking that my n+1 might have a few more gears but n will probably be a single speed, I just love that style of riding. It's crossed my mind to get another steamroller frame and replicate the last. Otherwise, a good quality second hand steel frame/bike I can tailor as and when funds are available.

 

[biggs682]

@RedRider good answer , if it helps i usually have a few retro bikes and frames for sale

 

[RedRider]

@RedRider good answer , if it helps i usually have a few retro bikes and frames for sale

Yeah, I've looked at them a few times, you get some nice ones. I'm 6'3" and like to be stretched out, would rather wait a little (not too long!) and or pay a little more for quality steel with second hand value. I'll keep my eye on your posts!