First bike was a Rufford Robin Hood, drops and 3sp SA. Someone gave it to my dad and he gave it to me; I almost had a heart attack. I think most posters here are familiar with my childhood and will understand. Written off in a moment of youthful indecision; decided to turn right too late and too fast!
Next bike: I was a paperboy without a bike and the newsagent's daughter was going to university and she sold me her old lady's single speed for £1
Opposite Bill Tomlinson's papershop was Sid Bloor's bike shop with a lovely Carlton in the window, not dissimilar to the one on page one of this thread. Bill told me that if I saved the deposit, got dad to sign it, he will pay Sid out of my wages.
Surprise, surprise, Dad would not agree but instead. as he was running two mail order catalogues, would let me have one from there and I would pay him. Every bike I picked out he objected to citing everything from "It's a racer" to "It has cable brakes". Eventually Mum intervened and I selected a nice blue roadster, 3 sp SA and cable brakes! I wrote out the order form and the following day Dad asked me to post it.
Finally it arrived, Dad had assembled it but when I saw it, my jaw hit the floor. He had changed the order form and what I had was a policeman's 'sit up and beg'. The one that is in my avatar. Thank you very much, Dad, you have given the world another reason to mock me. Dad had not finished yet. At the time, agents got 2 bob in the pound commission if taken in cash or 2/6 in the pound for goods and he kept all the commission, he could have, at least gave up 6d of his commission.
......but it did earn me the nickname of Poofy!
