Tag: basket

May 4th – I was, to put it bluntly, shagged out. I slept well, and there was nothing wrong with my legs or body, but my eyes were sore and I felt weary.  Not the usual post-ride dehydration, though, so the new gels I was using must be working. The day after a century ride I normally feel hungover. Today, just jaded.

I nipped up to the new Farmers Market at Chasewater, and was pleasantly surprised; after the disaster of the Innovation Centre-organised Christmas Fayre with 4 stalls, this commercially organised event was busy, even at my late hour. It wasn’t huge, but there was some interesting stuff to buy, and I spent fifteen quid on various bits and pieces.

Only one snag – no real produce stalls: if this was a Farmers Market, the farmers didn’t know: I hope this can be rectified for future events – we have Big Tasties locally for meat, bakers and cheese-mongers, so lets hope they take a stall; if they do, tis market will be banging in no time at all.

I was taken with the basket hack on a bike I spotted locked nearby; serious thought has gone into that. Bit more needs to go into the locking technique, though…

July 24th – I’ve waited a long time to catch these technicians in action, and finally, on my homeward commute from Blake Street today, I spotted them.

These are very long range photos of a pair of engineers working on the dismantling of the temporary changeover TV transmission mast at Sutton; it’s about a mile away from where I stood.

Nonchalantly, they work inside the latticework, hundreds of feet above Sutton. Their lift cradle is called to an intermediate platform, they climb in, and are lifted to a higher part of the mast to carry on with the job. As they’re lifted, one of the duo casually checks his mobile.

I don’t know what these people are paid, but they’re clearly worth every penny, and seem quite, quite fearless. Respect to them.

June 3rd – Spotted on a sunny Monday morning in Brownhills, parked up outside the closed branch of Natwest: a fascinating 3 speed Elite ladies step-through, replete with Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub, dynamo lights, front basket and rear, homemade rackbox. A lovely, functional 80s-ish steed, in excellent nick (note the cottered cranks, bike nerds!). I have no idea to whom it belongs, but clearly a well loved, well-looked after steed of convenience.

Beautiful. Perhaps Cycle Chic has come to Brownhills at last?

February 12th – Lunchtime, just in front of New Street Station in Birmingham. I keep seeing this lady and her pastel blue Dawes step-trrough framed bike. The front basket (only just visible in this hurried shot) is always full of shopping.

That’s some rake on those forks. Bet it’s a nice bike to ride.