Tag: bike jumble

March 5th – I met these two interesting characters whilst returning in the morning from a trip into Walsall on an errand. I had planned to go to the annual bike jumble at Eddington, but my health was still not great and the weather – windy, with periodic showers – was so damned unpleasant, I just couldn’t be doing with it. Which is sad, but we usually get a better day for it.

Tacking into the wind, I decided to try the cycleway down the Goscote Valley on the way back, which was a bit of a mistake. Nipping down Cartridge lane to join the cycleway, both the donkey and horse were stood by the fence, so I said hello. The donkey was grumpy and walked away, but the horse happily had his nose stroked and seems sad when I made to go. 

That donkey is a lovely animal, but I don’t think it likes me very much!

March 2nd – Erdington Bike Jumble. A regular fixture every year – loads of buried treasure and junk, and the chance to meet old friends and acquaintances and shoot the breeze. Most of the cycling tribes are here – tourers, city cyclists, vintage buffs, fixie kids, even bike polo guys. Busier than ever before, it was nice to see lots of youngsters here for a change, and it’s also nice to check out other folk’s steeds. I was particularly taken with the lovely refurb of the Carlton, parked out front.

March 3rd – Other people’s bicycles. One of the interesting things about the cycle jumble is that it’s a meeting of the old tribes. Tourers, utility cyclists and the fixie wonks. It’s nice to note that the majority of the that crowd these days are young kids – probably students. I watched a tragically hip group park their battered, well-loved steeds in a pile and drift into the hall. The young lady of the group rode what must be a hand-me-down; beautiful 70’s bright red city bike with original Pifco chrome back light, and a giant Miller front. Now, that’s authentic. My favourite is the rusty, battered fixie in the last couple of images. A girl exuding more style than it was reasonable to expect on such a morning rolled up on it, parked and hopped in. A flip-flop hub, she was riding it on the fixed side. Class.