May 23rd – Spotted in Walsall late this afternoon, parked up outside the Saddlers Health Centre – this Dutch box bike, clearly used for transporting a child.
This one is made by Workcycles of Amsterdam, and features roller hub brakes, a nexus hub gear and small wheels.
I’d imagine it weighs a tonne and rides like a tank. Majestic and stately come to mind – but what a wonderful thing.
My compliments to the pilot!
March 24th – In Birmingham for an important work visit, I took time in the afternoon to do some shopping, both in the centre and up on the Soho Road.
That bike was parked on New Street – what on earth could the time be carrying? It’s very sturdy and from the marks, is clearly often stood on end.
I have no idea, but that must be the very devil to ride. Chapeau! For that one.
Over in Soho,looking up above the frenetic, chaotic shopfronts, more oddly elongated structures. I’ve never seen chimney pots like that before. Guess it’s to elevate the emitted fumes, but it looks very odd.
November 13th – The bicycles of Brum are becoming more and more diverse. In the city for an afternoon, there were a variety of beaters, bike shaped objects, fixes, singles and other steeds clearly with the primary purpose of utility.
The KTM city bike was interesting, with one of the most ingenious frame locks I’ve ever seen, but the ladies Raleigh was nice too, showing some interesting design. Bit concerned about the interaction between the rear wheel and back brake cable though.
The ladies BSO with broken front brake parked without a lock was scary too – and the brake disc equipped front wheel with no callipers on the bike told it’s own story.
That red fixie was someone’s pride and joy, too.
October 22nd – In the offices of Smarm, Smarm, Bignob and Braces, advertising agency for SSE Power:
‘Nigel, it’s a great advert for energy. But it’s lacking a certain gravitas. What it needs is a completely irrelevant, wistful, ennui-laden orang-utan, gazing meaningfully into the distance.’
‘I’ll get right onto it, Gideon’
As is the photoshopped buildings and van weren’t shitty enough. What would the librarian of the Unseen University make of it all?
‘Ook!’ probably.
Both spotted in Darlaston.
July 19th – I see this wonderful Christiana cargo bike about a lot – huge covered box on the front, hub gears, massive bell and brooks saddle. It’s built like a brick outhouse. I often see it in Pelsall. Today, it was parked up outside Aldi in Brownhills.
These are tremendously popular in northern mainland Europe, as well as other brands like the Dutch Bakfiets. You often see children being conveyed to school in them by parents over there – but here, this is clearly on a shopping trip, and a rare thing indeed.
A wonderful utility bike and I salute the owner.
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