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| Taken when I first got the bike - note lack of grey hair (me) and square basket (bike) |
Ah, Spring is definitely in the air – the days are longer
and warmer and there are bikes out everywhere!
I have a love/hate relationship with cycling. My Dad is ace
at it, one of my brothers has recorded some pretty nifty time trial results in
his time and I have spent many an evening watching both real life racing and
getting into the thrill of Le Tour (the Channel 4 theme music is legendary!).
However, I have come to the conclusion that I am so much better at cycling when
it comes to cheering from the sidelines. In my head I’d actually like to be out
there, steaming along, working all those muscles and looking cool. In reality I
hate cycling in the wind, not keen if it’s raining much and if it’s too hot –
well, forget it. This means there are exactly 4 days a year when cycling
conditions are optimum for me. And 2 of those are probably when Le Tour is on.
But, I have discovered the perfect cycling for me, more my
style and less sweaty! I have been getting out and about on my vintage bike. I
bought this beauty a few years ago and have finally got it out on the road in
all its glory. I believe it dates from around 1910 although I have no idea what
make it is. But it has all the vintage accessories I need - detailed leather
saddle? Check! Real stringed skirt guard? Check! The scariest brakes ever?
Check! And a basket for dog/cat/ginger ale? Check!
I have tried to do some research on similar bikes and found
a very interesting piece on suffragettes hurling themselves in front of Winston
Churchill on their bikes. I assume this was a deliberate act of protest rather
than a complete lack of braking ability. Seriously though, the link between the
rise of cycling and the emancipation of women is both interesting and well
documented. More information here.
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| Arty shot of bike by postbox |
Back to my bike - my brother recently checked it over for
me, replaced the single handgrip with a pair of new period ones and did what he
could to shiny it up. I also got a brand new basket!
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| An authentic 'Coventry Gear Case Co' Atlas saddle - still going strong and pretty comfortable! |
I have this vision that in a few years time I will be the
eccentric old lady peddling around the village in a big hat and talking to myself
(I’m not quite there yet, thank you very much!) and in the meantime I have been
checking out various vintage cycling groups. Apparently there are other people
out there who enjoy dressing up and getting out and about on vintage bikes. I
think I may have found my cycle niche at last! Go Girl Power :)
