You are reading a single comment by @CYOA and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@CYOA
Well that was a fucking disaster.
I was supposed to cycle from Winchester to Brighton yesterday during the day, meet a friend who was cycling from London to Brighton, then cycle back to London with him slowly today after a quick swim and a night at a mutual friends gaff.
At about 2pm I got a call from him saying he didn't know the way.
Train to London - 30 quid.
Still keen to go I suggested a night ride. He was keen. He didn't have lights, in fairness I don't use anything in London more powerful than a Knog but it wasn't going to do me much good at 3am in East Sussex.
New front light - 80 quid.
New mini-pump - 20 quid.
A frantic couple of hours making flapjacks, getting together the lightest combo of tools/spares/tubes and fluid/energy gels.
I burnt the flapjacks but they still worked as oatmeal and blueberry cookies. Sort of. I set off at ten to meet him up in Tottenham, then we cycled down through central, crossed at Vauxhall, down to Clapham, got to Tooting when I go over a pothole and my shiny new light falls off and shatters into a thousand pieces. then to add insult to injury a car drives over the batteries.
It's raining quite steadily now.
I'm irate but some desire to say 'fuck you, adversity' pushes me/us on. We make it to Mitcham before my friend cycles over a pothole which we couldn't see due to the lack of adequate lighting and cracks his front wheel.
We walk back to civilisation and get a taxi home.
Taxi - 40 quid.
I am now poor. It's official. I also ache more than I had intended. I'm going to go and make a sausage sandwich and cry a bit.