I usually take my bike to work as it’s a lot quicker to get around in the city centre. It’s a cheap bike – £20 but fine for what I want and I leave it chained up in the centre and get the metro home. It has been vandalised a bit but still works fine.
However it had a flat tyre when I got to leap on it at the university. it was Sunday evening and the closest little bicycle mending umbrella man had gone home. I pondered my problem for a while and hoped that, as it was a large university, there muct be bicycle menders near the front gate. So I puched my bike around to the front and there I found a whole line of men turning bikes upside-down bikes all the way down the street. Saved!
It took my man about 5 minutes to take put a new inner tube and make it road worthy again. And the best bit was all I had to do was stand and watch and give him £2 for the parts and labour and side off. That’s what I call good service.
I cycled down to the library and locked it to the railings again and hoped it is still there when I need it again on Wednesday. At least at £20 I don’t worry out it too much although I have got a sentimental attachment to it after a year or so of having it. I can usually get it going, even if the chain has been pulled off or the handbars bent.
My faithful little bike – very undemanding, reliable and loyal.