Day Two

Same old, same old. Barnt Green to New Street.

Some of you will know the Cross-City Line journey and the way the train canters when at the University Station. The train wasn't too crowded, so not many people were in the doorway. And, as we approached University station, the canter got the better of Betty and CRASH!!! Argghh!! Just one day in, and I dropped her! So I rescued her and picked her up (why do us men give a female moniker to our vehicles?).

Sat back down and awaited the arrival to New Street. I'm ready for the barriers now. Ticket in hand; insert; retrieve ticket; barrier open and I'm through. Yay.

I have to do a detour today. I have to go to Poundland (No. Really. I have to go to Poundland.)

So I cycle up Corporation Street, looking for  a good lamppost, or whatever, to lock my bike to. Not only has New Street Station had a refurb, but THE WHOLE OF THE CENTRE OF BIRMINGHAM is going through structural changes!!! (This, I am assured, is to do with the re-introduction of the tram - if only we'd kept the original, eh?).

No lamppost. Only roadworks.

I finally notice a spindly, little signpost, that would have to do.

Now, I've never owned a folding bike before, so I'm now faced with a conundrum: If I lock the bike to the post as usual, there is an opportunity for someone to steal the seat-post (and as I've secured my trusty old Brooks saddle to this, there's an opportunity to lose this too). Do I take the seat-post with me? Ah... no... wait. I can thread the lock, through the saddle and through the bike and around the post. So I folded the bike down and secured the lock. It worked a dream.

Into the shop, get the goods and out again - quick as a flash.

Undid the lock, unfolded the handle bars, stepped back to lift up the seat-post and CRASH!!! Argghh!!! Dropped her again!! This time, it was because I didn't put the stand down - sorry Betty.

Eventually got myself together, cycled to work and arrived - with a front brake pad binding slightly on the wheel. A colleague and a screwdriver soon put that right (well I'd only ever had disc brakes - these new fangled V-lock thingymajingies were new to me).

Still loving my Bickerton.