Setting off...

Monday came and it was relatively straightforward travelling to work - except for...

My usual approach is to get on the train, set the bike to the doorway that is not going to open (on my commuter journey, the train doors only open on one side of the train) and get a seat. So this is what I did - but the only seat I could get was one where I was facing away from my Bickerton.

I'm sitting there reading a paper (an academic one, not a news one - gotta get this PhD done!!) and enjoying the ride, giving Betty (as she will, from this day forward, be known as) a quick glimpse to see if she is ok.

Arrived at New Street.

First hurdle: where's the lift? Ah, yes, found it. Up to the concourse and towards the barrier, trundling Betty along side me. Second hurdle: the barriers. I should explain at this point, that New Street Station has recently undergone a massive refurb. That's not the real issue, though. As part of this refurb, they have introduced ticket barriers, whereby you have to produce your ticket in order to go through. So I get to the barrier and yes, I have to fumble around in order to get my travel pass out, insert it into the wider barrier, and walk through with my bike. I'm eventually through and on my way.

Through the station, down past Moor Street and on to Millennium Point. As I said fairly straight forward.

At work, I have a colleague who is very interested in my Bickerton - he has a PhD in bikes!! So I get to the desk, fold down the bike into its 'daytime' position and email said colleague to announce Betty's arrival.

After a series of Oooohs and Arrrrhs, said colleague confirms his approval of the Bickerton (both rider and bicycle). I'm good, and I'm carrying a fair amount of kudos.

The journey home is quite ordinary (which is probably why I have about six different routes). But today, I have Betty with me. Cycling to the station in the heavily populated commuter pavement (well pavement and cycle lane combined - proving that some Town Planners somewhere do have a sense of humour), proved to be more of a challenge than usual - I start to realise that my weekend assembly activities had had a rather important oversight - I'd left off the bell.

Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem (except of course, that to ride a bike without one is illegal. Er... so is speeding, and we've all done that, haven't we?), but in the sea of people all dashing to get home, veering this way and that, a bell would be a useful asset.

I eventually steer my way through the crowds and to NSS. Waiting on the platform I fold down Betty and await the train to Barnt Green. Back home and "where's that b****y bell?"