Monday 20 September 2021

A tale of three bicycles

Regular readers of this blog might have gained the impression that I, Bertie, am not as interested in bicycles as is my owner Gail.

While this might be true up to a point, I want to explain today how I am in fact a close observer of Gail's cycling activities, to the extent that I can predict with some accuracy what will happen next, depending on which of Gail's three bicycles she wheels out of the front door. 

First we have the 'town bike', a 1970's vintage three speed 'Hercules' brand, maroon in colour and with a basket on the front. Gail only uses this for short outings - doing her 'messages' as we say in Scotland - and I can be confident that she will not be gone long. She might ever come back with some special Bertie treats in the basket! 

Can you believe that once, when I was a puppy, Gail tried to get me to sit still in that basket and go for a ride with her. Let me tell you that was never going to happen!!!  Not even after she had added a comfy cushion and a treat. 

Secondly we have the trusty 'tourer'. Made by Thorn Cycles in Somerset, this is Gail's all time favourite bicycle, now twenty years old and she claims it fits her "like a glove". It is designed for touring, being robust, with luggage carrying capacity and very low 'granny' gears. Over the years this bicycle has carried her variously through France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Albania, and it wears a dented top tube courtesy of Lufthansa as a badge of honour! So it is a cause for concern when one sees Gail packing and loading panniers onto this bicycle as in the past it has meant a trip to 'camp' (i.e. boarding kennels) is imminent for yours truly. 

More recently of course, Gail's travel activities have been limited, and the Thorn bike has mostly been used for rides out of Aberdeen when the weather is not great and/or she will be cycling at a relaxed pace with her less speedy pals. So I can expect her to be out for longer than with the town bike, but maybe not more than half a day. 

It's when I see Gail pumping up the tyres on bicycle number three, a titanium framed, carbon forked number from Spa Cycles in Harrogate, that I know she will probably be away for many hours (and if I'm lucky I will get to spend time with neighbour Kirsty and my new poodle girlfriend Ella). Use of this bicycle, with its skinny wheels and inadequate mudguard, is confined to days when the weather is fine and the roads are dry, and when Gail is meeting up with her fitter and faster friends.  I have learned not to expect a long walk after Gail returns from one of these rides. 

So there you have it. I hope I have proved to you here that I do take a close interest in Gail's bicycles, at least insofar as they impact my own canine wellbeing... 

15 comments:

  1. yes... you did.... your bike basket has the same fate like our bike trailer... bought that a dog will sit in it while the mama pedals around... we still wait for the dog who will sit in that rolling cage ...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey, riding in bike baskets is pretty fun. Well, at least I like it - ya get to really feel da wind in your furs and ya don't gotta do nuffin.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh, a ride in the basket might have been fun, Bertie. I wouldn't mind having a go - sometimes the hills get too much for my poor old legs, and my human is forever telling me to hurry up!

    Love,
    Inca xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hari Om
    Yeah, I am inclined to think you missed a trick there, Bertie lad... but that aside, I am impressed with your bike IDing and understanding of purpose and effect!!! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

    (pee ess - back in the Hutch and Mac1 and I are both having a pyjama day due to exhaustion!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gail's bikes are just beautiful and I'm with you, Bertie - my feets stay on the ground so I can sniff and explore.

    ReplyDelete
  6. you have the same reader of people and things they do as Beau does. we don't have bikes for him to read but he reads our clothing. if i come out of the bedroom in my shopping clohthes he looks sad and knows he is not going. then we have driving Mr Beau clothing and of course walk Mr Beau clothing, bathing suits mean back yard pool.. my ugly house gown is his favorite, I am home and not leaving... can you imagine a bike or a basket big enough for Beau to ride in? ha ha.. you are one smart pup

    ReplyDelete
  7. forgot to say I am totally impressed with the 3 bikes

    ReplyDelete
  8. Bertie, I found your explanations exceptionally interesting, as I am a walker, sometimes runner, not a biker. Thankfully, you are now too grand to ride, or fit, in the Town Bike's basket!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Bertie you are a Master Sommelier of vintage and new bikes!! OMDs you in a bike basket cracked me up. I am quite impressed that Gail has a bike 20 years old. Obviously it is well made. Here's to some fine times with Ella
    Hugs Cecilia

    ReplyDelete
  10. That was an interesting lesson on all the bikes Gail has and their various uses. We also learned a new way to use the word 'messages'.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You sure are a smart pup, Bertie! I always know that my ghostwriter is going to work when she's wearing her white pants. She'll be at the nursing home for the next 8 hours or more. (Good thing Dad is retired and stays home with me!)

    Oh, and good for your mom for being such a good bike rider!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm with you Bertie...you won't find me in a bicycle! Of course, a stroller, or maybe a wagon is a different story!
    xoxo,
    Arty(new owner of a cool black wagon) and the Gang

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, you know you, eh, Gail's bikes! Very interesting how each serves it's purpose!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your mom is smart to have a bike for all occasions.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gail needs a mountain bike so that you can join her, Bertie! Thanks for the introduction of all of the bikes :)

    ReplyDelete