“Look at that cheap, sexy little number”

[Costs of car ownership in Canada per year: $6,972 - Victoria; $7,408 - Vancouver; $5,138 - Winnipeg; $5,411 - Kitchener-Waterloo; $7,625 - Montreal; $5,442 - Halifax. Totals include gasoline, parking costs, license renewal, plate registration, insurance premiums. July 23, London Free Press]

Two weeks ago I placed a few birdhouses on the front lawn to tempt passersby to stop and give me money.

A former student dropped by (many years have passed since I last saw Bonnie; she told me her age, and that made me feel considerably older, so I charged her double), as well as a fellow on a 1930s bicycle.

After saying good-bye to Bonnie, Derrick (the cyclist) and I had a long chat too about his old bike and a few others he owned. Because he lived nearby he left and returned within 5 minutes riding a 1940s model bearing a ‘Watson, Made in London Ontario’ emblem.

Derrick struck me as quirky and I like quirky. I invited him to inspect my old Raleigh (circa 1964, so I’ve been told) hanging in The Annex in my backyard. I listed a few problems with the bike and he said he could fix them.


[“Look at that cheap, sexy little number”: photos GH]

“I can tighten the brakes for you and get the gear shifter working. I’ll have it back by mid-afternoon,” he said.

He was true to his word, spotted, repaired and cleaned other items, presented a reasonable bill for service ($45) and I’ve been using the bike regularly ever since.

Now, I haven’t saved $45 worth of gasoline yet, but I’ll get my money back easily by the end of the riding season. I saved $20 last Sunday alone by leaving my motorcycle in the driveway and pedalling through Springbank Park instead.


[“Under the shady arms of a baobab tree. Might be a maple in Springbank Park.”]

I’ve been so happy to have use of a solid road-worthy bicycle that I’m now toying with the idea of selling my 1994 1100cc Yamaha Virago (within two years) and using some of the proceeds to buy a newer bicycle and child carrier (to haul camping gear).

The idea of camping trips within a 100 km radius of London interests me a great deal. Already, the London-Paris-Stratford loop has come to mind. I’d like to pedal the London-Zurich-Brussels loop as well.

Possibilities for adventure - all on a cheap and sexy bicycle - are endless, and affordable too. I might even save enough gas money to buy a new tent.

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Please click here for another exciting and austere adventure to the Village of Values.

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