February 2012

Words: Claire Beaumont, Picture: Andy Waterman

After about five years I've just about learnt to control the urge to race my fellow comrades down the Walworth Road drag strip. The light would go green and I was like a greyhound out the traps after an artificial hare. My self set markers of victory seem to work in my favour each time and eventually my motivation to ‘race' waned. Not everyone plays fair, so it's difficult to be truly competitive.

A full week of commuting on the bicycle can be drilling on one's body and I soon wore myself out, even depleting my mental capacity. The answers on University Challenge just weren't coming as easily. My daily drag racing games had to stop, if only to control my spending; shelling out on brake blocks each month is expensive.

On a late summer's evening I fought all my urges to take up a chase and let the greyhounds get out of the traps. I sauntered up behind the pack waiting at the next red, easing to a halt. In that instance I realised I could play the long game, and a new world opened up.

I call it ‘the weird and rare'. You need a little bit of knowledge for this game and cycling fast around the place won't let you soak up the best bikes commuters have to offer. From the back I saw what everyone is riding. Going a bit slower you'll see what is coming the other way too. A double whammy.

London's recent big freeze amplified my love for a finding some rare steeds. Snow had perturbed even the keenest of urban riders and with that gone were the tri spokes and lugged 90's carbon mile munchers.

I've found it's best to play when riding with a friend. Then you both appreciate what you've found. But try and be subtle. Pointing is rude and people screw up their faces at you. A casual nod to your riding companion will suffice.

Next time you're riding, don't get ahead of the pack and miss it all. Check out the recycled bikes destined for a few more hard years on the city streets.

Bikes - extra points for

Raleigh Banana bikes just like an Eddy Stobart lorry, you should see one on every journey.
Marco Pantani Tour de France Replica Single Speed Conversion
The owner of the pink filet brazed Roberts MTB with Chris King multicoloured headset
Condor Percy Bilton frameset
The Penny Farthing rider
Alan Cyclo Cross bonded frameset
Ciocc Time Trial frames with curvey tubing with flat bar conversions
Rockshox Rouabix fork on Lemond road bikes
A girl commuting on a Raleigh Chopper - I hope you don't have far to travel

Clothing and accessories - extra points for

American football helmets
Look Ergo Stem
Marco Pantani Selle Italia Flight Saddles
Riders with shorts and short sleeves in temperatures less than 5 degrees - you make me wince
Negative stem set ups
Scott AT4 Tri Bars
Campagnolo Delta brakes
People riding in full team kit, Mapei, US Postal and Fassa Bortolo are popular combinations