Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BathPoliceStation,however,hadarowofabout30bright,shinybicycleslinedupready
togotoAfrica.Someofthemlookedalmostbrandnew,asIassumemanystolenbikesare.
'Your bikes look decent enough,' said Kevin. 'We might have to do some basic repairs
to ensure they meet the safety standards before we ship them, but if yousee something you
like the look of here then I'll do you a swap.'
'Are you serious? Any of these bikes?' gushed Ben like an excited school boy.
'Yes, that's fine,' said Kevin.
Ben patrolled up and down the length of the shelter where the bikes were lined up,
checking each one in turn. After a while he paused next to a gigantic silver touring bike. It
was surely the biggest bike that had ever been built, dwarfing everything else in the row.
'What do you think about this one, George?' asked Ben.
'I think it looks, well, it looks very big. Are you sure you can reach the pedals?'
'Haha,veryfunny,'hesaid,althoughIhadnotbeenjoking.'Yeah,Ilovethisone,Kev-
in, if that's ok.'
'No problem, let me just take these charity labels off. What about you? Which one do
you want?' he asked me.
'Actually, I think I'm going to keep the one I've got,' I replied, almost apologetically.
'What?Ohcomeon,George,'saidBen,dumbfounded.'Thisisourchancetofinallyget
decent bikes that will get usall the waytoJohnO'Groats. This iswhat we've been looking
for.'
'No, it's what YOU have been looking for. I'm happy with The Falcon.'
'Don't be stupid. Is this some sort of childish sulk because you didn't want to come to
the police station? Because if so then that's pretty pathetic.'
Kevin looked away to avoid getting involved in our argument.
'No, not at all. I've always been happy with The Falcon and I've always wanted to take
it as far as I can, and I don't feel that I have yet.'
'But its stupid chain falls off every few hundred metres!' he barked.
'Hopefullyit'llsortitselfoutandithasn'tslowedusdowntoomuch.Besides,itdoesn't
feel right sending a small racing bike to Africa. It wouldn't stand a chance on the roads out
there.AtleastPinkyisamountainbikeandwouldbesuitedtotheplace.TheFalconwould
be destroyed in no time. Also, I doubt that it stands any chance of passing the safety tests,
considering that the chain falls off, the brakes don't work and the back wheel is wobbly.'
'Alright,fine,'concededBen.'Butyou'dbetternotstartwhingingthatmybikeismuch
better than yours from now on.'
'Don't worry, I won't.'
We thanked Kevin, and said our goodbyes to Pinky - which was neither emotional nor
sentimental for Ben - and headed on our way.
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