Life returns!

[blamebrampton]

Have sent the magazine to the printer, I may once again sleep and think of things that are not food, craft, health and beauty! HURRAH!

I sat down to do some edits for a friend last night (onto page 10, you know who you are!) and then went to bed with a notebook for a spot of old-school writing, at which point I began not the one Christmas story I need, but two. The first was a continuation of an earlier H/D and fine, the second leapt out of nowhere and was a Minerva McGonagall in WWII tale that was writing itself until I realised that I may have been Jossed by the new biographical details in Pottermore. Sure enough, she was allegedly born in 1935, which put paid to that one. JKR giveth, and she taketh away.

I was going to work on another Australian politics post, but the whole situation is so depressingly stupid that I am going to pretend it is not happening for a little while longer. In my fantasy world, Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Turnbull and Carmel Tebbutt form a breakaway party of slightly workaholic over-achievers who generally believe in reasonable things and sweep all before them.

Instead, today I continued my month-long mission to find the perfect bike, only to end up back where I started. Nothing has made me feel love like the Velorbis models, and now it's only down to choosing between the Victoria Classic (black) and the Dannebrog (red). I suspect the black one will be less likely to be stolen. They're a bit exxy, but I do not drive and usually walk everywhere, so they're much, much cheaper than a car. Both have a lovely upright frame and are far more visible bikes than my mountain bike, so I am less likely to die, even in vile Sydney traffic. Took the Victoria Classic for a test ride today and it was astonishingly delightful. So much nicer to be riding out in the world than on a stationary bike in the gym.

Though I have cracked the gym biking trick: never look at the TVs, because they slow you down, only look at your readouts and calculate performance splits (if you are a competitive type, otherwise the TV is fine) or close your eyes and ride with the imaginary cycling partner of your choice. It's been Richard Armitage the last two weeks, he is immensely supportive and encouraging, and has long legs, so I have to work hard to keep up. I'm thinking it might be Robert Downey Junior next week, he can make wise cracks and point out that despite the sweat and occasional stitch, my foot has been about four times better than at any time in the last eight years since I started gyming, which bodes well for continued non-surgically assisted walking. I tried Imaginary Virginia Woolf, but she was only fun when talking about Orlando and Vita, and otherwise I found myself riding away from her at speed.

And I can lift boy-level weights with my legs again! Let us not discuss my arms, it's embarrassing.

Finally, HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY for the_gubette and dragonfly_lily, I hope that you both had utterly fabulous ones! Sorry about the tardiness, life has been happening to other people of late.

Comments

[bk7brokemybrain.livejournal.com]

Oooo! You ought to bike with Imaginary Conan O'Brien. His legs are about four feet long. *nods* Plus, he's very funny, snarky, and can sing you a song when you get bored.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid I don't know anything like enough about him, only that he exists. I could ride with Imaginary Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart and have a great political debate ;-) But I'd go for Craig Ferguson if I were taking an American talk-show host on as an Imaginary Riding Partner, except that he'd probably say things like 'Well, that's a %@##$$-load of effort right there, clearly it's whisky time now!'

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Here the black would get stolen. I can*t believe the price though, and I know how expensive "sports gear" is.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's more expensive because it's import and designer, though having looked over the frame and build very closely, it is beautifully made and will last for ages without problems. My mountain bike was $1600 in 1995, so comparatively, these are cheap. Since I will never drive, I think it's OK to buy a costly bike.

And I think the red would get stolen faster here, though it would also be easier to spot if some bugger were riding off with it ... Must think harder!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

I meant in comparison to eg. your mountain bike, from which I learned to expect it! But of course import and design matter. And after all, all the stuff I like, the one most basic and simple and clean looking, is now retro or vintage and costs more because it has less stuff in it. Didn*t mean to criticise, still think much stuff is overpriced.

I guess here the original, unwieldy old black bikes are still in use so there is camouflage, while my crap childrens bike was stolen in front of the embassy sevan years ago. It was red.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, it's overpriced, everything in Australia is. But this is one of the worth it overpriced things as opposed to the just overpriced for a name things ;-)

BICYCLE THIEVES ARE EVIL AND SHOULD ALL BE BEATEN!!

And I suspect that whichever I buy, I will also buy a small and ferocious guard dog to live in the panniers ;-)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

Actually what I would do is make it look fucked up. You get it because the form is lovely and it is very good to RIDE. Make it look fucked up without it actually being dirty or rusty. Saves you the colour decision too :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

So, you're saying fierce dog and spokey-dokes? (http://www.papillionaire.com.au/shop/spokey-dokes/)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

"a must have for any self respecting rider" ... *whimper* do you have to go that far?!?!?! A lot of mud and scraping off the laquer would do! Don't go for the "fun cool" crap!!!! I'll pimp your ride for you instead!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I could never scrape that lacquer, but the mud should be easy enough, there's a lovely little wetland nearby. And yes, that copy had me cracking up, too! Streamers wrapped around the spokes would have FAR more dignity!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

ooooh yes, bunting! oh oh oh KNITTING! YES YES YARNBOMB YOUR BIKE OMG PERFECT IDEA NOW

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

YOU ARE A GENIUS! And it's a perfect use of all the leftover yarn scraps I have in the house!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_inbetween_/]

*pleased*

[emmacmf.livejournal.com]

Get the red bike, it's amazing!

And carry on with the Minerva story, who cares about little things like birth dates?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

They're both lovely. I wear a lot of red, though, so I might end up looking like a travelling tomato, though at the same time, it might be a bit more visible (have been run over multiple times cycling in this city). Aside from the colour, everything is the same, save that I could have the black tomorrow, while the next reds don't arrive until December.

[the-gubette.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I choose to celebrate my birthday the entire month, so you're well within the window of opportunity. :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

An excellent solution! Yay!

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

There's no reason you can't write the Minerva story - this is a magical universe we've got here! Of course there's a reason she had to use a Time Turner, and she did her best to avoid her child self.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It relied on her knowing Albus Dumbledore, I think I was going off the previous fanon notion that she was born around WWI, and now it simply will not work. Unless I just willfully ignore her alleged birthdate ...

[kareina.livejournal.com]

Perhaps your story is right, but it isn't Minerva, but an older sister or cousin, aunt, or mother who was a profound influence her how her personality developed, and it was the older relative who knows Albus.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Nah, It was very Minervary, I'm afraid. It's OK, I'll hold onto the notes and see if I can bring myself to ignore the new 'canony' bits!

[kareina.livejournal.com]

I am thinking that must be a typo--it puts her only 5 years older than my mother, and near as I can tell people age much better in the Wizzarding World than they do in ours, so she should be much older than my mom, but look younger.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not an official official JKR statement, more a doing maths from something else she said, and her maths is, well, erratic at best, so MAYBE it's OK to ignore it ... ;-)

Ah, my dear.

[wemyss.livejournal.com]

You lead such an exciting life. Far more than mine.

I live it through you, vicariously.

Re: Ah, my dear.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Alas, I've rarely been so boring! Work, the gym and bike shopping is not that fascinating, alas. Though I did buy some nice art last month, but then failed to pick it up when the exhibition closed yesterday, in favour of test-riding the Victoria Classic. Next weekend ...

Fingers crossed Mr B and I can fit in a small spot of travel some time soon so I have amusing adventures to relay.

[vertelemming.livejournal.com]

I've been pretending Australian politics doesn't exist since about a month after we finally formed a government, when it became clear that it was going to be Business As Bloody Usual.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's just not the least bit fun. Even trying to guess which way Katter will go on an issue has lost its charm. Bah!

[mrsquizzical.livejournal.com]

i love these sort of vintage bikes that are becoming popular again.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

They're really very comfortable, and now that they can make strong frames that weigh less than 20kg, they're more practical for urban life. I've ridden a lot of racing bikes and mountain bikes over the years, and they both lack a real presence on the road, while a city/vintage bike attracts attention, which I am hoping will lead to fewer near-death situations!

[blindmouse.livejournal.com]

Sure enough, she was allegedly born in 1935, which put paid to that one.

There's always Rolanda Hooch? She was allegedly in her late thirties when WII broke out. (Ahaha, things I researched while trying to find imaginary contemporaries for the Mitfords that one time.)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It COULD work, I'll have to think ... I blame you for me picking up several bits of Mitfordiana lately, BTW. And now I've moved onto the lesser works of Stella Gibbons, too. At least it's all segueing beautifully with my ongoing Read Every Agatha Christie Project :-)

[girlthatsaidno.livejournal.com]

Get the red one! Life is short and all that. :) I used to walk or use public transportation all the time when I lived in Istanbul, but as I am currently being forced to live in USA suburbs, I have no choice but to drive. :( Seriously, they don't even have sidewalks on some streets here. No wonder obesity is becoming a problem!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I could never live in the US unless it was in New York or San Francisco, I just hate cars and refuse to be forced to use one.

And I do love the red, but they will have none in stock until December, and then, I think it might just say STEAL ME, so I am a bit torn. Also, I wear so much red that I might end up looking like a nose bleed ...

[mayela-delarue.livejournal.com]

Ooohohh... I might have to come and pick your bike research brain. I'd like something a bit like that but going to the bike shops has been proving hard to get them to show me bikes I actually want.

Oh and on the breakaway party, I'd be happy to support that party as long as Carmel leaves that dufus of a husband, Anthony Albanese. That man makes my skin crawl.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Reid bikes on Enmore Rd has one that is not dissimilar in styling, but much cheaper. It comes in fixie or single-speed (didn't check which) and, I think, three-speed, but is an elegant bike that seems to work well from the ones I've seen around town. The component parts are not as good as the Velorbis (which is worth the cost if you have the cash, and it's a divine ride), but they are solid and well put together.

There's a great Electra on sale at the big Bike Repairs shop in Marrickville, but it has the hippie-trippiest styling ever seen. Gazelle also does a gorgeous range, Velosophy over at Moore Park stocks them. Really lovely, and well priced – about twice as much as the Reid but under half the Velorbis.

[nenne.livejournal.com]

You should get the red one! It's so bright and cheerful.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It is lovely, isn't it? But it won't be available until December, and I fear that it would be more likely to be stolen, as well as maybe causing an overload of red when ridden with my red-heavy wardrobe. Having said that, it's such a thing of beauty, maybe none of that matters ...

[raitala.livejournal.com]

Congrats on getting the mag to bed! My conference went well and I managed quite a lot of meeting with friends, shopping and work in the time I had, so I'm pleased with myself. Amazing how much you can get done when you aren't drinking (I tend to be a bit in holiday mode when I am here).

Difficult choice on the bike front. How about turning a negative into a positive. It will get stolen, so firstly, get insurance for it, and secondly, get the black because you can have it now, then the red when it gets stolen, then the black when that gets stolen ... ;)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a great conference! And SEE! Sobriety isn't as dull as you and Ping made out :-P

I like your way of thinking. And have also decided that the black will go better with my wardrobe ;-)

well, if it were a car, I would say don't get the red

[hmufson.livejournal.com]

Because, allegedly, it's harder to pick out the brake lights against the red of the car. ALLEGEDLY. So if you're going to put one of those blinky lights on it, that might be something to think about.

I got a $100 schwinn upright boy's bike and ride it defiantly through the suburbs of Detroit. In heels. The odder you look, the more people will avoid hitting you. So +1 for the yarnbomb! idea.

Re: well, if it were a car, I would say don't get the red

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

HEE! It's as good a reason as any to go for all-purpose black :-)

And YES! Not being hit is my number one goal. I seriously cannot go through all that again!

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

Your paragraph about gym-cycling partners sounds slightly psycho, but that makes me like you :-)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It is a wee bit loopy, I admit, but so much better than looking at the TVs or noticing that I am old enough to be almost everyone's mum ;-)

[ladyjaneva.livejournal.com]

bike: I wouldn't take anthing like the Victorian Classic, it looks unpractical. Over the years of riding my bike daily, both work trips, grocery shopping, transporting books and simply going for a day long ride in the country, what it comes down to is: is it comfy, can it be repaired quickly and cheaply, and can you put lots of added bags onto it. If you have stairs to carry it up(down, also: how heavy is it.
(I got the Klickfix system for my handlebar for Christmas last year and am happy with it: http://www.klickfix.de/ )

And those prices!!!! ARHG!!! Over here you can get a decent, new bike for 400 €, and Germany is not known for being cheap. Do invest in a good insurance...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's actually a really practical bike and has an astonishingly small turning circle and easy handling. At 18kg, I had thought it would be much sluggier in the ride, but it was quite nimble. And while that's a lot heavier than my mountain bike (about 12kg), I live in a single storey house, so it will just be getting it on and off trains irregularly, and I can lift it enough for that. Though the lack of a crossbar for shoulder carrying is a bugger.

I do need to test it on a hill before I buy it as it has only 7 gears and quite a long frame, and I am not a very large person, so the balance may be too far off. Sydney's pretty hilly, so I'm going to see if I can test this out tomorrow.

Carrying capacity is about 50kg on the installed back rack and I can add a front rack that will take 40kg, so that's the shopping sorted and I can use it to carry luggage if I go on little trips with it. Totally manageable mechanics, too, no hydraulics!

I'm looking explicitly for a city bike/old-fashioned upright that I can use for pootling about town, shopping and medium-length rides. As long as I live in Sydney, I will never again do long road rides -- it's just too likely to end in death. Three whacks by cars (including one who went through a red light to get me) with two near-death incidents in my cycling career here has convinced me that Sydney drivers are just too bonkers. City bikes like these, with their much more upright riding style are a lot more visible, which is what I am really looking for. I still have my old mountain bike for offroad riding and it's still putting in great service, though I should confess I am not a 'big air' serious downhill person!

As for the price, I'm afraid that's Australia. Good bikes with quality components here start at about $1000. You can get cheaper bikes, but the componentry isn't great. My Mongoose was $1600 in 1996, in the US it would have been about $600. Let us not speak of Canondales, it's just too depressing. I think of it less as a costly bike and more as a really cheap alternative to a car! Am on the insurance track, never fear :-)