Bicycle.

Yesterday, I sold a very nice lens on ebay... And immediately blew the proceeds on a bike!
Quite why I did this, I'm not entirely sure. All I can say, is that I must have been suddenly possesed by a childish and irresistible desire to have a bike. I have not ridden one since I was fourteen. - I'm not even sure that I still can ride one. I must hope that the old saying, that once you know how, you can never forget, is true. I don't think I could suffer the indignity of having stabilizers, on it!. Anyway, I clicked the 'Buy it now' button and the deed was done.

It's a folder. 18 inch wheels. I chose bright orange, over the blue and green options. Wisely, I think. People will have a better chance of seeing me coming, and can get out of the way in time!
That it folds in two, will make it easy to store, when not in use. I just hope that the locking mechanism of the folding joint is up to the job... Chinese quality control being what it is!

Yes. In a day or two, my orange mean-machine will arrive, and my neighbours will be greeted by the sight of an overweight man, in early middle age, wobbling uncertainly down the road on two wheels.

Hmm, you sold a lens for this?

Congrats, yesterday I saw a bike I liked. Unfortunately the FA31 is cheaper.

Mowog, just take care now! Dont let anything clang together now. Especially when you struggle uphill out of the saddle. Thinking about your Pentax around the neck. He He

Cedric

You just have to post an image of this.

A new set of Land Rover headlights, a pile of body repair products, a set of privacy screens and a rear door ladder have narrowly beaten an FA 50mm f1.4. Mostly as I seldom use the manual focus 50mm I already have!

The next few days will reveal if this is one of the best things I've ever done... Or the most disastrous!

It arrived this morning.

As soon as it was unpacked, my workmates were taking the piss. "It's a bit girly, isn't it?" and "You're going to look a right twat riding that". Lots of comments like that. I was not put off, and assembled it at lunchtime.

I have just returned from the first nervous and knackering test ride, around Finsbury park. My immediate impressions are:
The saying is true. Once you can ride a bike, you always can. No problem, there. Bit wobbly at first, but OK.
It was a mistake to get one without gears. It needs a lower one. Going up hills is almost impossible. On the flat, it needs a higher one. My legs were going like the clappers, yet not getting far.
The saddle is very uncomfortable. Surprising, because my arse is rather better upholstered than it was the last time I rode a bike.
It's not exactly light, either. Feels much heavier than the claimed 13kg.

Somehow, I don't think cycling is for me. This thing is likely to kill me. Either by depositing me under a No29 bus, or inducing a massive coronary!
I can see this machine being passed on to a younger relative, very soon, or going straight back on ebay!

It does have one thing going for it. - It's a lovely shade of orange!

You would have been so much more comfortable with a nice, warm, friendly lens...

Get a moulton.

Somebody will spray it orange for you.

You're right, John.

I regret selling that Tak, already!

Confucious say
"Man who sell lens to buy Orange bike know when he been Tango'ed"

Great story! Every now and then you just have to do things on a whim and you've done it! Are we going to see a picture of this orange beauty (preferably with you on it) before you sell it again?

Thank you, lidy.

Yes! - That's how I'll look at it. A perfectly reasonable execution of a whim... Not a pathetic and ill-judged attempt to recapture my lost youth and lose a couple of stone!. Positive spin, eh!

No picture. - The next time I unfold the Clockwork Orange, will be to demonstrate the procedure to It's new owner.