Livre d'Or

Thank you. I'm very much leaning towards the stay in urban Cambridge and pay people to fix the bike if I have to approach. I know jack has got really frustrated sometimes because his bike needs some minor fix, only it's hard for him when he doesn't do it very often, and it's difficult to get your ducks in a row to either fix it yourself or take it to a bike shop during working hours. But I think that's partly because he needs his bike for commuting, whereas for me, if I'm without a bike for a few weeks until I get round to fixing, it matters less.

That's a good point about D locks not fitting round poles, and that's probably a good reason to get a chain as well.

I do like the idea of a Dutch bike, and indeed that was Colin's first suggestion to me. I think I would rather have sturdy than light, especially as I intend to cycle short distances slowly in a flat place. I will see if I can get dynamo lights and a chain guard, too.

I think the test riding is going to be difficult. Partly because Colin was extremely vague about when he planned to show up and I'm just not at home that much. Plus I have a feeling that I'm going to be very biased by how comfortable the saddle is, but now you've given me this advice I'll try to compensate for that.