Study time and Folding Bikes

As a probationary minister in the Methodist Church I am required to spend one day a week studying.

I confess that I have not been rushing to do this before starting an official course.

However, that changed on Wednesday this week which became the first day of term for me at Wesley House, Cambridge. I have started TOMM2 (Theology of Ministry & Mission) with a nice crowd of people, some of whom I know from earlier training, a mixture of Student Ministers and Probationers.

I thought I would be clever and so I drove to one of the Park and Ride car parks with my Birdy in the car boot. I then cycled into the centre of Cambridge. The problem was that after getting 90% of the way in I made a mistake and ended up heading out of town in a random direction. It then started to rain hard and so I arrived for the course just on time and looking like I had been swimming.

The trip back to the car afterwards was much more successful. I need to order a new back mudguard for the Birdy as more than half has broken off. Then cycling will be a good option, much nicer than waiting for a bus. In fact just been to Bikefix and ordered it.

Due to regular commitments on Wednesday mornings I am going to need to take a split study day for this term at least. Fitting it in is going to be a real challenge, but fortunately the course and reading material are relevent and interesting so that will help a lot.

Oh and by the way there is a  Birdy Mailing list on Yahoo Groups.

Comments

[Richard Hall]

You don't go in for cheap bikes, do you Dave?!

[DaveW]

In my defence the Birdy was 2nd hand and a bargin. If buying a folder new I would almost certainly go for a Brompton as it does fold smaller, is cheaper and the new ones a pretty good ride. But getting a Brompton 2nd hand is not easy they get snapped up really fast.

[Paul]

Hi Dave, I trained at Wesley House leaving just over a year ago. I remeber TOMM 2 rather well. I have come to recall it a a very useful course. I hope to visit there some time in the academic year so if you see a rather ugly face gurning through the Old Common Room window it will be me.

[DaveW]

Paul, I was going to make a snide, rude comment about the faces there already, but then realised I would just be talking about myself so I decided to refrain ;-)

Certainly the course outline looks good and Jane appears to be a good leader (after 1 week anyway).

[Lorna]

just found your site ... via RevGalsBlog ring and your praise of our up and coming advent devotional.

Finns are into biking too, so if you feel like a break and want to check out the UMC in norhtern europe you know where to pedal to :)

on a more serious note - it IS important to continue to study and I bless your jiggling with your other commitments as you make time for this.

be blessed :)

[DaveW]

Richard, Besides cheap bikes are usually terrible value. They are nasty to ride and don't last. I remember 2 years ago someone turned up at a Bile Culture holiday on a £99 mountain bike. He only did the short or medium rides but the brakes and gears needed adjusting nearly every day. It was heavy, the tyres and tubes made it slow and puncture prone. The fit was poor, rust started very quickly. Riding it was not pleasurable.

Now don't get me wrong, any bike is better than no bike. Cheap bikes can be effective as a way of getting around but only if you know how to take care of them.

For example I see lots of people on cheap and heavy bikes that have very soft tyres and no lights. This is no way to be encouraged to ride instead of drive.

Lorna, Thanks!

Dave

[Richard Hall]

I knew you'd say that Dave! But there's cheap and cheap. I'm going to be in the market for a new bike next spring, and there are some terrific machines to be had in the £3-400 price range. I'm just jealous of your array of cycling splendidry!

[DaveW]

Richard, We have found that £300-£400 range to be quite a sweet spot for road use. Jane got an excellent Ridgeback from Evans Cycles in that price range. With big slick tyres full mudguards and straight handlebars it is a comfortable and quick bike on the road.