Cycling Games Compendium

David Dansky, the man who trained me to be a cycle instructor, and introduced me to games like ‘stay in the box’, has released a new book. Now I am not suggesting for one moment this is a curl up on a rainy Sunday afternoon kind of book. This book is a teaching resource.

It would be quite easy to scoff at the relevance of games when teaching cycling, but until you have played them, let me tell you, you really wouldn’t know.

Doing the  ‘slow race’ in the playground will leave you faced with a row of gappy tooth smiles and more importantly a bunch of kids who understand how to balance on their bikes.

£10.00

If you do teach, this could be a valuable resource. I also reckon it could come in pretty handy at a kids party*, tire them out and quieten them down.

You can buy this book for a tenner, here.

ps: bike games are just as good for adults, ‘foot down’ leaves me in fits of giggles.

*Sargent and Co will not be held liable for mishaps.

The good folk- Ron Cooper and David Crowe

'The' Ron Cooper and Dave Crowe

When I was really young I used to trust everybody. As the years pass I have become proportionally more cynical and  less trusting. I put this down to experience and London.

When I saw this picture Rob had taken of frame building legend Ron Cooper and frame painter, Dave, I felt 5 years old again.

I would probably believe anything Mr Cooper told me,  because he wears a buttoned up shirt underneath his mechanics coat, which reminds me of my grandad, and you can imagine he knows loads of things. I would also trust Dave, because he has the kind of smile that can’t be faked.

I like snapshots.

Sargent and Co in Japan

As I am only here 2 days a week, it is often a concern what Rob may have been up to in my absence. Today a new set of sails (or something huge and boat related) arrived in the post; the shop is already what an estate agent would describe as ‘cosy and compact’. Alas I have spent the afternoon wrestling a sail every time I want to have a sip of my water.

Once sat down, (after negotiating the sail),  I noticed a business card filled with Japanese characters. Rob told me a nice man had been in from Japan.

The land of the Rising Sun

Apparently he wanted to take some pictures of the shop and do an interview.

Rob made a pot of tea, had a natter and had his portrait taken.

‘It’s for a Japanese magazine’, the man told Rob.

Anyway I have taken a look at this magazines website, and I can’t make head nor tail of it. It’s all written in Japanese. So Sargent and Co are going to be in a magazine, we don’t know the theme of the magazine, we don’t have the foggiest about it’s content, and we don’t when the article will be printed.We also don’t know if it gets distributed in England.

Excellent marketing skills Rob.

No bonking please, we are British

Can blokes ride shoppers?

An impeccable line up

Bangin’ haircuts and guitars, yes.

And let’s not forget the flouncy shirt wearing Anthony May in Les Bicyclettes de Belsize.  

Raleigh RSW16

He used his shopper to charm his way into the arms of 60′s luscious lipped beauty, Judy Huxstable.

A romantic embrace under a dynamo lit night

Men used to cruise with their girl on the back

Shoppers have become a bit of a dying art for blokes. I don’t think they should be.

Small, practical, nifty, un-steal worthy and able to carry loads of things. Why should us lasses only be privvy to these useful nip around town bikes?

I say, it ain’t what you ride, it’s how you ride it.  Any bloke worth half his salt can style these machines out*.

*I dreamt me and Mick Jagger rode to the Heath on Raleigh 20′s once.

Ernie Clements/Simocini Road Bike – SOLD

Simoncini are bicycle builders, based near Florence in Italy, they custom build bikes, and it will cost you the best part of 3000 euros to get your mitts on one.

Ernie Clements was a road riding champion, and bicycle shop owner.

Ernie, being an ex champion, knew a good bike when he saw one.

Meet the Ernie Clements/Simocini road bike.

An Italian called Ernie?

By all accounts Ernie was really nice fella, the kind of bloke you would like to buy a bike from.I took this for a wee spin earlier, and it’s as smooth as P Diddys chat up lines.

It’s got a 24 speed Campagnolo Daytona, chainset, and Shimnao RX100 brake callipers. 52 cm frame.

Take it for a spin and feel the force.

£650, fully rebuilt and serviced.

Ladies Raleigh Mixte Town Bike- For Sale- SOLD

Rock bottom prices, ladies 21″ Raleigh, was £240, now £190.

not even asking 2 tonne for it

Pump, mudguards, bell, all included, it’s all singin’, all dancin’.

£190.00, fully serviced.

Summer Sale- Bobbys’ sizzling prices, can’t be beaten*

It’s a summer bonanza, it’s a sale like no other.

Take this Mercian touring bike, WAS £750.00. NOW £590.00. SOLD

A massive saving of £160.00 (or 21.3% recurring).

Huge reductions, must go

Grab a bargain whilst you can. The time is now.

Save some dough on your new bike and send your mum a bunch of flowers (don’t go wild, a tenner bunch will do, just to create the effect).

Globetrotting, aross the universe

Nigel Dean Touring bike, was £650.00, now £490.00

24.62% discount. Giving it away, I am.

Look at this BSA shopper, serviced, with a new set of tyres, was £150, now £120. £30.00 saving, 20% OFF.

Folding shopper

We have more shoppers too, and they are in the sale as well. We have Raleighs’, we have Patherfinders, we have shoppers galore, and all of them are sold fully serviced with new tyres. Our shoppers work, and they work well. They could work for you.

Here’s a taster of what we have:

UNDER £500

Nigel Dean touring bike

UNDER  £250

Raleigh Richmond, 531, Mens,

Raleigh Mixte, ladies

Dawes Tourer, with front and rear racks, 54 cm,

Claud Butler town bike

UNDER £150

Pro bike, Mens

A selection of shoppers

Please come by and see the spectacle for yourself.

Act fast, whilst Rob is busy fantasising about sailing his boat, he is eager to get some cash in the bank and spend some time sailing. Pick on him whilst he is weak. Take advantage. It would be foolish not to.

*within a 100 metre radius

Business as usual

We are glad to say all is well here and it’s business as usual.

Cassius took to patrolling the street, he frightened off everybody, including those who were just trying to get to their houses.

Some of his gang got involved as well

Love, peace and cycling x

Friday-18.33

Rob Sargent: Fancy a drink?

Georgie Wood: Aye. Rude not too.

Rob Sargent: I will get this rose, it’s really quite wonderful, it is a little oily, but so delicate and refreshing, so mmmmm.

Georgie Wood: Hang on, what are you? Some kind of expert?

Rob Sargent: I suppose I am.  I’ve drunk enough of it.

After 1 whole bottle Rob becomes an expert in a plethora of subjects., as do I. This is quite common amongst drunk people. Today however is the first time I have heard someone proclaim their expertise in a subject matter because of their ability to drink, not because they are drunk. Ahem.