I got the call just after lunch. The man on the phone seemed nearly as excited as I was, confirming my impression than my bike is superior to all other bikes, but perhaps it's just his personality? Anyhow, went to pick it up as soon after work as I could decently manage, but had to go home first to retrieve helmet, etc. and then excite various curious glances on the tube regarding non-tube-standard attire.
It was waiting for me outside when I got there, looking very red and shiny and larger than I remembered. Last bits of paperwork taken care of, I had time for a very short ride before fetching Sherlock from school, sadly not on the bike.
(I now want him to grow nearly as much as he does because then I could drive him to school on it. As it is, since I go straight from his school to work, I'll really only be able to ride it in the afternoons - though after the summer holidays and two months away from the surgery, I can't really expect Sarah to keep me on anyway. Perhaps when Mycroft goes back to school, I'll just ride about all day.)
Brought it home, went to collect Sherlock, brought him home and introduced him to the new bike. Let him sit on it. Successfully extracted a promise to keep entirely away from the internet until after I surprised L. May have bribed him slightly with biscuits.
Mrs Hudson agreed to look after him and feed him dinner, and I left for NSY, keeping a safe distance from anything that might scratch my paintwork.
L walked right past me, though he gave the bike an appreciative glance, and I had to take my helmet off and call him back. His appreciative glances were this time more appropriately divided between the bike and me, and he called me a sneak and a toe-rag and a git, which was entirely the reaction I was going for, and then graciously allowed me to take him to dinner. We had a very nice time, and I'm already plotting where we can go for a decently long ride, hopefully at the weekend if not sooner.
It was waiting for me outside when I got there, looking very red and shiny and larger than I remembered. Last bits of paperwork taken care of, I had time for a very short ride before fetching Sherlock from school, sadly not on the bike.
(I now want him to grow nearly as much as he does because then I could drive him to school on it. As it is, since I go straight from his school to work, I'll really only be able to ride it in the afternoons - though after the summer holidays and two months away from the surgery, I can't really expect Sarah to keep me on anyway. Perhaps when Mycroft goes back to school, I'll just ride about all day.)
Brought it home, went to collect Sherlock, brought him home and introduced him to the new bike. Let him sit on it. Successfully extracted a promise to keep entirely away from the internet until after I surprised L. May have bribed him slightly with biscuits.
Mrs Hudson agreed to look after him and feed him dinner, and I left for NSY, keeping a safe distance from anything that might scratch my paintwork.
L walked right past me, though he gave the bike an appreciative glance, and I had to take my helmet off and call him back. His appreciative glances were this time more appropriately divided between the bike and me, and he called me a sneak and a toe-rag and a git, which was entirely the reaction I was going for, and then graciously allowed me to take him to dinner. We had a very nice time, and I'm already plotting where we can go for a decently long ride, hopefully at the weekend if not sooner.
58 comments:
Man on the phone was just excited to get that bit of German scrap off his forecourt so he could put something decent, like a Triumph, there instead and get some customers back :)
Tsk, tsk. Jealousy is never pretty...
Kids on bikes. My mate's ex put their son on the back of her bike from about Sherlock's age, scared the watsits out of me! He did have a very cute leather jacket though! His normal concentration level was (is even at 24) abysmal except for when he was on the bike, possibly because he was petrified. His dad followed suit once he'd passed his test and bought a bike!
Lancs. Anon
You could get yourself a job as a motorbike courier John and earn money while enjoying your bike ;-)
I'm glad it's a red and shiny now you have your hands on it as it was in your thoughts :-)
Anonybob
If I'd wanted a BMW, I would have got one! The Striple is a far better bike for me.
For you, however, it is clearly perfect.
I hope they're making friends down there in the rain. And don't think I didn't notice you chewing your lip with worry when it started getting rained on.
Oh and I meant to say, yay for the new bike, you know L doesn't mean what he says about it when it successfully distracted him from you :)
Lancs. Anon
Don't they make covers for them? Or something?
Lancs. Anon - clearly he is secretly just as in awe of it as he should be!
Anonybob - I did actually consider the courier thing...
You'd have to ride near traffic if you were a courier. And squeeze through gaps. And jump kerbs. And abandon your bike to run into buildings. And carry loads that could spill or scratch. You would be London's slowest, most careful courier...
They do make covers for them, but it's a bike... it lives outdoors. It will survive.
The only reason I was looking at it was debating whether to book the rider for some infringement and impound the bike, then bring it home to you :)
it would combine your second favourite thing and making money which would be good :-)
it would be illegal to make money out of your favourite thing I think ;-)
Don't worry about the rain, John--I bet Sherlock will be happy to wash your beautiful new shiny for you...for various considerations. :) (Well, it is hard to earn pocket money when you're six!)
debating whether to book the rider for some infringement and impound the bike, then bring it home to you
I probably shouldn't find that romantic, right? (and yes, I know you're not being serious.)
I suppose the rain can't scratch it at least...
Could be acid rain! Might just get out there tomorrow to find a melted puddle...
Romantic? Yeah. It's just a copper's version of hunter-gatherer. Detector-impounder.
AnonyBob -
it would combine your second favourite thing and making money which would be good :-)
it would be illegal to make money out of your favourite thing I think ;-)
Nope, selling jam is entirely legal...
I know you're only trying to get me to go and check on it.
Well I can't believe you won't go and kiss it goodnight and tuck it in. Maybe read it a story? Don't worry, the Striple will keep it company and tell it not to be scared.
...and I've just realised that I bet you're going to name it...
OH has a cover on his bike. At least it means that it doesn't get muddy pawmarks from when next door's cat is trying to look (or climb) in our kitchen window.
L - I might!
SH - sounds quite sensible to me.
It might not apply in the famous English weather but... bikes that live outside get sun damage.
It can take years so if you aren't expecting to keep it for more than a few years it won't matter. If you are, and you aren't riding it every day then seriously consider a cover for it.
The drawback is that you have to have somewhere to stow the cover and whatever you are using to lock the cover on.
Oh and John? Most if not all new riders drop their bike at low speed or even a standstill. So be very careful when stopping, parking, getting off and getting on! I presume Lestrade has warned you about the slippery bits at junctions and corners.
Just remember - he has long legs. So probably hasn't even noticed the dips in the road at the lights. You will have to... so when you come to a stop be very aware of where you are going to put your feet. A small dip in the road can cause a big dip of the bike if your feet don't touch the ground when you expect them to!
L - see! I'm not being ridiculous.
Rider - thank you, I will watch out for unexpected dips, and I am definitely hoping to keep it for more than a few years.
...I think she just called you short.
Dips in the roads... buses make HUGE tracks. I could lose you down one. Be careful. I'm going to keep my radio tuned to the traffic car band, just to check up on Doctor-eating chasms opening up in the roads now.
I had already warned him about dropping his bike. Especially as he seems happy with me on pillion already... mind you, I could save the bike, probably, if I was on the back. And had fast enough reactions.
Endless mockery... You are getting more like Murray every day, I swear.
C'mon then, Doc, let me drag you off to bed.
I'll even give you a leg-up.
... over. I meant over ;)
Bed, yes, excellent. I might be too excited to sleep for a while though. Fair warning.
Have fun....er, I mean good night, gentlemen! ;)
yeah? Huh. Maybe we can think of something to do to let you err... work off some of that excitement, or something.
Like... um... well, we'll think of something, right?
So awesome that you got your bike! And Federer won today, despite that dip in the third set when I started watching.
ryo
Ryo - it's not just me, he always fades as soon as we turn on the match, right?
L - I have no doubt. To start with, I'm sure I should thank you for the bike again. :)
Have a fun night, gents :-)
Late as usual, but happy to hear you are enjoying the bike, John. As a short person with even more disproportionately short legs, I'm pretty much confined to pillion on any decent sized bike...which suits Mr Imachar fine...we only have his bike, and I don't think he'd appreciate me dropping it on a regular basis (never mind what it would do to me).
Hope you had a fun bedtime (and the bikes slept well together :))
I'll be on the same time-zone as you guys for the next 10 days, so maybe I'll get to comment in a more timely fashion for a while.
Yay! The bike is here! \O/ I hope the celebrations went very well. ;)
-A from NW (who wants to break a few (virtual) dishes)
Is it still there this morning?
Lancs. Anon
It was when I took the Striple to work... I'm amazed Danger didn't give up on me and come down to sleep with the bike, to be honest.
I did wonder whether you'd come down this morning to discover the Doc curled up round his bike.
Oh and J, forgot to say, but delighted to hear you now have your shiny new bike.
How is work treating you gentlemen? I hope all is calm :-)
Any chance of fitting in a sneaky ride before the school run John?
I hope everyone who reads this is having a nice day :-)
Anonybob
Anonybob, I have to laugh--I was, quite literally, about to write pretty much the same thing! :D
So...what Anony said. :)
I'm off tomorrow and Thurs, Danger, if we can fit in a ride? Maybe Mrs H would fetch the boy wonder from school? Means I'm working on Sat I'm afraid. Amd got somepaperwork, but I can do that while you're at the surgery.
And might have a moose to make.
Surely that requires two other moose doesn't it?
Lancs. Anon
Just for the record, I think we've all been very well behaved on a post titled "red and shiny", in which there is much discussion of riding, hugging, kissing and sleeping with the aforementioned red shiny loveliness :-)
we're all on our best behaviour all in Nameless but I have been hoping for someone to mention 'red and shiny' so thankyou
HM
I was surprised no one commented on it being larger than i remembered.
I'm assuming it's not too big though John? Perhaps bigger then you were expecting, maybe taking some adjusting to, but still a comfortable ride?
HM -glad to be of service :-)
(So much for decorousness... :D)
Oh! Was the title about your bike? My mistake.
Nameless - as long as he doesn't fall off and break it I think he'll manage.
I haven't broken one yet.
Yes, but it's already been established that you're terribly cautious right up until things start getting dirty, and then...
There better not be a yet about it. I don't want you breaking line or your own.
Nameless - that's a closed course though; I'd never be so reckless in public.
L - I'll let my record speak for itself.
Just for the record, I think we've all been very well behaved on a post titled "red and shiny", in which there is much discussion of riding, hugging, kissing and sleeping with the aforementioned red shiny loveliness :-)
Well, we can't have that, can we?
Hee!!
Maz - oh my goodness. *fans self* (Although the chap in the red pants looks so young I feel like a dirty old woman just looking at the picture)
(I better just go back and have another look to be sure...)
Study it for a long time, Nameless. I want your absolute final opinion as to the appropriateness of these pictures.
Very nice, but wearing anything other than full protective gear on a motorbike is never a good idea ;)
Maz - your wish is my command:
- Hugh Jackman, oh yes please. Very nice photo of a deeply good-looking guy. On a motorbike!
- Reclining guy, mmmm. Nice photo, actually, like the lighting, and the pose.
- Red pants boy, definitely a bit too young for my tatses, too boyish. But I'm pretty sure I'm towards the older end of the spectrum of commenters here, so what's too young for me may well not be too young for others. But no amount of muscle makes up for the fact he looks about 16 to me... (Oh! Cross-cultural reference: 16 is the legal age of consent in this country, I'm not accusing you or that website of peddling pics of children!)
- Naked bum dude, um... well, yeah, he's good looking, and he does appear to have a very nice botoom, and that is a very nice bike, But is it just me that thinks that pose looks quite awkward? Also, if you're going to flash your arse, why bother with a jockstrap? It's an arse, not a painting, it doesn't need a frame.
- Nude dude, oh my. You won't believe me, but I really like the artistry in this picture. The composition is lovely, the pose really works, the play of light across the guy's muscles is complimented by the paintjob on the bike. I think it might have been nice to be able to see the guy's face, but as a piece of art, it works for me.
SH - well, to be fair, only the guy in the final pic is close to be ready to need to use protection :-p
John - I feel like I ought to apologise for this comment or something...
Nameless - none of them do it for me. All too... skinny. And boy-like.
It's an arse, not a painting, it doesn't need a frame.
It certainly doesn't need a jockstrap. They're so unappealing!
It's an arse, not a painting, it doesn't need a frame.
It certainly doesn't need a jockstrap. They're so unappealing!
If someone could please eliminate this aesthetic, I'd be grateful. Because my hubs owns a jock with a stainless steel cup for baseball and frankly, the entire, sweaty thing is unappealing from start to finish. Bleah.
Now, the black and white shot of the artistically recliningg, bestubbled man on the bike is...sigh. Very appealing.
Lestrade - "All too... skinny. And boy-like" I wouldn't describe all the guys in those photos like that, but I absolutely prefer blokes who look like men, not boys (does that sounds ragingly sexist or something? It's not supposed to be). But I can appreciate the aesthetics of the photos, even if the model isn't my type :-)
Maz - I'm lucky enough to have never been confronted with a jockstrap in person. They certainly don't look very sexy - which is why i find it very odd that they crop in photos quite so often. Definite turn-off for me.
Post a Comment