mostly david ephgrave

A couple rode past me on a tandem this morning. My life is a 1970s sitcom. It's not the sort of vehicle you expect to see in real life. I can't understand the benefit. What do you gain from restricting two cyclists to one bike? According to Wikipedia, a tandem has double the pedalling power of a conventional bicycle, without the potential to double the speed. This is a shame, as you'd want to get away from people twice as fast, after being on the receiving end of four times the usual abuse. You have to be certain sort to ride one: either a Last of the Summer Wine cast member, or a Goodie. I suspect that Terry and June had one too. Or a 'one-two', depending on how you look on it. You need big balls to pull one off. Either that, or to be a massive penis. At least you'd save money on bike locks. You could probably dispense with chaining it up all together. No self-respecting person would want to steal a tandem - and if they did, they'd need an accomplice. I...

Hitchin's Dancing Cyclist wears headgear that offers protection from the Sun, but not from an accident.   I'd better explain to the uninitiated who he is. It doesn't take a great leap of imagination. He's a man who cycles through the historic market town nearly every day, smiling, waving and dancing as he goes. If it's sunny, he wears a sombrero.  His control of his bike is impressive. He somehow manages to never lose his balance. If it wasn't for the shapes he throws from his saddle, he'd be a model cyclist.  He's a local celebrity: ever-present, like St Mary's Church or the river Hiz. You'd expect him to be a source of ridicule. He isn't. Everyone, from the accepting to the threatening, will smile and wave back. Sticky situations are swiftly diffused when he pedals by.  He's got some surprisingly varied moves in his arsenal. He likes to keep it interesting. He'll also acknowledge every passerby, from drivers to ped...