i think i mentioned it before but my bike got stolen – well they caught the guy who stole it – wouldnt you just know it – he was a chav – yeah – they showed me a picture of him – baseball cap and everything – it was this pixellated CCTV still – from like a cash converters or somewhere – cos the police had sent out the description of my bike to all the second-hand shops – silly bastard – he might have known the police would do that – so when they caught him they came round my house – to take a statement (more…)

I

It is early morning, around eight o’ clock. The bicyclist begins his preparations. The shorts are first; Lycra. The black nylon strands reflect the ambient morning light in a criss-cross circle as they are pulled into place, slack at first, but then perfectly following the little contours around the calf muscles; a second-skin. Next; the top, a thin white vest under a tight jacket. This too wraps around the body, but not as tightly, reserving still some slack in its plastic threads. The zip tightens it considerably, running up its little tracks, making a slight click-clicking noise at it runs over each little tooth. (more…)

I like cycling: I cycle to university, I cycle to the shops and I cycle for pleasure. Part of the appeal of cycling for me, apart from the fresh air and the exercise, is the incredibly strong connect between intention and movement. When you’re cycling, all you need to do to change direction is shift your body-weight slightly to one side or another, and instantly you’ve altered your trajectory. You don’t even have to think about. Now where else do you have this simplicity of movement? (more…)