stolen

I had my bike stolen today, sawn off a fence just off Newhaven Road, Edinburgh.

I thought I would put the word out in case anyone spots it as I would love to have it back, and if I don't get it back, my blip will serve to mark the many years of trusty service it has given me.

You may recognise the bike as I am usually welded to it and cycling as fast as I can (late as usual) up Leith Walk or Dublin Street wearing eminently suitable cycling clothing such as high heels and skirt.

It's a black steel Courier from Edinburgh Bike Coop - that's a black mountain bike frame, with lots of reflective stickers on it to enhance visibility.. Just as well, since the front reflector always bent out of line, no matter how often it was straightened. It had straight handle bars, worn smooth in a patch where the d-lock always rattled, and a bell saying 'i love my bike', which I was rather fond of, and also happens to be true. Everything is rather worn but familiar, and comfortable and usually fairly reliable. We've done many miles together.

Plus it had a black leather worn-worn in Brooks saddle, and a luggage rack, with a very battered folding basket attached, which no longer folded. This made it quite distinctive, but I can't imagine it would be a selling point so may have been removed by now. More fool them then, I say, as the amount of luggage transportable meant I rarely ever thought I might prefer a car instead: even if I had to sit on the 50 litres of compost slung across the cross bar, I did cycle all the way home from the garden centre.

I was particularly fond of the BMX pedals, which were perfect for the afore-mentioned heels - they allowed good grip and stability. My missing bike also possessed rather worn out gears, block and chain. I'm glad I hadn't quite yet got round to replacing them, though I had noted that this would be required imminently. On the plus side, for a future owner at least, and for me while I was briefly able to stop safely at traffic lights again, it did have recently replaced brakes; a full set of mudguards, and a brand new, supposedly indestructible, back tyre, reflective walled and lined with Kevlar.

This new tyre was purchased on Tuesday and punctured this morning on the way to work, so I had to abandon my bike chained to a fence and jump on a interminably slow bus. Some charming person sawed through the fence and had made off with it by the time I returned this evening.

Given that cycling is one of my most favourite things, and a major feature of blipping, I wondered, usefully, if I had any photos of my bike, but thus far none that are identifiable have emerged really.