I want to share this one as it really made me smile! It put some light in to a sad subject.
I was in a local bike shop last week delivering some goodies. When chatting with the owner i asked about a red Mercian Frame that was hanging in the shop. Obviously a 60s frame and recently re painted.
I was told it belonged to "JJ" a well know Scottish cyclists, who is all ways busy organising events and working as a time keeper. He always has a good put down for those riders who line up in front of his watch. Unfortunately he is suffering from cancer of the tongue, so his quick one liners may be missing next year (that is the sad bit). Back to the frame. Apparently JJ bought the frame, nearly new, back in the 60s. Not wanting his wife to know of the extravagance he sneaked the frame in to his house and hid it behind a wooden panel at the back of the boiler in the scullery, intending to build it up at a later date.
His wife, being very domesticated, decided the scullery needed redecorating and without consulting JJ set about repapering and painting the room. JJ returned from work to find the frame was duly sealed in. Not wanting to get caught JJ thought he would let it lie a while and eventually forgot all about the frame. 10 years later, the boiler had to be replaced and the plumbers had to get at the pipe work. Imagine Mrs JJs surprise when the trades man walked into the Kitchen and passed her a bright red Mercian frame, asking if she knew that this was in the wall?
The moral of the story, make sure all your frames are the same colour, it is much easier to pass off a new one as one you have owned for a while!
Regards
Martin Coopland, Scotland, http://www.BatesBicycles.com