Insurance, Art and History.

I imagine you need a paper like the Daily Mail to tell you that you might want to consider insuring your expensive bike in case it gets stolen. It’s good to know that they see it as a news-worthy story. I want to feel sorry for the guy in the box-out who had both a £500 road bike and a £1000 mountain bike stolen from a bike shed, and I do, although I think what he really needs is an upgrade in his girlfriend to one who is ok about a bike left in the flat. It’s hardly the biggest problem and shouldn’t she love him for all his interests, even if that means a muddy bike in the lounge?

As ever I am shocked and amused by the comments that people leave on the Mail website.

J Ladle form Portsmouth says,

“This guy obviously didn't learn enough the first time his bike was nicked and is pushing up the insurance premiums for all of the hard working grafters in this great country...he really needs to take a look at himself and stop using cheap locks.
I feel sorry for his wife, who must be a real saint to put up with this muppet. Good looking guy though!”

All of which seems a bit harsh in some ways. I’d assume this is the sort of rubbish that people write when they inadvertently end up on the internet drunk, but it was left at 9:30 in the morning, so I’m guessing they were sober and mean what they say, whatever their point might actually be.

We can hope that the bikes that victim lost didn’t end up as some bike-rack sculpture at some point, as that seems like a bit of a waste of parts. I like the thought behind the racks installed in St Louis, but I wonder whether the frames could have been recycled into more bikes which seems a little more useful?

If you’re looking for inspiration on places to ride, rather than just leaving the bike locked up somewhere to be stolen or turned into art, then you might want to look at a new iPhone app from the Museum of London. It seems like a fantastic idea to be able to see what used to be where you are in the city with views from the archives. I know it’s not strictly a bike app, but it could be easily adapted to make the basis of a relaxed weekend ride, or a more interesting commute.

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