Shopping List...

I love buying stuff when I can afford it and when it's for me. Certainly used to be the case that men weren't supposed to enjoy shopping; well I'm one of the exceptions. Buying stuff for myself tends to make me feel good. I could spend all day in a city or town with lots of shops that have what I want...

Especially cycling related stuff in which case I might consider myself a shopaholic...

I have a wishlist of bikes and accessories, which might change by the time I can afford them, which I can't right now, although some I've always wanted like my Dutch was. On the wishlist at time of writing:

Must-have category:

Brompton - public transport bike - next on the list.

Velorbis - comfort and style - a real looker

Fast commuter: The model can vary because of the availability. For example, I did want a silver Charge Mixer 11, but they're discontinued I believe, although Evans told me they might be able to get hold of one.

German Trekking bike with Rohloff hub and Gates carbon drive (maybe), loaded with equipment. My long distance tourer.

Nice-to-have-just-cos-they-make-them category:

A shaft drive - probably a Biomega, although I would like a Viva Mille Miglia, I mean those looks...Trouble is, they don't make them anymore, although you can find them on the internet for sale, in a different country...then again, I quite like the Beixo...

A Pederson - a masterpiece copy of an 1893 bike with modern componentry. Charming, quaint, and surprisingly practical...put it this way: you don't see many of these around...

A Pashley - everyone should have a Pashley...

A Schwinn - classic American 50s style cruiser with a mock petrol tank like that of a motorbike...don't think it's made anymore.

Pilen - nice & stylish Swedish utility bike - nice to have, just because they make them

Retrovelo - like the Pilen but German (and half as much again expensive), another nice to have just because they make them

Something with a wooden frame - this one made for the car company Audi.

Something with a bamboo frame

Something with a titanium frame

Something with a stainless steel frame

A Schindlehauer

A Pinion geared - aha - you probably haven't heard of that one...5 grand the price...think I like the colour, brown in any shade is not usually my thing, but it's a nice match with the silver. Would prefer midnight blue though.

So that's another 16 to buy...Excessive? Some would say, but I recently met Bill who told me he has 26 in his garage and invited me over to view them, which I must get round to soon. I don't have a garage, but I do have some space in the back garden that I could build some kind of shed/store cum conservatory thingy...nice little project to practice my creativity and DIY skills come to think...