Last week I bought a bike, mostly because I really, really wanted one, but perhaps 1% of my longing was because I had a particularly tricky essay deadline that week and hoped a road accident would get me out of it. Ok, maybe 0.5%. Possibly even less. But I am pretty sure that no one in a hospital bed has ever had to write about the art of improvisation in 18th century Italy as they are considered miserable enough already.
I tootled down to my local somewhat dodgy but well-meaning bike recycling establishment, conveniently located in the arch of a railway bridge, next to what I think is probably a halfway house (I have never walked past it without getting heckled, usually by someone holding a bottle of cider at 10am) and a skip hire company. All in all, I felt a bit like I was going to need a bike so as to escape the criminals trying to rob me. After queueing outside in the rain for ages because people kept pushing in (for my view on people cutting the line, please see Liz Lemon, ep 1 season 1, 30 Rock, I tried to find a clip but the internet has failed me) I FINALLY got inside and found a bike that fitted both my gangly height and aesthetic needs. Ever since I have been whizzing along the streets of Newcastle, and occasionally the pavements, when I get scared and realise I don’t really know how roundabouts work. I wish I could drive. Anyway, here are my bike pros and cons after a week of ownership:
+ much less time consuming than walking, especially when heading in and out of uni.
– I am supremely unfit and find myself feeling a bit sick by the time I get where I need to be.
+ I can pretend I am in Brideshead Revisited, pre-mental and physical demise of Sebastian.
– Hills. Hills and a three-gear bike.
+ Toned legs.
– Bruised legs, as I am completely incapable of not bashing myself on the pedals.
+ Spring bike rides around lovely areas of Newcastle.
– the fact every lovely area of Newcastle involves the navigation of a massive hill.
Conclusion: Newcastle is hilly and I am unfit but my bike was a great idea.
Helena Kate Sinclair 
Nice bike!