I had a date with my granddaughter Miriam. First she served me a lovely little lunch and then we set off to buy a bicycle for her. She uses her bike every day for transportation to work and the Art Academy where she is studying, and I insisted it is imortant that she has a dependable and sturdy bike for the winter months. First we walked to her favorite bicycle shop. Miriam knows more or less what she wants and above all what she doesn’t want. Nothing “fancy” or with gimmicks, something she can repair herself, something classic, the frame must have a certain esthetic (that I didn’t quite grasp). There was nothing in the first shop. They sent us to a second, also nothing. Miriam was full of doubts that she needeed a new bike after all and felt apologetic for being fussy. She was afraid a new bike would just get stolen anyway. We joked we could put a few scratches on it to deter potential thieves.

Just one more shop I said, this time where they sell second-hand bikes as well. We took the subway, got off at the wrong station and walked a lot in the wrong direction before we finally found it. Second Hand Sports on Nymphenburger Strasse had an overwhelming choice of bikes, new and 2nd hand. After a brief glance at the multitude of bicycles on display, I was ready to say maybe this isn’t the right time for a new bike, just buy new rims for the old bike and that will do for the time being. However Miriam’s interest picked up when she saw the 2nd hand bikes and a few appealed to her sense of esthetics and simplicity, especially a Cannondale in one of the back rows. It had a high-quality frame of the right size, all new components, and after a short trial ride, Miriam said yes! They threw in a rack, mud guards and a kick stand and agreed to shorten the handlebars to suit Miriam. In addition we purchased a strong lock and that was it. The paint even has a few scratches. Mission accomplished and a very happy Miriam and Oma. I think my readers here on Cycle365 won’t find it difficult to understand Miriam’s preferences. Wow, what a granddaughter!