RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31448, 15 August 1967, Page 20

RANDOM REMINDER

LIFE ON WHEELS

It is common knowledge that Christchurch has enjoyed a reputation, equalled only by that of Amsterdam, of being a city of cyclists. It would not, therefore, be considered unusual to observe a bearded and somewhat exhausted student frantically peddling in the direction of our newly-acquired seat of learning at Ham in order to be on time for a lecture.

However, there is one such youthful academic, for whom tbe above chore is a common experience, who deserves more of our sympathy than we are wont to bestow upon the average early morning cyclist. He has recently acquired a charming young wife, and his added responsibilities deny him possession of one of those noisy, motor - powered machines which have become the status symbol of an increasing number of single students. They have chosen to dwell in a modest mansion

at Governor’s Bay; on a recent evening a neighbour, when driving home over Dyer’s Pass, was confronted with a mutilated heap which upon inspection was identifiable as the young man’s bicycle. Somewhat perturbed, the neighbour proceded to conduct a systematic search of the nearby cliff faces for the body, or clues indicating the direction in which it might have been projected. Finding no trace of bodies, spare limbs or blood, he hurried back into his car and drove desperately to Governor’s Bay to'inform the young wife, and, if necessary, to enlist the aid of the police, an ambulance and perhaps the Search and Rescue Organisation. Next he returned now accompanied by an agitated and trembling young woman, to the fatal spot. The bicycle had vanished. Worried and bewildered, the two searchers made their way once more to Governor's Bay, there

to discover the same tangle of twisted metal, now leaning nonchalantly against the young couple’s house.

It seems that the cyclist had accepted a lift from a hirsute student, and that their efforts to tie the bicycle to the rear of the car had been sufficiently inefficient for it to be dragged a considerable distance before detaching itself completely. Its disappearance was not noted until they reached Governor’s Bay, whereupon they returned immediately to recover it. In the brisk passage of motor vehicles, seeking bodies or bicycles, the respective occupants quite failed to notice each other on the two occasions when they passed. We suggest no moral. But it would appear that domestic peace can be better preserved if cyclists will pursue the traditions of our garden city by riding their machines, and eschewing effete substitutes.