Gautam’s first bicycle

 

Gautam’s first bicycle was, literally, rubbish.  A child’s bicycle had been put out for collection by dustmen beside the communal bins in a block of flats in Cambridge.  An acquaintance in one of the apartments told me about it.  – The bicycle looks OK and seems the right size for your two year old son.  I went to look, saw that the bicycle, though the paint was chipped and peeling, was perfectly serviceable and had no hesitation in bringing it home.  Finances were very tight those days and a free child’s bicycle was not to be passed up. 

 

Shortly afterwards my parents came to stay.  – All it needs is a bit of paint and it will be like new, my father said when he saw the bicycle.  – I could do that whilst I am here. We went and bought the necessary materials and, sitting outside on steps leading to the entrance to the flats, my father set to work.  Gautam sat nearby on a wicker chair and watched him, sustaining himself with a drink and a biscuit.  My father removed the seat and sanded the metal frame.  He painted the frame pillar box red and the handlebars and front mudguard white, to match the seat.  We discussed buying stabilisers.  – They will be expensive.  Let’s take him to the park opposite and run behind him holding on to the seat.  He will soon get the hang of it.  We did just that and soon Gautam was able to keep his balance.  He was then the proud owner of a shiny red and white bicycle which he could ride.