After having a sh*t day that involved getting raked over the coals in the bank this afternoon trying to find some funding for our home renovations, a lovely lady in my office said: “Don’t do anything with money this week—mercury is in retrograde.”
Good advice.
But does it fark with all other elements in the universe too? Because this weekend, the RRHB and I went out on Saturday to Canadian Tire to supe up my bike with some fancy, but inexpensive gadgets. I got a lovely gel pad for my seat and a new rack for the back that holds some new pannier bags. All good.
So I take my pimped up bike to work this morning and lock it up outside where I normally do, by the reference library, which is far enough away from Yonge and Bloor to ensure that it should be safe from harm. Or so you would think.
Because when I went outside after work today, after my crap-ass day, I discovered someone had stolen my seat.
So I cried.
And then rode, seatless, which I’m saying is not easy, to the nearest bike store on Harbord only to be treated like I’m less than human for inquiring about seats, and then promptly leaving to ride further, again, with nothing to rest my ample ass on, until I came to The Bike Joint.
Ah, what saviours.
Not only did they fix my seat but they also replaced the ‘quick release’ (which I didn’t even know I had) with a bolt. Now it’s not as easy to steal the seat in the first place. But what’s even better, was that when I discovered they didn’t take my credit card, I paid half the bill with what money I had and will deliver the rest to him on my way home tomorrow.
And he even said, “I would have trusted you for the whole amount.”
I cried first out of frustration for my bad day, and then when I discovered that some jackass needed my new gel cap so much that they stole the ENTIRE seat, but when I finally landed in tears on the concrete steps of The Bike Joint and discovered plain, old kindness, I dried my eyes and carried on my merry little way to come home and complain about it all over again on the inter web.
So why punish the bikers? Seriously, I would have given the person who stole my seat, happily, the $20.00-odd dollars it was worth, if only they had left my bike in tact.
Jackasses.
Day From Hell. That retrograde thing is true, too.
Piss balls! Poor you. I do like The Bike Joint though– they’ve always been good to me. I am glad you got similar treatment when you needed it most. xo
Oh, the asshole. Glad you finally got a break today.
I find that frequently happens – I’m frustrated and teary over some sh*it thing that happens and then later that same day something good occurs.
Amazing how simple it is – someone being kind – to brighten up your day.
You know, when I need to supe up my bike, I’m going to take it to the Bike Joint, just on principle.
Interaction in this city is unfortunately more sub-par than not. Nice to hear a good story.
That sucks.
I mean, really.
I remember a coworker who used to bring the seat inside with him!
Coming out to find a mangled/picked-over bike is the worst.
I live in NYC and some people bring not only their seats inside, but also any wheels with quick releases too!