Eric's Beijing Diary

Well, my "one lock" bicycle was still there this morning. The students assured me it would be...

"It's too old."
"No one would want it."
"Even if you forget to lock it, no one will take it."

These words of encouragement warmed my heart. If what the students tell me is true, then a bike as old as mine is virtually thief proof. Apparently, if I can manage to keep it looking old and beat up, I might just be able to keep it. When viewed from this perspective, everything is seen in a new light. The odd clang it makes while I am riding down the street is music to my ears. The old rawhide seat is making my own hide raw, but fortunately it is not only very uncomfortable, it also looks pretty bad. The rear rim is, well, an odd shape somewhere between round and square. Not a smooth ride by any means, but it does have a certain rythm to it that reminds one of the changing seasons of life. Steal it? No self respecting thief would be caught dead with it! At least that's what the students tell me. There is one problem. The lock. The guy threw in a lock with the deal, and it's a cheap one, but it does happen to be new. Makes it look like I actually care whether someone steals it or not. This is not good. Don't know what to do about that--let me know if you have any ideas.

Quite seriously, I think Chinese bicycle mechanics must be among the best in the world, since there is such a demand for their services. There are bicycles everywhere. So even though my old bicycle is pretty decrepit, I can tell that it is well oiled, and it is in pretty good repair. But don't tell anyone. This old thing cost me a fourth of what a new one would have cost me, and if word gets around that it actually works just as well, I might have to get myself another lock.