Today I said goodbye to an old and dear friend. But this wasn’t a sad departure, more a sending off to new frontiers.
Trigger hasn’t always carried that name. Originally it was just my bike, sometimes called the Invite, and often the pink one
It was November 2014. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it after a trip down the A27 to Shoreham and the nearest Liv stockist to me.
It was sat in the window, gleaming with its fresh dark brown paintwork and pink handlebars. Hmmm, that handlebar tape will be the first thing to go - I hate pink!
I gingerly rode it around the shop, liked the idea of venturing into the world of dropped handlebars, and felt reassured that this bike had a second set of brake levers on the top bar, so I didn’t feel I needed to ride on the drops all the time. It also felt rugged enough to cope with my clumsiness. I placed my order there and then.
The following week I retraced my steps this time in the company of Teresa, a work colleague who had joined me in this new world of cycling.
I’m not sure how it happened, but we returned with two bikes hanging off the newly acquired bike rack as she had bought a sister invite there and then.
The pink handlebars never left, instead they encouraged more pink into my rather dull wardrobe.
The nobly tires did get changed rather rapidly as I learned about the benefit of road ones to reduce drag.
As I became a more confident and competent cyclist, the bike carried me to school, gave me the confidence to train to be a Breeze champion and complete numerous sportives.
It even carried me round 90 miles of Ride London when my other bike had let me down.
COVID came and I learned bike maintenance . The invite had been due a service, but of course couldn’t get there, so with time on my hands, and some top quality you tube videos, I learned how to replace the bottom bracket, the drive chain, pedals and handlebars. (The pink bar tape remained though)
When restrictions were over, we dabbled our pedals at bike touring. Inspired by a couple of friends, I bought some panniers and a tent, strapped everything to my bike and went adventuring.
We went far and wide, loving the pace of slow travel and the freedom of getting somewhere without needing a car.
Then disaster struck just before we were due to ride the Devon coast to coast. Somehow the frame broke. I’ve still no idea how. I took it back to a now more local Liv shop where they tested it and confirmed that the frame was no longer rideable. I was pretty upset.
Thankfully, Giant, the parent company of Liv, has a lifetime frame guarantee, and they agreed to swap out my frame for another.
It was at this point the name Trigger arrived. This was Inspired by the Open All hours sketch about the character Trigger had a broom that he had never replaced. It had been given new bristles once or twice and a few new handles too, but to Trigger, it was the same broom. The name seemed very apt, as by now only the wheels, seat post, and a couple of minor bits were original.
The pink didn’t go quite as well with the grey and green of this new frame, but it rode the same and I couldn’t quite bring myself to part with the colour.
But needs change as do bikes and poor trigger was spending more and more time in the shed and very little time on the road. It was time to pass it on.
So after a bike shop checkup the advert was written but never posted.
A new work colleague mentioned that she was after a bike, I told her about Trigger and a date was organised for a meet up.
I rode Trigger to school for the last time and didn’t ride home. My colleague had fallen in love and Trig went home with her, sparkling and ready for new adventures.
So this isn’t goodbye to an old friend as I am certain we will meet regularly in the bike shed, having enjoyed a pleasant cycle to school while avoiding the gridlock on the way and the fight for a parking space when we get there.
Have fun Trigger. Au revoir.
Further information
Miles travelled as the pink bike - 11035
Miles travelled as Trigger - 831
