From: "patrick jennings"
To: "Andrew Bede Secord"
Sent: Saturday, October 10, 1998 10:17 AM
Subject: Flying Pigeon

You know, I may be able to purchase and have shipped to you for a marginal price (around $100 US--about $1,000 CDN about now?) a Chinese bicycle. I'm thinking particularly of a Flying Pigeon: all-steel, single geared, suspension-bar reinforced front fork, lever-rod brakes, rat-trap rack designed to carry a side-saddle passenger or a living-room suite, sprung leather saddle, all-black except for the flare of vanilla at the fender tips. It would make a great display item for your shop, I think. And it would have been purchased in Kashgar--arguably the single-most important trade hub of the Silk Road--perhaps even at the infamous Sunday Market. Moreover, it would have been purchased for you by one of those rare, nutty cyclists to traverse the Silk Road, the whole shebang from Xian to Kashgar.

Let me know quickly, and I'll look into the export details on this side.

Ciao,

Patrick.

From: "Andrew Bede Secord"
To: "patrick jennings"
Sent: Sunday, October 11, 1998 8:44 AM
Subject: Re: Flying Pigeon

Yes, Yes, Yes!

i have wanted one of those guys for a while, it would make a great cruiser, though more so near where i live not where i work, north van being as vertical as it is. not made of money these days but that price sounds more than reasonable. can you throw in a few accessories?

From: "patrick jennings"
To: "Andrew Bede Secord"
Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 12:20 PM
Subject: Re: Flying Pigeon

I'll go have a look around and see what I can muster up. It may not be an actual Flying Pigeon, but it'll look like one. The price may go up due to export duties. I'll check on that this afternoon.

Results will be relayed when I have 'em.

Cheers,

Patrick.

From: "patrick jennings"
To: "Andrew Bede Secord"
Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 12:30 PM
Subject: Re: Flying Pigeon

Oh, what did you have in mind for accessories?

Ciao,

Patrick.

From: "Andrew Bede Secord"
To: "patrick jennings"
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 1998 5:51 PM
Subject: Re: Flying Pigeon

lights, panniers, horns, that kind of stuff. since it couldn't add that much to the price, if it is available, go for it!

Thanks, Andrew

From: "patrick jennings"
To: "Andrew Bede Secord"
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 1998 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: Flying Pigeon

Lights? What are those?

I have only seen ONE bicycle in China with a lighting system on it. That was here in Kashgar. And it was a western light.

The bike comes equipped with a huge chrome bell. It's de rigeur.

You are more likely to see a 'scaffolding' constructed from a few small tree limbs than a set of panniers. Connected to the scaffolding, anything from baskets of chicks to vats of oil to ten meters of drainage pipe. I'll see what I can come up with.

Handle-bar baskets appear on many bikes and though these are lightweight, they would be difficult or impossible to fit in a bike box. I'm pretty sure you can get

As for the basic Chinese bicycle, there are a couple variations on the theme: You can have a tank, or an armoured personel carrier. Personally, I'm drawn to the armoured personel carrier. These have forks reinforced by steel rods suspended between the handlebar stem and the drop outs. Literally, suspended using a spring system. You'll have never seen anything like it. Also, there's the rear rack: steel, with one suspension strut to the dropouts and another to the chain stay.

The tanks come in a more typical form, without the extra heavy duty outfitting. However, they do completely encase the single geared drive train in a chain guard. Kinda 50's ish. The personel carriers have a hefty chain guard, but not nearly so extensive a covering.

On the other hand, the rear reflector on the tanks is mounted on what looks like cheap white plastic (because it is) and the reflector itself ain't to sturdy either. The personel carrier reflectors are mounted on cheap black plastic which, at least, doesn't look cheap. Doesn't matter much: most bikes with mileage on them no longer sport rear reflectors at all.

I have twice as many colours to choose from as Henry Ford offered with the Model T. There is black, and a green so dark as to be nearly indistinguishable from black. The locals seem to prefer the black, but it's hard to tell. If that is their preference, it concurs with mine.

I'll be picking one out this afternoon sometime. Price will be a little over 300RMB. At about 8RMB to the US dollar, that works out to something over $37 US. I won't know how much the shipping will cost but I'm presuming the whole thing will weigh no more than 30 kilos maximum which would cost 566RMB, or roughly $70 US. The box will cost a few RMB.

About the only accessory anyone adds to these bicycles is a lock. I'll get you the typical one. It'll add less than 50 cents to the total cost, in all probability. I'll also look around the shop floor to see if there's anything else worth adding.

I'll pick one up tomorrow morning, and have it posted by the afternoon, with any luck. Let me know if your preferences differ from mine by then.

Cheers,

Patrick.

From: "patrick jennings"
To: "Andrew Bede Secord"
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 1998 4:25 PM
Subject: Eleventh-hour bad news

Several days ago, before I contacted you, I went in to China Post and was assured bicycles were OK through the mail and that China Post could even supply an appropriate box for a 'zixingche'. "Phew," thought I, "that saves mucho hassle and expense for me!" See, it's 15RMB/Kilo/Flight for overage on Chinese airlines. At least two flights seperate me from Hong Kong. Three if I want to save the hassle of a train or bus for the short hop to Guangzhou and cabs between airports and these destinations. Ouch!

I brought my bike in today, before going over to buy yours, just in case. Good thing. The box the bike is in can't be longer than a meter in any dimension. "DOOOH!"

Scratch that plan. Now we're back to bicycling through airports.

Unfortunately, it also means I can't deliver your tank. Sorry.

Ciao,

Patrick.

From: "Andrew Bede Secord"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 1998 9:54 PM
Subject: that pigeon

I got your message earlier today about the bike choices, but am having trouble staying connected at times when at work. my server has new dial up lines and i always either have trouble connecting or staying connected, so i am not sure my reply went out. Anyway, the personnel carrier sounds better. that fork sounds like a "springer" fork, not uncommon on some of the classic cruisers from north america. i didn't really expect much in the way of accessories, the bell is fine! by the way when do you return to familiar shores?

Thanks, andrew

The unfortunate news is already in your inbox, I assume. Sorry again.

My flight from Hong Kong departs around 11AM on the 21st, stops in Tokyo for a couple hours to refuel and stock up on sashimi and finally arrives in Vancouver around 2:30PM on the...hmmm...21st. Looks like I'll only be in the air a total of, let's see, an hour and a half. Wow. They must be expecting some big tailwinds cause it took a lot longer going the other way!

Cheers,

Patrick.