BATTERY: [is dead]

Further to the below... damn battery gave out altogether yesterday. Fuses totally intact, but... black out. No blinkenlights at all.

Thankfully, friendly Austrian serviceman set it right in a couple of hours flat. One of the wires had come loose from the ignition - a short circuit associated with it beginning to come loose was what probably blew the fuse last week.

But even being without my Silver Machine for a few hours was scary. And I think it's re-emphasised to me... how much I love my electric bicycle.

It gives me freedom, independence and mobility within a short urban range, which does me for 95% of the trips I need to take. (For the rest, I can get a lift with friends; or avail myself of the fine services of Cityhop.) It gives me a bit of exercise but not too much. I can get to work, visit friends, and do my grocery shopping - even take it into town for shopping and socialisation. It gets me all manner of curious and complimentary comments when stopped at lights. I can steer it through parks and down by-ways to avoid the traffic, or ride on the road like a respectable citizen. If I want to go long distances, taking it on the train is an option. If the electrics break down, I can pedal the damn thing home or to a service.

And, best of all - everyone will be driving these in 15 years time when the oil runs out. So there's the "smug" factor.

It's part of me now. We are a cyborg entity. If I was making the choice again, I might seriously consider getting a more expensive model with a bigger battery; or even an electric scooter, although you can't do your groceries on that, they're more of a problem when they break down, you need to get registration and buy more accessories, etc. But I love Rocinante and we'll stick together.