My first bike was chosen purely on looks from the Littlewoods catalogue. Shiny red frame and matching red tartan box bag (you have to remember that this was the height of Rollermania and the coolest accessory around) on the rear carrier. And, the all important, white tires, with matching white pedals and grips.

I was very lucky, in those days choosing a bicycle for it’s looks didn’t mean you were fobbed off with a substandard machine. Instead, I got probably my best ever bike, superb Raleigh quality (the brake and cable have survived to this day and have replaced the broken one on my daughter’s bike) which managed to survive the abuse of 3 kids learning to ride. It finally collapsed after my youngest brother lent it one to many times to the teenagers in the park to do wheelies on, which incidentally it was rather good at!