Declan Hayes

Two riders, one red light, forty seconds of arguing about tyre pressure. Standard Tuesday.

Set the camera low and let the bike come to you. Chasing it never looks fast — standing still does.

Rain does not make roads slippery. The first ten minutes of rain do, when the oil lifts. After that it is just wet.

Not the torque wrench. A cheap magnetic tray — because the bolt you drop is the bolt you never find.

Out before eight and back before the traffic. The best road in Ireland is any road with nobody on it.

Two winters ago I had it written out and never pressed send. Some machines you only value once somebody else wants them.

Tyre plugs, a small pump, zip ties and cash. Three of those have got me home; the fourth got me a coffee.

Listed it, got two calls, took the ad down the same evening. Some machines you only value once somebody else wants them.