On several occasions during my Tight Arts International Tour I’ve re-iterated the difference between Tight Artistry and just being mean, nasty and selfish. They’re totally different.
The Tight Arts is all about being smart and well organised and resourceful, not stingy.
You’re about to see an excellent example of resourcefulness, as I endeavour to sort out transport for my 2 weeks in Copenhagen. This is what it’s all about. Watch and learn.
Now that I was living among Scandos, I wanted to get around like one – on a bicycle.
When in Copenhagen…
It’s dead flat here and you can get anywhere in 20-30 minutes max, so they all ride bikes. You wouldn’t believe it until you see it. Check these images out…
I was super keen to participate in this action, so I asked Sophie about bike options. You could buy a crap one for 1000DKK ($230AUD), rent one for 2 weeks for 800DKK ($180AUD). There are also free council ones, but you have to get there and get them, pay a deposit, then give them back and walk home. No good.
Again Sophie seemed to be good at helping solve problems.
She’d been contemplating the resuscitation of this locked, rusted out but cool black cruiser from her window for a year. Obviously no one wanted it. She didn’t know heaps about fixing bike but suspected it was a goer.
Is this a write off or a buried treasure?
So I went down and untangled it, inspecting for terminal problems. It looked ok. It needed new tyres and tubes, new chain, new brake cable, removal of wrecked mud guards, and some adjustments and cleaning. The only problem was the lock in the back wheel.
Not being proud, I dragged the locked bike to the bike shop around the corner in search of a ‘tame’ bike mechanic. The wheels were flat and locked, so I had to get physical.
I just told the truth “My friends been eyeing off this ditched bike for ages, dude I’ll pay you to fix it and I’ll do some of the work to save money. How bout it?’ – He didn’t want a bar of it, so I kept dragging to the next bike shop.
The next guy bought my brand, but he said it’d be 1000DKK ($240) to get it roadworthy. Hmmm. So I said I’d do the tyres and tubes and adjust some stuff. That brought it down to 700DKK ($150AUD). Not bad for 2 weeks transport and independence. Sold.
My Sweet Ride
Here’s me the next day. What a sweet ride.
But here’s the best bit, car hire was not that dear at about $40AUD daily or $560 for 2 weeks. But then you’d have to park and I wasn’t going far. But just out of interest I asked the bike shop what he’d buy it off me for after 2 weeks. He said he’d give me 300DKK or about $80AUD for it. That means the bike would set me back just $180 – $80 = $100 for two weeks. Not bad.
As it happens I decided Sophie can inherit it because I could tell she liked it and she’d helped me out a lot. After all being a Tight Artist is about being resourceful and giving back when you can – not being a mean bugger.
So with accom and transport wired, the last thing to do it find food. As luck has it, there’s a grocery shop 80m away. Come and join me next time and we’ll see if it’s reasonable or if I get reemed.
Greg Ellis
Tight Artist
PS: The first day I had my bike, I rode down to meet Sophie and her friend for a beer down at the harbour. Soon after I arrived they admired my new ride, but expressed concern it was unlocked. Because I’m an idiot, I didn’t think anyone would steal it. Sophie’s friend Moreton said he had two locks and hardly used one. He produced it straight out of his bag and told me to use it for 2 weeks. He’d known me for 15 minutes. If you check out this picture carefully, you’ll notice my cheap but stylish ride nearest the camera, with Moreton’s lock around the back wheel. What great people these guys are.
Check out the one nearest to you – that’s my sweet ride
