so i started a bike shop. update 31/07/24

@fluffy, yes, i realised later in the day! and someone else mentioned anal stuff, you're all weird bum freaks!! 😆
 
this was sent to me by the Kona rep!

😆

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I once got a flat on a Brompton in London and was stuck for time - and remembering how difficult it was to replace a tube on the rear wheel of a Brompton with marathon tyres (40+ mins last time), dropped it off at a bike shop. They charged a tenner. Well worth it, I felt.

A few months later, I found myself in the same predicament - and popped inside the same bike shop. He took one look at the bike, and said £25. Clearly, replacing my previous tube had been a painful experience for them too 🤣 I didn't take them up on the offer.
 
well it's been a pretty good last few months in the shop, plenty busy, the upstairs is looking better, started doing Industry 9 wheels and have sold a couple of pairs now, managed to get a week in the Alps with some friends/customers.

the Genesis bikes seem to be ticking out, and the new range gets launched in about 2-3 weeks, i got back from the alps just over 2 weeks ago, every week day has been a 11pm+ finish, and i've done extra on modays and sundays to keep on top of everything and that has been reflected in the till so that's good.

so the reason i've been doing extra is because it's busy but also in september i need to take some time off, basically i pissed blood late one night about 6 weeks ago, turns out i have a 85mm growth on my kidney, so they want the whole thing out, yes it is what you think it is. i'm not too worried about it as the Doctors say all should be fine, but the recovery is 4 to 6 weeks and should be normal by 3 months. i have a friend that will help so the plan is to have a week off, close the shop, then hopefully after that i can go back in, my intention is to open 10 to 4 for a month and have my friend do all the repairs, i'll just do admin and phone etc, i'll have to be strict with myself though as i don't want to prolong the recovery. it sucks but it should be fine. luckily the shop bank account doesn't look too bad right now so reduced takings next month shouldn't cause an issue.

luckily it didn't stop me riding in the alps! i can feel it now though, a dull ache on my right side, and when pedalling up hill i can feel the lump, not ideal.

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You aren't giving yourself much of a buffer there, @jonnyboy666 Sorry to be that guy, but please consider a scenario where you need longer to recover. Your surgery and subsequent healing process will probably go amazingly. But on the other hand, you might feel sorer than you expect and not be up for sitting in a chair or standing for six hours a day. General anaesthetic, together with the pain and/or other pain killers, processing the psychological and emotional load of what you've just been through can make your brain a bit wobbly. I was back in work on a phased return after about a month, but really my brain didn't work right until six months later (I was completely unaware of this until after the fact). In retrospect, I should have taken the at least two months my occupational therapist suggested.

Can your friend run the entire shop for a few weeks? What would it look like to squeeze essential admin into 1 hour a day for a few weeks after that? Maybe longer as you phase back in over a longer period? Again, you'll probably smash it healing wise - but it's good to plan for some other scenarios just in case.

Take care of yourself, mate - I mean it!
 
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