What do you do when a much-loved bicycle finally gives up the ghost? Regan Appleton first practiced bicycle taxidermy on his father’s once-prized, but long-discarded mountain and road bikes and now offers a commercial service to cyclists facing mechanical bereavement mounting the prize steed’s handlebars on a plaque in the style of a hunting trophy.
An epitaph of the horned beast’s legacy is engraved on a stainless steel plate and backed on a European oak plaque. The service can be carried out via a postal service, a DIY kit, or at one of a number of appointed bike recycling outlets who will buy the rest of the bike.
Former student at the Royal College of Art, Appleton says although it could be argued that the process was born out of a post-modern disdain for the conspicuous consumption of disposable object, in reality it was a bit of a laugh that was taken too far and turned into an obsession.
How old is your favourite bike? What would be its epitaph?
Cherish your bicycle in life
Cycle insurance from the ETA includes all manner of benefits to help you preserve and extend the life of your bicycle. As you’d expect, every policy includes new-for-old replacement of your bike if it is stolen, but it also pays for it to be repaired if you damage it accidently or it’s vandalised. On top of that, you get £5m third party cover, a breakdown recovery service for you and your bike, European and worldwide cover…all from just 40p a week.
Mary
We have a ‘curly’ Hetchins tandem. Too big to mount on a wall. We used to ride it a lot and I often sat up knitting on the back, despite the short wheelbase.