I am deeply saddened to read that Sheldon Brown, the doyen of web bike mechanics, has recently passed away. Sheldon's wonderful site is the antithesis of the surly condescending guy in the LBS. It answers every question you've never asked about crazy Italian bottom brackets, how to weld your own tandem and, of course, how to build the now de-rigeur fixie. He managed to do this with the delightful, easy wit of your favourite uncle.

It's a Wednesday in November. Another day done, I leap on a bus with my copy of the Guardian. I eye the headlines, peck at the crossword, exhaust the sport and skim the arty section. I learn that 'Information Superhighway' is an anagram of 'A Rough Whimper of Insanity', a promising young footballer has his feet on the ground and that an attractive pro choice campaigner is helping women choose in international waters.