Interview Transcripts: Keith

Keith:

But I’ve learnt a lot off the guys here, things I’ve known what to do and not been able to do, and watching what they do and I thought I-I’ll do that but I wont tell ‘em how much [unrecognizable scouse]. I thought I could do that, but I didn’t know before they started taking these things to pieces, different bits and pieces, as I say. Thing is I took up repairing ‘em because I couldn’t ride ‘em, ‘cause I was half deaf, and I was interested, but once I started I thought okay, go get some lessons, they came up on the echo, advertised, cycle mechanic apprenticeship; well apprenticeships then, if you’re an apprentice you couldn’t get sacked, you’ve got a job, four year or four an a half year apprenticeship, I thought “well I’ve got a job for four and a half years”, and so I took it on…yeah, it worked good. And as I say it went on, I used to start repairing bikes between jobs, once I got to know recycles… great… and I still repair them now. Take bikes in, do roadside repairs, and go out anybody gives us a call, students, I go out and repair it for ‘em; got a bad job, come out, get me trailer on the back and go pick the bike up. But these are great to be with, fantastic. That (setup?) was a good thing, but, it had its downsides, it was dark, you could just-you had to have lights on your head or the light above to see anything you couldn’t see nothing, the smaller items you couldn’t see it. It was two or three sections I think had lights in, the rest you just sort of – where’s the bike? [Laughs] – it was good, but being with these they are good guys.

Ryan:

Right okay err, do you just wanna introduce yourself

Keith:

Yeah. You haven’t started yet I know.

Ryan:

We have now.

Keith:

You have started now yeah

[Chatter and laughter]

Well I’m Keith by the way

Ryan:

Right, I’ll count down

Keith:

Yeah

Ryan:

Three…Two…One…

Keith:

I’m Keith. I been with these students for what, 5-6 years now, repairing cycles. Err, got to know them through that critical mass, and through the critical mass I got to know what they were on about, and when I saw what they were capable - good fellas – I thought “yeah I like this, I’ll join them”, so therefore I been with them, do what I can for them, and even, you know, be there as often as possible. Once we lost the cellar, things sort of… went down, but they all kept together and we did bike doctors outside – cafes, restaurants, the campfairness(?), street markets, Gurn(?) Street… so yeah, from there it went on. I happy with them, they’re great guys, make me feel young anyway [Laugh] yeah they are good. And I say this place we got going down the road here, hopefully it can work out good. [Scouse] we’re working out in the open and during the winter time, with the weather, you’ve got no chance, erm, your hands are too cold. You lose a part on the floor, ‘mongst gravel and stuff, unless you’ve got a magnetic picker-upper or something or something to pick it up you’ve got no chance of finding your part unless it says here I am… so yeah, it is err, it is rough, but their good, they’re good guys.

Ryan:

Do er, do you bike yourself.

Keith:

Oh yeah, yeah.

[Ryan saying something]

Yeah started cycling about what 196…5, because when I got me ear fixed, I got perforated eardrum, got that fixed, I used to race, and it was over-even now its over 100 mile a week, approximately, up and down the roads, so you know shopping, bits-and-pieces, out and about; when I get a sort of “I’m fed up staying in”, get on your bike and get out, go somewhere, go down (somewhere)pool, promenade, pier head; what’s easiest way of travelling? Get on your bike. You can cycle down there, drift down there, you’ve permanently got a seat to sit on, you don’t look for a bench to sit on, even though you can put the bike to one side and sit down you’ve permanently got your own seat, your own gear… so yeah, yeah its good, been biking for years, ’64 say. Not saying me age, don’t ask me [Laugh]

More events coming up is there? Kernes-oh hello! Hiya nice to see ya [Laughing from Keith and background] more events coming up? (Lists some places, can’t decipher) [background chatter] Good, great, good, that’s what I want. You know about Bernards shop don’t ya down sm-down road? Ye-ya been down there haven’t ya? Or Sam has, Sam’s been down there, yeah ive told them about ya, they know all about ya, shown ‘em picture of ya, yeah [Laughs]. Not the crazy gang, you’re a good guy, you’re good guys, you’re very good

Ryan:

If there’s anything else you wanna…

Keith

Errr, not really, just that you know, I’m with the guys, bike repairing, I’m just hoping he can, we can make something of it this year.