Gams Hassen
Carr st., Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa
2010 / 08 / 06 12:17
'I do it for myself, I've got, like, a tuck shop. The bicycle, I look for it at a scrap yard. Just the frame and now and then you come across a carrier like this. You see - look, you shouldn't make a bicycle beautiful, as long as the heart is right then everything is in condition - ha ha. You'll make it pretty for another thief - ha ha. I ride a new motorbike too. It stands there at the home, cause just now it will make me old. It is good to keep oneself loose. I shouldn't sit around. I just go to the scrap yard, even get wheels there. I take it home and pull them straight. You know a back wheel in the shop, a complete wheel is like R400. I've been riding over twenty, thirty years. I'm 55 now. I've got another two, three bicycles at home. Those old time ones, I still ride them. Those with the carriers in the front. Look this bicycle has a BMX fork. A BMX yes.The original fork is not that strong, not as strong as a BMX. I can ride down from the pavement nothing happens - see this bike is carrying a load. I've built in its hub there. I ride here on the pavement, I don't ride there in the road. I just say “hey!” and ring the bell, I'm not going to bump you - just excuse me. These guys in the cars, I don't know them. They might be drunk or pills drunk - look, our thoughts aren't running the same, I'm riding my way and he is riding his way. I used to work at the service products, making furniture and school desks, working for the government - the big tanker. That was my last job, but I'm not working for someone anymore, I'll work for myself - until I die. Look the money the government gives us it only meant for your rent, your insurance and only a little bit of food, not a lot. That beautiful car, bike and clothes you have in your bag - now you want to tell me R1800 is a lot of money. If you have a house that is not much. I do things like gather beer bottles. I give them 20 cents then I go get 50 cents. There the money rises a little more - just like a money box. Now where am I going to get money that easily?'
