Early in 2009 RCUK announced the arrival of a Longstaff tricycle in the editorial stable. A read of the relevant article might lead to the conclusion that tricycle ownership is not only obligatory for any cyclist aspiring to a complete stable of machines but that it is easy.

Not so; a trike takes up a lot of room even in a garage. And then there’s the business of riding it; some get the hang of it within seconds, others may still find themselves caught out by its wayward handling traits years into a regular riding acquaintance.

Reasons enough to forgo barrow ownership, neither is the reason why this particular machine is up for sale. Instead, it simply doesn’t get ridden and deserves to be owned by someone who will give it the odd outing or two.

It has been ridden since I bought it; it was acquired so I could ride the first Bill Finch Memorial TT over 25 miles, which I duly did. It then stayed unused until snow fell in December 2009, when it came into its own on several occasions including a trip to the supermarket to buy wine.

Sadly, it has done nothing since but provide me with amusement whenever I can persuade a visitor to give it a go… Fact is, the attributes that appealed to me 25 years ago, when I raced a lot on three wheels, no longer do so. I want to go as fast as my declining power output will take me, not struggle against the added weight and wind resistance of the third wheel and its associated paraphernalia and to go around corners without having to clamber around the barrow like a racing motorcycle sidecar passenger.

No, it has to go. It’s a nice one, mind; double freewheel drive, seven speed Maillard cassette in excellent condition, Sachs Quartz derailleur mechs, bar-end shifters, rear carrying rack, spare rear wheel, Campagnolo Racing Triple chainset… Everything for the budding or existing tricyclist looking for a 56cm machine. Storage space a useful asset.

Update: Ruby the Longstaff has now departed the editorial stable for a better life in Oxford, where she will be providing speedy wheels for a history lecturer.