30 Jul 07
In 20 years of getting cars serviced, the bit I've always disliked the most is the business of getting to and from the dealer's. Whether you're getting a lift to work from a colleague, or getting the bus home, or borrowing a courtesy car, or even walking to the nearest cinema to kill some time, there's always an annoying amount of hanging around involved.
But not now, or at least not with the Roomster. After reading the handbook and getting not one but two demonstrations from admirably patient Skoda employees, I've finally got to grips with how the rear seats fold, slide and come out. So when I was booking the Roomster in to Autohaus Skoda in Northampton for its first service, and they offered to give me a lift somewhere, I confidently said: 'No thanks - I'll use my bike.'
It was only after I'd put the phone down that it occurred to me that I really ought to see if my bike actually does fit in the back. It's all very well seeing other people's Roomsters with a couple of cycles neatly slotted into the back, but doing it yourself is another matter.
It took a couple of attempts and a bit of grunting, and the removal of the left rear seat, but I got it in. It would have been a lot easier if I'd lowered the saddle or taken the front wheel off, but nothing's ever the same after I've fiddled with it, so I try to avoid anything resembling mechanics if I possibly can.
