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@clubman
" I'm confident I could have managed to get there and back"
I got near to proving this last week when I rode the Duckett nearly as far as Oxford: Radlett, Ivinghoe, Radlett (just under fifty miles). Of course, it's much easier in the summer and without luggage, but I think this route probably involved more climbing.
The Bike
I have improved this a bit since last year. The steering was too heavy - I traced this to the crown race which was slightly too tall and was fouling on the cup of the bottom lug of the head tube - not a problem I've come across before, but a slightly different (smaller) crown race cured the problem.
The front brake was also unsatisfactory in that it caused juddering. The cause was an imperfect rim which was slightly dented - that is, not perfectly round. This has always been a defect with rod brakes - they are sensitive to defects which would barely be noticeable with calliper brakes. I've now found a better wheel and braking is much improved, but although I'd like to remove the back brake (which would make turning the back wheel round to change the gear easier) I really don't fancy relying on this ancient method of stopping.
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