Most recent activity
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That's Eddy. We inherited him last year. He's only 10, worlds top hide and seek champion already though.
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Thanks for the nice comments!
After the sale of an old bike I had kicking around untouched at the back of the shed since I got it at the carboot 17 years ago, (A prewar Raleigh Sport) I decided to treat the B-D to some new shoes. I was never happy with the old black roadster tyres, especially as it looked so good in those cream Schwalbes, but I had to go with what fitted through that tight front fork gap.
I found a seller on ebay selling roadster tyres in several colours, and although he didn't have any in cream, these are a natural rubber shade, and I'm happy with them. Two tyres and two woods valve inner tubes, for under £40 isn't bad either, especially as they came from Germany.Currently off work, so enjoying having time to tinker on this machine again. I haven't ridden it properly since the big ride we did, as it isn't a winter ride. Took it for a 14 mile spin around the block for my daily exercise and fell in love with it again, although I was also reminded of all the aches and pains and numbness it gave me on the ride in France last year!
Still a few jobs to do on it. A front brake would be useful, and I am kicking myself I missed out on the perfect one on ebay (I was the underbidder). An older saddle would look good, in the mean tme I need to try and reshape the 1963 Ideale I currently have on it.
New rubber for the BD by Mike, on Flickr
New rubber for the BD by Mike, on Flickr
New rubber for the BD by Mike, on Flickr
New rubber for the BD by Mike, on Flickr
New rubber for the BD by Mike, on Flickr -
Very bad form of me, but I failed to update this thread after our ride. It's been quite pleasant going back through the album and remembering the heatwave we rode through! And obviously it got warmer the further south we headed!
The only mechanical issue we had was with my bicycle, and that was very early on in the first 10km. It was fairly catastophic, but luckily it only set us back a few hours. My front wheel bearing adusters we not set up right, and the motion of the wheel turning would slowly tighten them, resulting ultimately in a locked wheel, split adjusting cone, and a few bust ball bearings. Thankfully with help from the support vehicle and a local Sports Direct we managed to dismantle and reassemble the hub, minus a couple of bearings, and carry on. After this it surprisingly gave us no bother at all!
We managed the 500km over 72 hours, not bad on our old single speed crocks, including back to back 100 mile rides.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat! I haven't ridden the bike since though. I took it out once on the commute to work afterwards, and despite being a glorious morning, the evening ride home was wet, and this thing has zero brakes in even midly damp conditions. It's been hung up in the shed since!https://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/albums/72157710989805916/page1
Paris to Angoulême, Day 3 - Loche to Grosbout, 94.5 miles by Mike, on Flickr
Paris to Angoulême, Day 1 - Montlhery to Orleans by Mike, on Flickr
Paris to Angoulême, Day 2 - Orleans to Loche, 105 miles by Mike, on Flickr
Paris to Angoulême, Day 4 - Grosbout to Angoulême, 38 miles by Mike, on Flickr
Paris to Angoulême, Day 4 - Grosbout to Angoulême, 38 miles by Mike, on Flickr
Paris to Angoulême by Mike, on FlickrThe strava stats
http://www.strava.com/activities/2697610537
http://www.strava.com/activities/2700360272
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Thanks to a local near the Rotrax shop, this was saved from a skip in the summer! It's been in his garden since while he tried to find a home for it, as he couldn't bear to see it scrapped. In peices after the builders crowbared it off, the old nails holding it up had been in since the 1930's at the very least.
Now, what am I going to do with it???!!!
Bill Harvell shop sign by Mike, on Flickr(Apologies, I've not checked in here for months. I've not touched the bikes over the winter, prefering to stay indoors in the warm regressing to my childhood making Airfix kits.)
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Ditto, I've only seen photos of pre WW2 cycling kit in collections and museums. This stuff basically got worn till it fell apart back then I guess. And under racing conditions that wouldn't have been very long I think.
There is a guy called Fausto in Italy who makes bespoke merino wool race jerseys to your spec. They are €240.
Me and Ben are going to go with a couple of the 3mcaverni jerseys as a 'cheap' option to get us looking the part. -
Bruneau-Derieux progress
My long awauted pedals from Hilary Stone have gone awry but I found a pair in my stash bin that fitted! Far from ideal as they are modern and chrome, but they are obviously a big step in making it rideable.
Rear brake from a VCC contact Paul, thanks mate! Matched with an old lever and cable from the spares bin. Again, not period correct but enough to get it rolling (and stopping!) while better parts are sourced.
Wheel rims in the process of being stripped back to the metal. They were well painted, but the primer used was bright white, and looked horrible where it had chipped throught he dark burgandy top coat.
Sporting two of the overhauled leather tool pouches from the recent brocante trip.
Newbaum's Green Khaki tape on order for the handlebars.
Need to rob some suitably rusty toe clips from another bike to add to the pedals, and I have a rusty old twin bottle cage than needs to go on too. Only issue with that is it makes the top of the bars impossible to hold.
Bruneau-Derieux progress by Mike, on Flickr
Bruneau-Derieux progress by Mike, on Flickr
Bruneau-Derieux progress by Mike, on Flickr
Bruneau-Derieux progress by Mike, on Flickr
Bruneau-Derieux progress by Mike, on Flickr
Bruneau-Derieux progress by Mike, on Flickr
Worn fork threads on the B-D. Got round France OK, but it's started to loosen now every time I hit a bump. Which is often.
Got some locktite for a temp repair, but this will need fixing before I do any more serious riding on it.
Any recommendations?
Bugger ... by Mike, on Flickr
Bugger ... by Mike, on Flickr