My old bike

[Tom]

For no other reason than to give other road bike users as big a hard-on as I now have, I'm posting pictures of my old bike, that I recently pulled from the loft after 8 long years of disuse. This was the beautiful steed I rode for between 5-10,000 miles during my college days. It absorbed most of my income (part time pub work). Its now about 20 years old, maybe older. I had it sent away to be sprayed up, and the only remaining 'original' part is the band between the gear levers:

My old Mercian bike - a set on Flickr

I think this is spinning the wrong way, but it doesn't make any difference:

This took just about all my savings to buy:

A man's set of ratios

Unfortunately the saddle hasn't stood the test of time:

She's going up on the wall. I'm gonna make some nice wood hooks for her. I may even take her out for a spin, but with new tyres (don't fancy riding on 12-year old tyres).

 

[Trem]

I thought this was a thread about an ex of yours at first.

 

[Jupitus]

I thought this was a thread about an ex of yours at first.

Judging by that saddle, Trem, I think you might still be right!!!

 

[ford prefect]

I don't get it, where is the engine? :/

 

[Chilly]

it sits on the leather bit at the top. you connect its pistons to the input-pedals. Works quite well. Fuel is beer/crisps/curry.

 

[old.user4556]

I thought this was a thread about an ex of yours at first.

Lol, can't rep you again, but you deserve it for that

 

[Tom]

Fuck it, I'm off out for a spin. Hopefully the tyres won't blow

 

[Madmaxx]

Fuck it, I'm off out for a spin. Hopefully the tyres won't blow

for gods sake check the brake cables! I dont wanna see on the news tomorow someones broken the land speed record, then ended up in a tree

 

[TdC]

It's Tom. We'd prolly laugh our collective tits off and someone would come up with a hiku modal rhyming eulogy


(srsly Tom, check cables, pads and tyres o0)

 

[Trem]

for gods sake check the brake cables! I dont wanna see on the news tomorow someones broken the land speed record, then ended up in a tree

Ginger beard grower breaks land speed record for a Northerner, he could be heard screaming "fuck the trees, fuck the greenhouse effect" as he hurtled towards the 300 year old oak tree

I just read that on the BBC website tbh.

 

[Tom]

hah, it was a bit scary after riding MTBs for the last 8 years. First I couldn't get my feet in the pedals because they're not SPDs and only work on one side The handlebars are half the width, so I was wobbling around for a the first few dozen yards. Then I went to change down a gear or two only to realise I was already in the lowest gear

When I got on the road and up to speed my arse kept bobbing off the saddle, its probably because my MTB is full suspension and bobs slightly under pedalling. However I soon got my arse under control and then had to reacquaint myself with having to reach down to brake, and reach even further down to change gear!

It was nice though, doing 20mph without much effort. I need to get some padded gloves though, and some better cycling shoes would be nice (I ain't using my MTB shoes because I'd look like a tit with those on).

I'm going to go out again tomorrow, and see if I can get it into top gear

 

[Trem]

I want a Raleigh Record Sprint to put on my wall.

I loved those bikes but they were always too dear.

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

Raleigh Burner FTW

 

[Rubric]

I want a bike to get fit and lose some weight before i start running again.

Fuck me they are expensive though.

 

[tris-]

Depends what you mean by expensive, what bike you want etc.

I got one for 250£ brand new that is pretty decent and gets me to where i need to be and back. if you just want to get riding, buy a piece of shit for £50 or something. its still a bike!

 

[Tom]

I want a bike to get fit and lose some weight before i start running again.

Fuck me they are expensive though.

Not really, £500 of bike will easily take you 100 miles or so each week, that's several thousand miles per year, and it'll only cost you £50 to maintain per year.

Compare that to a car, or the bus.

 

[TdC]

your bike is so clean Tom. you scare me man

 

[Tom]

I scrubbed the tyres today with Jif and a green scouring pad. So now its even cleaner

Later this week I'll be polishing and waxing the frame. Shame I can't repair the chips

 

[Fweddy]

My bike was £30 off ebay. A drop of oil and £10 worth of cheap bits from Wilko's and I've been riding it around 9 miles a day to get to work and back no trouble for the last 4 months.

Seeing as I used to spend £40 a month on bus fares I think it was a damn good buy.

 

[Will]

A man's set of ratios

A real man's ratio.


Also, a real man's cleaning regime.

 

[TdC]

A real man's ratio.

32x20?

Also, a real man's cleaning regime.

it has cobwebs on it ffs. even mine aren't that bad

 

[Chilly]

A real man's ratio.


Also, a real man's cleaning regime.

a nutters ratio.

 

[Tom]

32x20?


it has cobwebs on it ffs. even mine aren't that bad

32:20? LOL. The lowest gear I have is 42:21!

Oh and serious cat disapproves of the filth on your bike:

 

[Will]

Pffft, 46:18. Thats the fix, not the mountain bike. And that isn't even that low in the Alps. And thats cat hair, not cobwebs.

 

[TdC]

you clean your chain with your cat? o0

 

[Tom]

He cleans it with serious cat.

BTW, highest gear on mine is 52:12