Cycling UK Forum

'Shipley', your Guv'nor looks really quite splendid in those photos! The location choice and vintage car in the background really adds to the romance I think you should convert one to black and white and add a few scratches and dust marks to the photo for the full affect

I think plus-fours, a big moustache and curly pipe should be compulsory attire when venturing out on such machines

Just a shot in the dark, but I had the same prob when I was a youngster. In the end I did the rounds of all the bike shops in the area that had workshop facilities. Eventually I found one that was willing to take me in on a regular Saturday basis. Over a three year period I learned pretty much everything. In those days though there was no such thing as NVQs etc, so I never got to Certify or formalise my skills in any way.

Would that kind of thing work for you?

Graham

My general gut feeling, much more just recently, is that a very large proportion of goods on Ebay are hooky. To criminals, Ebay is a place they can lose themselves in a very large crowd, safe in the knowledge that any reports of their dastardly dealings will be ignored by almost all police forces (I say this from personal experience).

I recovered my elderly neighbours bike from Fleabay last year, an early 50s Hercules Balmoral that was a pile of rust and oil stains, but he'd had it since new and it kept him fit and mobile. The police never prosecuted the thief, but gave 'it' a caution. My faith in the fuzz has never recovered

Like you, I don't buy from anyone on there that 'doesn't seem quite right'.

Just my tuppence worth

Graham

Only just discovered Madgett's after living in the area for nearly 8 years

They are superb, and the shop is a veritable Aladdin's Cave of bicycling goodies

Greybeard wrote:

That is beautiful

Could I ask how you routed the cabling from the reversed levers, please? I am planning to build a replica and just love how those levers look

Graham

My real name: Graham

Age: 43

Occupation: Lab tech

Favourite colour: Deep glossy black

Bikes/Cycling: Home-built commuter made to my exact specs because I couldn't find a bike I really liked. Also have a gas pipe folder made from melted-down soviet-era nuclear bunkers (it's a bit heavy).

Status: Single, three dogs, two chickens and an Aged Parent (give her a nod).

Interesting fact: Trying to find a cargo bike or huge trailer that will fit two-and-a-half German Shepherds in it. I like the look of the Larry-vs-Harry Bullit, but it's too small