Re:
So today was its first proper ride out since being reborn.
I rode it down to the coast and
here is it outside a hipster trendy coffee shop near Brighton (its natural habitat I assume
)
Conclusions:
1) The drive train / gear shifting is sublime. Super quiet and shifts instantly and smoothly.
Compared to my modern bike (SRAM XX) it actually feels 'buttery' (eg: no harsh clicks or grinding from the chain etc).
2) Its really, really, REALLY
uncomfortable.
!
The stem seems to be about 150mm long, the bars are flat (and I mean FLAT) and the geometry means that you are constantly riding stretched out to the point where it difficult to look where you are going, and all the pressure is on the underneath of your 'willy' (penis).
No wonder I left it sat outside for 12 years or so
Anyway, I have found the original bar ends (as seen in the catalogue image below) in the shed, and so may put them on it to see if that makes it easier to ride.
If this doesn't work then I may have no choice but to put on a shorter stem and some riser bars (which I have in the shed also). But I guess that then takes away from the retro side of it
Who knew that this retro scene could cause such angst