Old Ned
Old School Grand Master
Last Sunday I went to the bike jumble near Hull (as posted in Events), determined not to spend to much, and just get one or two bits and pieces. I picked up a set of Cinelli 'Angel' tri-bars, some drop 'bars, a tyre, Look pedals, STI cable stops all quite cheap.
But there were also some bikes for sale, most of which were real collectors stuff with prices to match, the type of thing to drool over - but not buy!
However (there's always a 'however' isn't there!) one bike was something I've always wanted ever since I saw the first ones on display at Harrogate Cycle Show sometime in the early 80's. With the 'Old Skool' time trial races next season I fancied something special to ride and this was just the thing. I kept on going back to look at it and eventually haggled with the owner and bought it, all the time wondering what Mrs Ned would say when I got home with yet another bike! In the end she wasn't to bad about it, I don't think she can grasp the concept of owning more than one bike even though I try and explain that each of them is different and designed for a specific purpose.
Whatever, this is the bike. It's an MKM 'Ultimate' ultra short wheelbase TT bike complete with PMP cranks and Huret 'Jubilee' gear, both of which are a sort of 'Holy Grail' to vintage TT fans. I need a larger chainring (144 BCD 52 tooth) and some light weight 700C wheels rather than the 'sprints and tubs' it has now. I can't be doing with tubulars these days. I will also change the 'bars and brake levers with some I've already got to match my old TT'ing days.
I hope you like it - I do! Any questions about it please ask.
But there were also some bikes for sale, most of which were real collectors stuff with prices to match, the type of thing to drool over - but not buy!
However (there's always a 'however' isn't there!) one bike was something I've always wanted ever since I saw the first ones on display at Harrogate Cycle Show sometime in the early 80's. With the 'Old Skool' time trial races next season I fancied something special to ride and this was just the thing. I kept on going back to look at it and eventually haggled with the owner and bought it, all the time wondering what Mrs Ned would say when I got home with yet another bike! In the end she wasn't to bad about it, I don't think she can grasp the concept of owning more than one bike even though I try and explain that each of them is different and designed for a specific purpose.
Whatever, this is the bike. It's an MKM 'Ultimate' ultra short wheelbase TT bike complete with PMP cranks and Huret 'Jubilee' gear, both of which are a sort of 'Holy Grail' to vintage TT fans. I need a larger chainring (144 BCD 52 tooth) and some light weight 700C wheels rather than the 'sprints and tubs' it has now. I can't be doing with tubulars these days. I will also change the 'bars and brake levers with some I've already got to match my old TT'ing days.
I hope you like it - I do! Any questions about it please ask.