Recent content by Johnny Ragwort

True enough, but it needed doing and I felt the quality of the bike deserved a decent job. It's not so small that I can't ride it, it's just that a size up would fit me that little bit better. I long ago came to terms with the fact that I'm never going to be rich!

Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread, but I bought this very bike back in early 2021 for £200. I rode it for four or five hundred miles, but (like you) found it a bit too small. So I dismantled it and squirrelled it away in the shed to await a refinish. Fast forward nearly two years and off it...

Is this still available?

As some of you may know, my father-in law Alvin Smith passed away last year. He was a big noise on the local veteran cycle scene, and among other things was the VCC's marque enthusiast for Paris Rensch bicycles. Much of his collection has now been sold off (it's all gone to good homes!) but...

Lovely! I've been bitten by the Moulton bug recently and am trying to scrape together enough to buy myself a Delux or a Super 4.

Gradually coming together. I had to make a special tool to hold the pin pliers in place on the bottom bracket while I tightened the lock ring with, er, a hammer and an old screwdriver. I thought I had all the bits of this in a box in the shed, but I was missing a seatpost bolt and some odds and...

Back from the powdercoaters. I wish now I'd had the thing stove enamelled instead, since the cost of powdercoating has risen dramatically since I last had a frame done! Still, it looks pretty good to my eyes. Decals from H Lloyd Cycles. I've also replaced the aftermarket aluminium forks with a...

I was given this by a mate, who was given it new for his 14th birthday 42 years ago. It's a Fred Williams, built in plain gauge Reynolds 531. When I got it, it had been refinished in yellow (it was originally black) and fitted with straight bars. Sadly, whoever fitted the straight bars and STI...

Nice! What year is yours?

It'll be refinished in pearlescent leaf green, no lug lining and no contrast panels (couldn't afford those!) There are a few braze ons being added too, including bottle cage lugs, mudguard eyes and gear lever bosses. Should be back with me about the end of January, I think! Mercian's ID of the...

Messaged!

Is it still available? And would you take £75?

Would you take £20 for the 105 headset and the Shimano cable stops? Plus postage to Herefordshire.

Are the Chorus brake calipers still available?

A further update... this has been hanging on the wall of my shed since early September while I try and scrape the cash together to have it refinished. I've finally managed to send it off to Mercian (who are pretty sure it's one of theirs) and as well as refinishing it, they'll be adding various...