Stormylolol
Old School Hero
Hi all,
I am starting a new (to me) bike build so figured it could be fun to make a thread and update it as I go. It's gonna be a humongous ramble, some of which you will hopefully be able to relate to, but if its too long then not to worry
. Its a slightly off-kilter attempt at trying something new (writing about an interest) which may be somewhat inspired by a supervisor of mine at work reccommending I read a book called "The cyclist who went out in the cold". I echo his suggestion and will still feel accomplished if you check the book out, even if you click off this thread right now. It's hilarious.
Attached should be pictures of some of the bikes mentioned throughout the post for reference - Please share photos of your own collection or whatever you may be wrenching on!
Intro and background:
I've found recently that I somewhat struggle to remain engaged with what I originally enjoyed about cycling after leaving my cycling club 3 years ago, ever increasing time restrictions, a budding interest in the gym, a torn meniscus in my left knee, and a shift towards commuting rather than cycling for enjoyment. This somehow led to more tinkering and purchasing of parts as opposed to the actual act of "get on yer bike" - over time I accumulated a bunch of bikes and parts which were in fairness good deals, but were probably unnecessary or slightly off the mark in the grand scheme of things. As the latter part of the title suggests, I've been thinning down the collection over the last few months, which meant goodbyes were said to a Holdsworth 531 sports tourer, one of those early 2000s hand-built aluminium Carrera Vulcan hardtails, a 1995 Specialized Hardrock, and a Dawes Galaxy tourer. Normally I couldnt give 2 hoots about selling bikes, but maybe the Carrera was a bit sad (nostalgic, as this was the bike I associate with my childhood, being strapped to a child's seat on the back of my father's bike on holidays to France. I also had a dream he did a wheelie on one it at a beach too at some point but apparently that never happened). The Dawes was also annoying as I had found out only 2 weeks before letting it go, just how good of a fantastic "all road frame" it was. It surprisingly took up to 38mm tyres plus mudguards and though despite being a dream to ride around the perimeter of Northern Ireland, the slight size mismatch was too annoying. It had to go. I actually got that frame with pannier rack, mudguards, wheels etc etc all included while I was staying at a hospital in East Ayrshire. It took an hour and a bit on the bus to get to the guy but I had only 15-20% phone battery at the start of the journey, no wallet, and not a clue how I'd get back to the hospital otherwise, holding a bicycle frame and ikea back full of paraphenalia nonetheless. IIRC the better half I think was at a concert in Edinburgh so that was a no-go and I had nobody else to ask! It was owned by the seller's father and he had offered me a lift back to the accomodation free of charge when I mentioned where I was staying and the trouble it had taken to get to him in the first place.
In an attempt to regain the new-found advantages of wider tyres and to remove the things I felt were a little frustrating with a bike from the 80s, I went and sought a 2nd hand Btwin Triban RC500 (2019) to replace the Dawes. In my head a list formed as to why the Dawes was just that good - front and rear pannier rack mounts, wasn't too heavy, non-descript, wide enough tyre clearance, reliable, not too expensive, and had a eureka moment. Why don't I go and buy a modern bike which basically does the exact same thing as the bike I just sold!
Whilst only half true, it seemed appropriate enough to declare this an upgrade - the bike fits me better, and there is more scope for upgrades in the future (e.g hydraulic disc brakes). Of course this last point is debatable as I have never actually had issues with any form of caliper, V-brake, cantilever, or mechanical disc brake - if it can lock up but isnt an on-off switch I am generally happy, but equally, it was opportunity to try something new. In my head it would act partially as a gravel-type bike and so far it has done extremely well in this role. My first proper ride on it was up to Lennox forest/Milngavie way for any Glasgow locals, which was an indescribable amount of fun. Cycling felt somewhat new again (BTW, WTF is tubeless? apparently I can do that now).
Since then I also got lost in the Kilpatrick hills and had to hike-a-bike sh***ing myself for an hour wearing road cleats, under the risk of a yellow thunderstorm warning, having fallen off the bike four times. Was it fun at the time? HELL NO, and to be totally honest in hindsight it still wasnt fun, but I did it and it felt like pushing the boundaries of what I knew cycling to be.
But there remains one problem with this bike. One that its predecessor was also afflicted by, which can be summed up like this: The bike will allow me to get the most out of an exciting cycle, it will go far and wide and it will never give any problems. It will even unlock the additional world of off-roady type cycling, but, it will never make a boring cycle fun.
The new Triban is absolutely braindead and is an absolute bore without an ounce of charm. Its completely blacked out other than an "exposure lights" sticker on the top tube, the silver struts for my front mudguard, and the cassette/disc rotors. For me personally, it lacks that special something which for example my hardrock had. A slight tangent but as a student living in a flat with limited space, my bikes have to live in my room - one at the end of my bed, and one in the middle of the room leaning against the non-wall side of my bed (one nicer one for weekends, and one for commuting). Anyway, lying in bed or sitting at my desk the Specialized had that je ne sais quoi, a spark that makes you think damn thats a real cool bike, and I'm proud to own it. Neither the Dawes nor the Triban had/have ANY of that.
We're getting ever closer to the actual point of the post now - If youre still here, thanks for sticking with me
.
So, what remains in the collection? A 531c Paul Donohue (thanks girlfriend), the Triban RC500, a 2016(?) Cube attain with 11sp campag (my 21st present), my in-progress Harry Quinn repaint job (with assistance from my fathers automotive-painting skillset - another nostalgic frame), and a Cannondale M700 which will likely be on its way out due to the godawful 1.25in stem thing from that era. Anyway, I'm happy with the bikes I do have, and they mostly all have sentimental significance, and a unique function (aside from the Cannondale which will likely get replaced with a correctly sized Carrera vulcan). The one glaring issue is the fact the Triban daily driver brings me little joy in the grand scheme of mundane day-to-day life. Though functionally it is absolutely fantastic, and could realistically be a one-bike collection, I miss having something I felt was cool to ride. Something so that even if the journey to work is not cycling through a gravel/singletrack path, or climbing a hill on the coast, the ever-so-average commute is still fun in a small way. If its something you have to do every single day, you might as well make it as good as it can be, right? It's the little things I find make a substantial difference, e.g the looking up from your bed and thinking "that [item] is damn brilliant" which the hardrock had for example. There has also been this nagging voice in the back of my head saying "you need a fixed gear..." which was the only other real missing element to my palette.
Searching for a new frame:
So began the search for a new frame. The criteria was:
- It had to be 531c and did not need the same versatility the Dawes had, due to the introduction of the Triban as its functional replacement.
- OR it had to be 531ST, because the Dawes was just so damn good and it was versatile AF (e.g mudguards, pannier rack for lugging work-related crap or cycle touring)
- AND, it had to be relatively inexpensive to the point I am not fussed about leaving it outside in the rain, or if it gets scratched etc
- 54cm frame
I then searched all of ebay, facebook marketplace, this forum, a few other forums, and eventually came up dry. There wasn't much there which ticked ALL the boxes, apart from a few no-go's due to distance, lack of shipping, or size. But, thats OK. As part of my bid to buy less stuff purely because its a good deal, I am happy to wait for the perfect frame to come up which meets the above criteria.
So, just today, again as part of my de-cluttering aim, I dropped some stuff off at the LBS co-op, and as I usually do maybe once every week or two, had a long browse on the way back from work. My Wednesday afternoons are usually free and I often find I don't want to go straight home, which I guess is partly where my accumulation may stem from. It was a bit of social interaction with the guys that work there, finding good deals is a fun hunt, and having a collection of options to fiddle with was great. Whats not to love? I dont drink/smoke etc, my commute is a cycle so no fuel costs/train tickets (at least for the minute) - Generally I might have a little change each week to allow for a fiver or a tenner here or there on something interesting which supports my hobby (exercise, travel, mental health, social), and support a charity organisation. All my bikes are second hand, and I generally stick with mid-range items that are more than enough for me. This all sounds rather like justification, hey! After this build is finished, I think that'll be me for a while though. I'll have a second job after summer to pour more hours into and will focus on riding rather than accumulating. There will be no excuse as I have a bike for everything I like to do! Maybe finding a new club to join would do me some proper good too.
That is all by the by however, because the point of this part of my story is that I had my eye on a Claud Butler Dalesman 531ST they had lying in a corner. Its a bit beat up but thats ok, it fits my 3rd point for criteria. I came armed with my tape measure to see if it would fit point 4 but came up as a 56cm square, rather than a 54. When I first properly started cycling I was using a hand-me-down Mercian which measured (I think 57.5cm/22.5in?) which of course became what I got used to, and later led to the sizing issue with the Holdsworth and one other frame I had at the time. So, I was a little off-put, but again not to worry. It lay there and remained an option. I went to ask the regular guy if there were any more frames for sale elsewhere in the shop - for context, there are frames lining the walls quite high up, some of which were obviously screwed (e.g rusted, cracked, bent a million miles beyond repair), but some which looked okay from the ground. Right above the counter existed a John Bayliss 1950s looking 5-speed frame in what looked to be my size. It was a beautiful but subdued forest green with navy accents, lug lining, 1960s Mercian style decals, and nervex lugs. Of course I was pointing at that one when I asked so he went back to ask colleagues if it was gubbed, and like all the others hanging up, it unfortunately was. AGAIN, not to worry, I can wait. I told him I'd go back to the Claud Butler I had my eyes on and have another ponder. I pulled my tape measure out again a while later and he came up to me and without prompt said the frame is mine if I want it
. I was obviously taken aback but he made a joke about how much I'm in the shop (oops...) and that I've donated stuff in the past, so he thought since it was sitting there for quite a while, it could go to someone without charge. Guess it's my lucky day!
So, now I'm in possession of a 56cm Claud Butler Dalesman (531st). Is it slightly big? I don't know. Maybe a touch (I'm 5ft 10) compared to my trend of downsizing over the last two frames, but considering its going to be an upright ride with riser/flat handlebars I cant imagine it won't work out OK. Regardless, I'm a student and a free frame is a free frame - it will certainly be rideable, and the parts can get transplanted on to something else in the future if thats what the future holds.
The build log:
So, at home I have a few of the parts already, a track wheel bought from an ex-track cyclist in Manchester, stem/handlebars etc all of which are sitting and waiting.
The last bike I had set up as fixed gear was actually also a donation Claud Butler now I think of it, which I still wonder where did it end up (another sad goodbye), which was using a random double crankset on the inner ring. This week just gone I managed to find a good deal on a 165mm stronglight track 2000 crankset which should be exciting as my experience is limited to 170-175mm cranks! Therefore, drivechain = sorted, happy days.
The main things I need to acquire now are 1) a 107mm bottom bracket to get the correct chainline, and 2) a headset. In ~7 years of serious recreational cycling and touring I have apparently never actually built a frameset totally from scratch. Despite having sanded down a frame by hand, giving up and switching to a wire brush, priming, painting, and applying decals (ongoing...), assembling a headset remains the one thing left to do. I have a few posts up on here and some saved searches on the bay to help acquire these things, but since the job only starts in early August I have ample time to wait for the perfect thing to come up, without rushing into anything.
I am happy to report that these should be the only 3 things I actually need to buy to make it into a functioning bike, so I won't be stressing about sourcing bits and pieces and it can all just go together!
The frame will NOT be repainted, maybe some hammerite and rust destroyer in the worst areas, but other than that I am super happy and grateful to the shop for gifting me the frame. To contrast with my earlier point about the Dawes/Triban, I am enamoured with the patina, the brash red paint, and the contrasting white 60s/70s style decals. It oozes charm and character, and will surely be a delight to ride once it gets going, both to look at, and to ride. Very chuffed to say the least.
So far I have only modified it in two ways:
1. Placed cap head bolts in all the rack/bottle cage mounts
2. Put the first component on - one pair of Tektro CR720 cantilevers for the back wheel. I put them on the front originally but it seems the clearance is not going to work at all so it'll need fiddling around with when there is a rim to insert and test out. Since this is an unmarried duo, I think I might put an odd set of Avid Shorty 6s on the front, which theoretically should give better stopping power due to the narrow-profile cantilever design. Hopefully this will also alleviate some of the issue seen with fitment of the Tektro models (?). The levers will be some black Dia-compe SS5s - cantilever specific levers to be taken from the Cannondale when I'm next home
As for the rest, I'll post pictures and small anecdotes as things get added. I highly doubt any will be as long as this, but in my circle there is only really one cyclist (my touring partner) but sometimes life gets in the way of catching up all that often so I guess its spilling out onto all of you!
If you made it to the end, please share your thoughts or experiences which may resonate with these shared above, your qualms with cutting down a collection, or realisations youve made throughout your cycling career!
Thanks for your time, I hope you gained something, even if minute. I am grateful for the platform to speak, share thoughts/feelings, and to potentially incite discussion, and for the new adventure my LBS has bestowed upon me.
Ride safe
I am starting a new (to me) bike build so figured it could be fun to make a thread and update it as I go. It's gonna be a humongous ramble, some of which you will hopefully be able to relate to, but if its too long then not to worry
. Its a slightly off-kilter attempt at trying something new (writing about an interest) which may be somewhat inspired by a supervisor of mine at work reccommending I read a book called "The cyclist who went out in the cold". I echo his suggestion and will still feel accomplished if you check the book out, even if you click off this thread right now. It's hilarious.Attached should be pictures of some of the bikes mentioned throughout the post for reference - Please share photos of your own collection or whatever you may be wrenching on!
Intro and background:
I've found recently that I somewhat struggle to remain engaged with what I originally enjoyed about cycling after leaving my cycling club 3 years ago, ever increasing time restrictions, a budding interest in the gym, a torn meniscus in my left knee, and a shift towards commuting rather than cycling for enjoyment. This somehow led to more tinkering and purchasing of parts as opposed to the actual act of "get on yer bike" - over time I accumulated a bunch of bikes and parts which were in fairness good deals, but were probably unnecessary or slightly off the mark in the grand scheme of things. As the latter part of the title suggests, I've been thinning down the collection over the last few months, which meant goodbyes were said to a Holdsworth 531 sports tourer, one of those early 2000s hand-built aluminium Carrera Vulcan hardtails, a 1995 Specialized Hardrock, and a Dawes Galaxy tourer. Normally I couldnt give 2 hoots about selling bikes, but maybe the Carrera was a bit sad (nostalgic, as this was the bike I associate with my childhood, being strapped to a child's seat on the back of my father's bike on holidays to France. I also had a dream he did a wheelie on one it at a beach too at some point but apparently that never happened). The Dawes was also annoying as I had found out only 2 weeks before letting it go, just how good of a fantastic "all road frame" it was. It surprisingly took up to 38mm tyres plus mudguards and though despite being a dream to ride around the perimeter of Northern Ireland, the slight size mismatch was too annoying. It had to go. I actually got that frame with pannier rack, mudguards, wheels etc etc all included while I was staying at a hospital in East Ayrshire. It took an hour and a bit on the bus to get to the guy but I had only 15-20% phone battery at the start of the journey, no wallet, and not a clue how I'd get back to the hospital otherwise, holding a bicycle frame and ikea back full of paraphenalia nonetheless. IIRC the better half I think was at a concert in Edinburgh so that was a no-go and I had nobody else to ask! It was owned by the seller's father and he had offered me a lift back to the accomodation free of charge when I mentioned where I was staying and the trouble it had taken to get to him in the first place.
In an attempt to regain the new-found advantages of wider tyres and to remove the things I felt were a little frustrating with a bike from the 80s, I went and sought a 2nd hand Btwin Triban RC500 (2019) to replace the Dawes. In my head a list formed as to why the Dawes was just that good - front and rear pannier rack mounts, wasn't too heavy, non-descript, wide enough tyre clearance, reliable, not too expensive, and had a eureka moment. Why don't I go and buy a modern bike which basically does the exact same thing as the bike I just sold!
Whilst only half true, it seemed appropriate enough to declare this an upgrade - the bike fits me better, and there is more scope for upgrades in the future (e.g hydraulic disc brakes). Of course this last point is debatable as I have never actually had issues with any form of caliper, V-brake, cantilever, or mechanical disc brake - if it can lock up but isnt an on-off switch I am generally happy, but equally, it was opportunity to try something new. In my head it would act partially as a gravel-type bike and so far it has done extremely well in this role. My first proper ride on it was up to Lennox forest/Milngavie way for any Glasgow locals, which was an indescribable amount of fun. Cycling felt somewhat new again (BTW, WTF is tubeless? apparently I can do that now).
Since then I also got lost in the Kilpatrick hills and had to hike-a-bike sh***ing myself for an hour wearing road cleats, under the risk of a yellow thunderstorm warning, having fallen off the bike four times. Was it fun at the time? HELL NO, and to be totally honest in hindsight it still wasnt fun, but I did it and it felt like pushing the boundaries of what I knew cycling to be.
But there remains one problem with this bike. One that its predecessor was also afflicted by, which can be summed up like this: The bike will allow me to get the most out of an exciting cycle, it will go far and wide and it will never give any problems. It will even unlock the additional world of off-roady type cycling, but, it will never make a boring cycle fun.
The new Triban is absolutely braindead and is an absolute bore without an ounce of charm. Its completely blacked out other than an "exposure lights" sticker on the top tube, the silver struts for my front mudguard, and the cassette/disc rotors. For me personally, it lacks that special something which for example my hardrock had. A slight tangent but as a student living in a flat with limited space, my bikes have to live in my room - one at the end of my bed, and one in the middle of the room leaning against the non-wall side of my bed (one nicer one for weekends, and one for commuting). Anyway, lying in bed or sitting at my desk the Specialized had that je ne sais quoi, a spark that makes you think damn thats a real cool bike, and I'm proud to own it. Neither the Dawes nor the Triban had/have ANY of that.
We're getting ever closer to the actual point of the post now - If youre still here, thanks for sticking with me
.So, what remains in the collection? A 531c Paul Donohue (thanks girlfriend), the Triban RC500, a 2016(?) Cube attain with 11sp campag (my 21st present), my in-progress Harry Quinn repaint job (with assistance from my fathers automotive-painting skillset - another nostalgic frame), and a Cannondale M700 which will likely be on its way out due to the godawful 1.25in stem thing from that era. Anyway, I'm happy with the bikes I do have, and they mostly all have sentimental significance, and a unique function (aside from the Cannondale which will likely get replaced with a correctly sized Carrera vulcan). The one glaring issue is the fact the Triban daily driver brings me little joy in the grand scheme of mundane day-to-day life. Though functionally it is absolutely fantastic, and could realistically be a one-bike collection, I miss having something I felt was cool to ride. Something so that even if the journey to work is not cycling through a gravel/singletrack path, or climbing a hill on the coast, the ever-so-average commute is still fun in a small way. If its something you have to do every single day, you might as well make it as good as it can be, right? It's the little things I find make a substantial difference, e.g the looking up from your bed and thinking "that [item] is damn brilliant" which the hardrock had for example. There has also been this nagging voice in the back of my head saying "you need a fixed gear..." which was the only other real missing element to my palette.
Searching for a new frame:
So began the search for a new frame. The criteria was:
- It had to be 531c and did not need the same versatility the Dawes had, due to the introduction of the Triban as its functional replacement.
- OR it had to be 531ST, because the Dawes was just so damn good and it was versatile AF (e.g mudguards, pannier rack for lugging work-related crap or cycle touring)
- AND, it had to be relatively inexpensive to the point I am not fussed about leaving it outside in the rain, or if it gets scratched etc
- 54cm frame
I then searched all of ebay, facebook marketplace, this forum, a few other forums, and eventually came up dry. There wasn't much there which ticked ALL the boxes, apart from a few no-go's due to distance, lack of shipping, or size. But, thats OK. As part of my bid to buy less stuff purely because its a good deal, I am happy to wait for the perfect frame to come up which meets the above criteria.
So, just today, again as part of my de-cluttering aim, I dropped some stuff off at the LBS co-op, and as I usually do maybe once every week or two, had a long browse on the way back from work. My Wednesday afternoons are usually free and I often find I don't want to go straight home, which I guess is partly where my accumulation may stem from. It was a bit of social interaction with the guys that work there, finding good deals is a fun hunt, and having a collection of options to fiddle with was great. Whats not to love? I dont drink/smoke etc, my commute is a cycle so no fuel costs/train tickets (at least for the minute) - Generally I might have a little change each week to allow for a fiver or a tenner here or there on something interesting which supports my hobby (exercise, travel, mental health, social), and support a charity organisation. All my bikes are second hand, and I generally stick with mid-range items that are more than enough for me. This all sounds rather like justification, hey! After this build is finished, I think that'll be me for a while though. I'll have a second job after summer to pour more hours into and will focus on riding rather than accumulating. There will be no excuse as I have a bike for everything I like to do! Maybe finding a new club to join would do me some proper good too.
That is all by the by however, because the point of this part of my story is that I had my eye on a Claud Butler Dalesman 531ST they had lying in a corner. Its a bit beat up but thats ok, it fits my 3rd point for criteria. I came armed with my tape measure to see if it would fit point 4 but came up as a 56cm square, rather than a 54. When I first properly started cycling I was using a hand-me-down Mercian which measured (I think 57.5cm/22.5in?) which of course became what I got used to, and later led to the sizing issue with the Holdsworth and one other frame I had at the time. So, I was a little off-put, but again not to worry. It lay there and remained an option. I went to ask the regular guy if there were any more frames for sale elsewhere in the shop - for context, there are frames lining the walls quite high up, some of which were obviously screwed (e.g rusted, cracked, bent a million miles beyond repair), but some which looked okay from the ground. Right above the counter existed a John Bayliss 1950s looking 5-speed frame in what looked to be my size. It was a beautiful but subdued forest green with navy accents, lug lining, 1960s Mercian style decals, and nervex lugs. Of course I was pointing at that one when I asked so he went back to ask colleagues if it was gubbed, and like all the others hanging up, it unfortunately was. AGAIN, not to worry, I can wait. I told him I'd go back to the Claud Butler I had my eyes on and have another ponder. I pulled my tape measure out again a while later and he came up to me and without prompt said the frame is mine if I want it
. I was obviously taken aback but he made a joke about how much I'm in the shop (oops...) and that I've donated stuff in the past, so he thought since it was sitting there for quite a while, it could go to someone without charge. Guess it's my lucky day!So, now I'm in possession of a 56cm Claud Butler Dalesman (531st). Is it slightly big? I don't know. Maybe a touch (I'm 5ft 10) compared to my trend of downsizing over the last two frames, but considering its going to be an upright ride with riser/flat handlebars I cant imagine it won't work out OK. Regardless, I'm a student and a free frame is a free frame - it will certainly be rideable, and the parts can get transplanted on to something else in the future if thats what the future holds.
The build log:
So, at home I have a few of the parts already, a track wheel bought from an ex-track cyclist in Manchester, stem/handlebars etc all of which are sitting and waiting.
The last bike I had set up as fixed gear was actually also a donation Claud Butler now I think of it, which I still wonder where did it end up (another sad goodbye), which was using a random double crankset on the inner ring. This week just gone I managed to find a good deal on a 165mm stronglight track 2000 crankset which should be exciting as my experience is limited to 170-175mm cranks! Therefore, drivechain = sorted, happy days.
The main things I need to acquire now are 1) a 107mm bottom bracket to get the correct chainline, and 2) a headset. In ~7 years of serious recreational cycling and touring I have apparently never actually built a frameset totally from scratch. Despite having sanded down a frame by hand, giving up and switching to a wire brush, priming, painting, and applying decals (ongoing...), assembling a headset remains the one thing left to do. I have a few posts up on here and some saved searches on the bay to help acquire these things, but since the job only starts in early August I have ample time to wait for the perfect thing to come up, without rushing into anything
.I am happy to report that these should be the only 3 things I actually need to buy to make it into a functioning bike, so I won't be stressing about sourcing bits and pieces and it can all just go together!
The frame will NOT be repainted, maybe some hammerite and rust destroyer in the worst areas, but other than that I am super happy and grateful to the shop for gifting me the frame. To contrast with my earlier point about the Dawes/Triban, I am enamoured with the patina, the brash red paint, and the contrasting white 60s/70s style decals. It oozes charm and character, and will surely be a delight to ride once it gets going, both to look at, and to ride. Very chuffed to say the least.
So far I have only modified it in two ways:
1. Placed cap head bolts in all the rack/bottle cage mounts
2. Put the first component on - one pair of Tektro CR720 cantilevers for the back wheel. I put them on the front originally but it seems the clearance is not going to work at all so it'll need fiddling around with when there is a rim to insert and test out. Since this is an unmarried duo, I think I might put an odd set of Avid Shorty 6s on the front, which theoretically should give better stopping power due to the narrow-profile cantilever design. Hopefully this will also alleviate some of the issue seen with fitment of the Tektro models (?). The levers will be some black Dia-compe SS5s - cantilever specific levers to be taken from the Cannondale when I'm next home
As for the rest, I'll post pictures and small anecdotes as things get added. I highly doubt any will be as long as this, but in my circle there is only really one cyclist (my touring partner) but sometimes life gets in the way of catching up all that often so I guess its spilling out onto all of you!
If you made it to the end, please share your thoughts or experiences which may resonate with these shared above, your qualms with cutting down a collection, or realisations youve made throughout your cycling career!
Thanks for your time, I hope you gained something, even if minute. I am grateful for the platform to speak, share thoughts/feelings, and to potentially incite discussion, and for the new adventure my LBS has bestowed upon me.
Ride safe
Attachments
Last edited:
As you can see I've failed miserably at thinning the collection. My wife and son add a further 9 
(ps don't take this too seriously 
)
