New Stuff
Front Lowriders
I finally got some front racks that are compatible with the brazeons on the forks. They are the type with an over-the-wheel component, which I believe will give more strength and hopeully prevent any roation of the pannier into some fast moving spokes!
Rack Fitting, Testing Panniers
I finally got round to fitting the rear pannier rack that Recycle got for me. It’s super light, and they assured me it would easily take the loads I plan on hauling! I thought it was going to be lots of hassle, and take ages to fit but I had it installed and working within 10 minutes.
I had to use a couple of washers that originally came with my road bike on the seat-tube bottle screws (I’ve no idea why you would space the cage away from the frame??). Also, I only managed to use one of the (two) holes on each top bracket mounting point. Aside from these (possible) bodges, I think the whole thing is actually pretty sturdy!
I then fitted the panniers, which I also thought would take hours. This was done within 5 more minutes!
Excellent, the whole hellish installation only took 15 minutes, I then extensively tested my handiwork by cycling all the way to Henry Price with the bags full of two pairs of rock boots and the bike lock!
Easy Freewheel
Constantine at Recycle sorted me out with the new freewheel. Tests so far give me confidence that I might actually be able to go up hill when fully laden! Result, and they only charged £20 Inc fitting, cheaper than the tool!
They also supplied a cheap/light rear rack, which will be fitted shortly. The front lowrider racks are on order too. It’s all starting to come together nicely now….
Panniers Arrrived & Examining Gina
My new panniers arrived the other day, Ortleib Front & Back-Rollers and a barbag. These are the sexiest, plushest, most exciting panniers money can buy and have a price tag to match! Luckily I got them cheap through work!
I’ve still not got any racks, they’ll have to wait til payday. In anticipation to this (next week) I went up to the local bike shop last night and had a bit of a chat with the owner there.
I showed him Gina and we agreed that he would change the freehub for something a little more useful (28T low gear), and I can keep the chain as it has hardly been used. He’s going to sort me out with some racks at a good price and will service the hubs too. All this, to me: £50.
Jobs on, I’ll be fully racked and loaded by Tuesday! That is, excluding any fancy dynamo hub and battery setup I’m thinking about……….
Wishing a List
During some ‘quiet time’ at work I decided to write a kit list for everything that I could possibly need, so I can see what I still need to buy and then figure out how much longer I’ll need to stick to bread and water for dinner.
The inital list was massive, I’ve no idea how I’ll get it all in the 72L kindly provided by Mr & Mrs Pannier, however, I’ll pretend it’s not a problem for now as it’s shopping time!
The wishlist is almost as long as the kit list, it seems that I don’t own anything that a cycle tourer needs. It seems like the number of pounds needed for the kit alone will be more than I’m planning to spend on the whole trip…
I’ve always appreciated quality (read: want the most expensive thing) and I always like to be prepared as best I can (read: unwilling to compromise). It might be that my buying ethics need to be bent a little bit for this trip, either that or I might need to rob a bank.
My first wiggle shopping basket/wishlist is going to be huge, it’s a shame my next paycheck may not be quite as large. I’m also trying to get some sexy Ortleib panniers through work, if I can’t it’ll mean there will be even less food in the next few months.
Meet George “Gina”
Getting a “touring” bike was the first thing on my to-do list:
Ebay was far too expensive, and the only things on there were Dawes Galaxys of various ages/conditions, so I found this bike on the BikeRadar forums, the bloke was selling for just £150 and it fit the specs I needed quite well. The only downside was that it was in London! It looks like I was in for a very boring Sunday….
I collected George (having been named on the spot), and drove him all the way to my mums, after all every new partner needs introducing to the parents sooner or later. She loved him.
So far the modifications include: I’ve added bottle cages, three of them, but still need to get some racks, new freewheel (something much easier, 14-28T maybe….), chain, bottom bracket, headset and gel bar-tape.
I’ve taken her (him) out for a few short rides, but the Chevin killed me with the Londoner sprockets!