Road Tourer
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….
What’s in a name?
So my new bike has a name, George, Georgina, Gina, George-Gina, whatever. The name of one’s machine is very important, as it stays with you and your bicycle forever, so I needed to consider this very carefully. As I was going to spend so much time with this bike, I needed to find a really really good name for it…
The bike is clearly a male, as it is so strong and beefy and seems like it would be a straight-to-the-point kinda guy. It’s, or rather his angular build and amazing welds can only be born to man, XX would surely produce more graceful shapes. So he is a man, and that is that.
The only problem is that you, as a man, I’d be scoffed at for forever going on about how you’re “getting your leg over”, or “riding all day long“, or even “sitting astride” a man-bike. Therefore I decided that I would need to come up with a more feminine name, should the topic of my sexual preferences ever come up in relation to the bike.
Like all good parents, I toyed with endless combinations of name until I settled on George, or Georgina. This name could obviously only be confirmed once the bike was born.
George happened to be due very shortly, and he was born into this world (of Steve) on the 16th May 2010. After the delivery, at 14:07, the bouncing baby boy was officially named George “Gina” Cannondale.
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!