Winter Trainer

This year I have resolved to train during the winter months, so as to be in good condition come the spring.

Whilst the weather is currently unseasonably clement, it can only be a matter of time until everything turns to shit, and when it does I don't really fancy subjecting an expensive bike, with an expensive groupset to the gunk, crap and salt that gets everywhere at this time of year.

As a consequence, I am going to build up a bike specifically for winter training. I don't want to spend too much on it, or get madly absorbed into this 'project', but at the same time it needs to be good enough to make it worth leaving the warmth of the house on the weekend and see what mother nature has to offer on the lanes of rural Kent. Hopefully, most of what I need will be lurking somewhere in the deep recesses of my shed.

To start with, I have had a NOS Gazelle frame in the Classifieds for ages. If the folks on here won't even stump up the asking price, a mere £165.00, I might as well use it myself. Here it is in sunnier times:

Now to find some parts.

thats a lovely frame, what you thinking of building it up with?

I'm just going to go through my stuff, but I think I've got most of a used but serviceable Campag 10 Speed groupset hidden somewhere.

dibs frame.

That looks like a nice frame.

This has already turned into the inevitable ball-ache.

Tried to fit a headset yesterday, and realised that head tube hasn't been reamed and faced, and the base of the steerer tube hasn't been turned to accept a head set.

Went to both my local bike shops today to try and get this resolved, and may as well have been speaking Swahili. Despite the huge surge in interest in cycling, many bike shops have only a limited range of tools and seem to employ mechanics who are barely fit to mend a puncture.

I also noticed that one of my local bike shops - Discount Cycles in Greenwich, charges 50p to pump up your tyres. That is a fucking disgrace, particularly since your mechanic described facing a bottom bracket shell as 'engineering'. Twats.

Hey, is that your stock of parts under that tarpaulin?

If I don't run in to you between now and then, Happy Xmas!!!!

Have you moved? Not seen you in ages.

Next time I'm in I will ask for you to be summonsed!!!!

Mrs Jingle Jangle was in one of her moods this morning, and had the temerity to suggest that I might 'get off my hairy arse' and help her with some 'parenting'.

'Parenting' this morning equated to taking the young Jangle-ettes to their piano lesson in Lee Green, handily located for the superbly named 'The Bike Shop' on Lee High Road.

The Bike Shop occupies the very premises that were previously home to the legendary Young's of Lewisham - and a very nice bunch of chaps they are too.

They managed to quickly, efficiently and cheaply ream and face various bits of my frame, and fit a proprietary headset that I won't need to obsess about. Here's a crap image of the result:

Thanks to Mrs Jingle Jangle being a bit moody this morning, this build is now back on.

As noted above, the boys at The Bike Shop seem like a decent bunch, and I reckon they could do with a bit more custom. So if you're in Lee, Lewisham or Blackheath, get yourself down there: 288 - 290 Lee High Road, 020 8852 6680.

Parenting - it's a piece of piss!

Mrs JJ and the kids were away this weekend, so took advantage of lack of choas, and finished this build.

All relatively simple really - bought some 10-speed shifters and mechs (Centaur) from the Bay for next to no money, most of the rest of the kit was in the spares bin. Had to buy a second chain, as I cut the first one too short - MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE!

Took it for a short test ride, and was really pleased. The frame is well balanced and assured. The groupset, while a bit mixed and matched works perfectly, and the Gatorskin 28's hold the road well, and don't feel too heavy or cumbersome.

Since the test, I have added some Mudguards and Speedplay Pedals - all I need now is some crap weather.

Well that was quick, nice one.Lapped me easily.

Got the crap weather I was hoping for today. Shiny new bike now covered in crap. Happy days.

I remember Youngs the bike shop in the 70s and early 80s. On same block as Billy Vee the hifi shop. Bike looks good by the way.

Thanks.

Billy Vee's still there btw.

nice paint, different classy, r525 but they still panto'd i was looking at a gazelle 753 they have a pretty rear brake bridge.
special blackknight pump yer tyre service 40 p crap weather days 45p fine weather service.

How did you manage to fit mudguards onto that there does not seem to be the space?

Crud racers or race blades I am guessing

Glad to hear Billy Vee still there. I was a Linn and Naim nut in early 80s and 90s. Bought my first Rega turntable when they were at other end of Lee high rd in the late 70s.

How did you manage to fit mudguards onto that there does not seem to be the space?

They are race blades. There is virtually no clearance with the 28's.

Glad to hear Billy Vee still there. I was a Linn and Naim nut in early 80s and 90s. Bought my first Rega turntable when they were at other end of Lee high rd in the late 70s.

Linn & Naim = a combination that has probably never been bettered. I have just been to lunch to celebrate my nephew's 18th. Apparently vinyl, and the associated search for 'high fidelity' sound is making a comeback - bit like steel bicycles I guess!

They are race blades.

thanks I thought you had full guards on

Currently using a Naim Superuniti streamer and I have to say Its never matched my old analogue system with vinyl source.

I might look in to some of the mudguards u mentioned.