2011-04-09 Sat - The London Tweed Run 3

If you think you have problems finding tweed, how do you think I get on?

It's like trying to find a blazer for Adeptus Titanicus...

makes sign of the Aquila

I think it would make a spiffy blazer badge...

not a huge fan of green tweeds, but...

on another note... the pashley tweed run clubman is up on ebay now. it's seriously lush. jealous i can't keep it.

i think some of you noticed that we pulled a previous listing off of ebay. we got bikes4africa to register as an ebay-recognised charity so that there weren't ebay fees to pay.

the bike comes with two tickets for the tweed run, by the way.

Dibs?

not a huge fan of green tweeds, but...

Hahahah! Controversial or what!! I'd love to see four hundred of us wearing that smart attire riding in formation down the Mall!
2012 Blitzkrieg Run, anyone?

1. Obergruppenfuhrer Lucifer
   

Teddy, the bike is truely stunning.
I know it's to accomodate the gear lever setup but those bars/brake lever kill it for me.
Hope it goes for absolutely top dollar(I have no doubt it will)
Chapeaux Teddy and Pashley.

Hahahah! Controversial or what!! I'd love to see four hundred of us wearing that smart attire riding in formation down the Mall!
2012 Blitzkrieg Run, anyone?

1. Obergruppenfuhrer Lucifer
   

1. Prince Harry
   

I'd love to see four hundred of us wearing that smart attire riding in formation down the Mall!

You are not the first to express such a desire...

Just treated the bike to a Brooks saddle in preparation for this!

snap! I've forgotten quite how hard a new brooks saddle actually is. my old one I've had since 1974 and its super comfy.

I only just clocked how soon the Tweed Run is. Awesome.
Hoping for good weather as I have no suitable jacket since the death of the poacher. Last year was perfect in shirt sleeves and waistcoat, heres to a repeat that fine day.
Feel my bike will be looking ship shape and bristol for the day, but could really do with a new bottom bracket(this was the case last year as well) and a good polish.
No facial hair this year. Shaving incident has reduced my sideburns to a length not seen since the age of 14.

Ooooof, just got back from some regents park laps, Carradice saddle bag and new brooks in tow. I'm with you, ouch!

Given it a once over with Proofide tonight, will let it soak in and then buff off tomorrow before the ride in to work. 500miles to break her in seems like a loooong way off!

snap! I've forgotten quite how hard a new brooks saddle actually is. my old one I've had since 1974 and its super comfy.

^what Brooks did you get OSR?

Went for the B17 standard in honey in the end. I liked the "special" version coz of the copper rivets but wasn't a fan of the copper coloured rails and couldn't justify the extra cash moneyz!

I've just got a b17 as well. The nose is hard as fuck, but the back is comfy. I'm still trying to perfect my position on it. It doesn't help that it's really slidey, but apparently that gets better when worn in.
I've got some neatsfoot oil arriving any day now which is meant to break it in a lot faster than proofide, according to Sheldon.

Ah cool, well. i just got the Brooks Proofide, couldn't be arsed hunting around or ordering stuff in. I figured it's bound to work in the end right?!

Yeah i found the nose on mine a bit hard and i've got it tilted forward as far as my seatpost will allow? Mine's also slidy as hell but i don't mind that as much as it lets you adjust position without bouncing around.

lets you adjust position yeah, every 30 fucking seconds after sliding forward.
I want it broken in as fast as possible, so I can tell if I want to keep it or not, and I'm not going to do 500 miles in a couple of weeks.

I'm gonna smash up 500 miles by the tweed run a week on sat.

#compulsiveliar

on a similar note, I've got some NOS 80's specialized track gloves with leather palms. I always wipe the sweat away from my forehead with my left hand, and the leather on my left glove is now soft as a cushion, but the right is still crisp as paper.

1. Obergruppenfuhrer Lucifer
   
2. Prince Harry
   
3. Adolf Hipster
   

lets you adjust position yeah, every 30 fucking seconds after sliding forward.
I want it broken in as fast as possible, so I can tell if I want to keep it or not, and I'm not going to do 500 miles in a couple of weeks.

Well done! Brooks really are the best. The forward sliding thing reveals that you need to tilt it up a little but not so far as to produce testicle torment! Once broken in you sit bones will drop into the little dents they will have made.... like hand and glove. Stick with it... you will never want to ride another saddle. I'v been on Brooks since 1980 and can't say enough good things about them.

on a similar note, I've got some NOS 80's specialized track gloves with leather palms. I always wipe the sweat away from my forehead with my left hand, and the leather on my left glove is now soft as a cushion, but the right is still crisp as paper.

So, you're suggesting that riding 'bareback' as it were is the path to a speedily broken-in Brooks?

^Repped

DO NOT USE NEATSPROOF OIL on your brooks. it will indeed break it in faster, but it softens the leather too much in the process. PROOFHIDE PROOFHIDE PROOFHIDE!

I concur, stop being tight and fork out for the 40gram £8 tub of lemongrass stinky goodness!

Edit - I used an old sock (unwashed, black meduim length type) to apply my Proofide, hope the cheese won't affect the leather too much?