Varonha custom frame... And other ongoing stuff

I didn't think I needed one either, but when you get one and find out how useful it is to have a pannier bag to stick an extra layer in, or stash a lock, quick trip to the shops etc.
once you go rack you never go back or whatever.

I realise I'm preaching to the converted...

Agreed, my galaxy's fully racked!
My mum won't go to the shop with her bike, and will only do short rides.
Now, I've got one of these narrow Tortec spare, and a cute red pannier... May try this...

Spare rack isn't fitting nicely, no strut adjustment as I'd butchered it for another built...

Awesome! Very tidy job... don't forget to give us another pic once the mudguards are on.

Such a tidy build. Love it

Could imagine it with a nice carradice riding on the bars for shopping

Back from France.
No guards just yet, didn't find anything good there (would have had to order, didn't have time) and my mum isn't going to do much cycling at all this winter. I'll try to get something on at Christmas. Dropped the saddle, put her saddle from the road bike she no longer use instead of the Concor (which she didn't like), and installed Grip Shifts because the Suntour vintage thumb shifters were too stiff and she couldn't manage them.
She was pleased, I think she'll need some encouraging to use it, I wish we had time to go to nice bits of lanes, with no hills (not common in that bit of Normandy). If Covid restrictions ease off we may be able to go there more often (this was our first trip there in nearly two years)

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Awesome! What a good son.

Would love those suntour shifters if you feel like clearing out some old bits ;)

They're yours, don't have any project for them. Maybe stiffness can be improved with a re-build, greasing, I now regret not having tried.

Hey! Would like to bring you something in return for shifters... Want to ask you something else too ... what are those straddle cables you have on the Varonha? Are they mad posh?

Oh! Found them. Power Hanger. I don't get how they work! Can you use on rear too, if you have a hole in the bridge?

Hey! Would like to bring you something in return for shifters...

Don't worry about bringing something, would be nice seeing these used on one of your projects, also curious to know if you can make them work smoother. I'm no longer in Peckham though, Beckenham now... work in Chelsea if that helps. Also coming to a birthday around New Cross (in principle) before Christmas, could drop them.

Can you use on rear too, if you have a hole in the bridge?

No hole in the Varonha's rear bridge is why I haven't one there otherwise I would have done it. No idea if more powerful, though feels like it brakes better than my other cantis on the galaxy, but different rims, pads, could be other factors. But I like the neatness
Bought mine on eBay (new) for cheap maybe there's more.

I have finally found a couple of minutes to put the 33c tyres back and mudguards... Now winter's nearly over, but I don't think I'll bother with big tyres again soon now I've got the Look mountain bike (not that I have time to ride bikes anyway)

Also think I prefer the bike with mudguards, more part of its DNA...

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And a gif...

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Wonderful. One day we'll do a Varonha ride, who knows when, but it'll happen.

33 is a great size. Went along the Thames to Southend on Jack Brown 30s a couple of weeks back, even they cope with mixed terrain beautifully.

Best config yet

The mudguards do suit it rather nicely!

Classy! Wheel/tire/mudguard matching is very satisfying

Ta all...
Commuted with the Varonha today... And got drenched on way home, for once I come home early on a Friday... Sign of destiny I guess, having the mudguards back on today...

Little update on my dysfunctional stable of bikes (I.e. I ride so little why do I have so many)
The lovely and trusted Dawes Galaxy, which is a bike I love because it's so nice and simple and un pretentious, has always been a little bit on the small side in the seat tube department. After years of brainwashing from @coppiThat I finally conceded that I should do something about such an amount of seat post on show for a frame with classic geometry. I won a Mercian on eBay last week, with the same top tube as the Dawes (57cm) but I jumped from 57.5 to 62cm ctc for the seat tube.
It's in fairly good condition overall though this mini project will consist in swapping couple of parts (cantis, FD, saddle and post, bar and stem). I'll also be re spraying (at home) the BB area as it was heavily touched up as was a mess. Luckily local stripping didn't reveal any rust, stays look healthy. This allowed to reveal frame number and the year of fabricating, 1988.

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I ride so little why do I have so many

Because they all feel special when you finally do!

(I.e. I ride so little why do I have so many)

I feel seen. Mercian will be lovely, it's a v satisfying yellow.

satisfying yellow.

Ta! Almost exactly identical to RAL 1004. Gloss spray can on order.