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Vans missed one vital trick IMO with that fixed shoe - sole should've been *much *stiffer.

It's too small really.... and I could do with the cash to pay for the Bates restoration!

chaliapin - noted!

For those of you looking for good NOS rims, the cheapest I could find was here (36 hole only):

http://www.freemanscycles.co.uk/product2.asp?product_id=1739&pname=Aluminium%20Rim%20-%20AS23X%20SL

I've got one NOS rigida 32 hole rim still in wrapping - offset spoke holes, nice and shiny (I ended up building a pair of 36h rims so this is spare). Smallest tyre you will find is 27"x1" panaracer pasela from spa cycles, that's roughly the equivalent of a 25 but bear in mind that 27" rims are wider.

£15 posted if you're interested (I'm in Bristol).

What are the cranks? Reason I ask is that there are a lot of 'track' and 'single speed' cranksets knocked out cheap that are actually doubles and to get a 42mm chainline you need to mount the ring on the inside of the spider, which of course looks a bit cack in comparison but that's why they're cheap.

If this isn't the case (I don't ever remember seeing miche doing this on-the-cheap type of c/set), then I'd definitely check frame alignment as per the Sheldon link above.

Seriously not worth shimming given the amount of 25.4mm stems around (I've just picked up a 50's GB for free), leave the dodgy cinelli stems to those with the matching bars - they'll pay more for the pleasure too.

I've used both the old style bag-loop and the SQR bags - be warned that if you have a lot of set-back on you saddle (for me due to long legs/thighs or it might be a steeper seat-tube than is ideal on your frame), then you will be hitting the bag with your thighs on every pedal stroke. It annoys the living piss out of you and you then sell the bag after one ride with it.

SPD's all the way unless you have nice stiff cycling specific shoes to use with clips/straps already. Ignore any reference to road shoes/cleats - imagine having to stop halfway up a climb and then having to re-start with single sided pedals..... fuuuuuuuuck that my friend. All very well using them if you're a mega strong rider who will never stop on a hill (punctures/mechanicals aside), but audax organisers love to throw in 25% climbs that get most people walking and you don't want to be doing that with road shoes.

Details? What size are you after? Any preference on clearance? Price range?

I might have a wheelset (on-one LF rear on a Mavic CXP-33 and 'matching' shimano deep profile rim 16 spoke front) , frame (22" Raleigh 531 with fresh red enamel respray), brakes, bars, stem, bmx lever, and some other odds and sods available in the next couple of weeks. Drop me a PM if you think any of it might be of interest.

PM your way, bud.

THat's a shitter - my rear-ending incident was a good few years ago when I had a pompino, those things are bomb-proof, as was my front wheel fortunately.

Tika, I've been in contact with a bloke who reckons he's got a 19" 60's Flying Scot track frame (wasn't able to measure the frame to confirm), I'm sceptical, but if it's a 19" or 20" I'll forward you his contact details.

Maybe I've got a rose tinted view from memory!

It's definitely June - they just haven't updated the website, I think it's confirmed on the discussion board.

Only unfortunate thing with the timing is that it coincides with Bikefest for our fat tyred brethren. However I'm hoping that the missus is going to join me along with a few work colleagues so adding in a few fixed bods will make for a good ride. I'd pay money to see a pitch black brakeless decent of Cheddar Gorge ;-)

It's difficult - few lugged frames were made under 21" by British builders. If you can forego (or at least postpone) owning classic British steel then keep your eyes open on ebay for 80's/90's Italian frames* - they're little buggers and loads come up in the size range you're looking at. I'm keeping my eye out for my other half at the moment, she's 5' 3" but I'm fairly certain that she can get away with a 21" as long as it's a tad shorter in the top tube as she had a bike fitting session with Paul Hewitt last year.

*Edit to add - they should have forward facing horizontal dropouts, don't be put off if they look shorter than on older bikes as there's still enough adjustment to get chain tension sorted.

I couldn't have been more wrong. 60p for Silver D/B - I try and support these guys by buying from them but all spokes will be mail order at 30-35p in future. God bless Spa Cycles.

The shame.

I can't comment, I once rear ended a Freelander coming off a roundabout in Birmingham without paying attention... that wasn't even brakeless.

I wouldn't say brutal climbs - just some quite long ones. However, there are only really three hills on the whole route: Burrington Combe after 20 miles or so, Blagdon Hill after about 65 and then just a bit of a climb before decending into Exmouth. Honestly, it's really not a difficult route, I'm just going to make sure that I get a good few fixed ascents of Burrington in my legs before commiting!

Now I knew that skidding was fun (I try to avoid it, preferring £4 on brake blocks every 6 months to £10 a month on new tyres), but a crotch wear issue?! That's funny. Probably justifies some decent tough/hard-wearing shorts.

My other half likes her charge spoon on the road bike and loves the ladies version she has on the commuter even more. Although that might be because it looks nicer (deep brown/black with pink stitching).

I think you'll find that Cliff is long retired and only builds frames on the rare occasion that a friend manages to persuade him to - apparently, despite being in his 70's, he's more interested in just getting out on his bike. Paul who used to manage Bike Plus in Croydon knows him.

If it's any help, I've had Diadora shoes but they were just too narrow (I need Specialized shoes for width), but the other half has just bought a pair of Northwaves and said they are just as wide as the spesh ones she tried on.

For info, I was told the vittoria shoes were leather on a visit to BLB, but you can tell up close that they aren't. According to the vittoria website they're lorica (makes sense as they don't appear to use leather on any of their shoes).

Now the only decision is traditional black or pimp stylee red? Black is easier for matching socks... I just couldn't bring myself to wear white with them.

Gears thankfully - over 2000m of climbing involved. It's going to take a good deal more riding before I can do that kind of ride fixed. That said I'm aiming to do the Exmouth Exodus on fixed - www.exmouthexodus.co.uk

I have avoided climbing and any such related activity for many years - there being a disproportionate relationship between arm strength and body weight....

Same chap on silver charge overtook me on Sunday night as I died in the saddle after park street with a heavy bag and 105 miles in the legs from Saturday.