handlebars

 

these are the current family bikes in use

no two bar set-ups the same

Family portrait

was sweeping out the back verandah

or patio, if you prefer

and had to move all the bikes.

so time for a group photo.

I counted 11.

Little bike workhorse

on my way back from the dojo with the kids and all their palaver

it all fitted on the stow-away!
a basket
a rattrap carrier
and one occy strap.
note thermos/frame colour co-ordination

Now geared for the shops, not the track.

the stow-away had a rather stern first gear for

a bike with such a terrible riding pozzie.

so today 

I received a Sturmey-Archer 22 tooth cog from the UK

and put it on.

already had changed the front crankset

for a NOS cottered set from Ephraim.

the old one was 48T 

and REALLY rusty.

the new one is a much gentler 44T.

you can see how much bigger the old one was

by the amount of clearance.

and here she is.

used to be 48-18, now 44-22.

even easier to hop on and burble.

tootling is easy too.

think I need to shorten the gear cable

Raleigh Stow-away clean-up

not a full resto,
just getting it cleaned up and seeing if it's worth spending time on.
it's pretty rusty and neglected as you will see.

new brake cables and the Weinmann 810s from the Gitane.
810 I realised refers to the reach, i.e. the 810s are longer reach than the 730s.
I'm smart.

the only 1/8 chain I had was a half-link chain.

original steel wheels

kooky high BB position and short wheelbase

hey! I've seen those brake levers before!

learning about SA hubs...

like one of those "magic-eye" pics from years ago.

so will it be worth spending more time on?
probably not.
it was pretty neglected.
but when the Gitane ha returned to its owner
this will make a good bike to tootle down the shops on.