The bike fairies are busy!

New goodies!

It's probably true that I'll spend more on this trip than I'll make in donations, but there are bits and bobs we still need. While Holly's bike is new, mine is nearly 30 years old. It's fair to say that much of the bike has had changes but there remains those parts needing attention.

I took it to Evans cycles for their apraisal of whether they think it would get me from Lands End to John O'Groats. It went something like:

EC: Ooh, we havn't seen one of those for a while. It's not looking too bad. What you want doing?
ME: want to do LEJOG, will it get me there with a service?

Now at this point I'm thinking there's no chance.

EC: Depends on what you think needs doing.
ME: Bottom bracket, head, and rear wheel needs adjusting, brakes?
EC: Sure, we can do that. And yes, it will do LEJOG with you.

Wow. Not what I expected.

We agreed that safety should come first and therefore my brakes will be upgraded. More costs, but you need to be able to stop before a wall or car stops you.

So, now my doctor says yes, the mechanic says yes, and the number of donations grows. It's all getting very real.

A few more things have been purchased with clothing for Holly, new panniers for my bike, and a saddle. Now getting a new saddle you would think is just a matter of getting something that suits the bike, is big and soft and looks like an armchair. Well, no, I had to have my arse measured...

Out came the bumometer for measuring my size in order to determine the required saddle. It started me wondering, how do women use this service? Do they say they are a size smaller than they really are? And then do the saddle makers make he seat a size bigger than the size on the box? Who would have thought saddles would be a difficult bussines?

I was pleased to learn that my arse is of average size and with the right saddle selected my bum does not look big on it :-)

I await my new satnav...