I just can't manage to spend money on this bike. Like a lot of people, I love buying new bits and having things shiny, but I've also got a tight streak in me. This is one old bike where practicality always wins. Maybe that's why I love her so much ... or because I love her so much ... or something. Cripes, I've just realised that even her new saddle is an old one.

She's still running the horrid old diacompe brakes she wore when I bought her in the 80's. I keep looking at new brakes, but she needs a 70mm reach - she ran 27" wheels until the conversion to fixed when I went to 700c. Rivendell have the Tektros at horrendous cost, I've yet to find anything local, and provided the pads are new and soft (ie, every 12 months), the old brakes stop surprisingly well and on fixed, you only need them when caught out by something daft on the road or are tired ... or haven't warmed up yet. I find that my legs don't stop all that well in the first 5km of riding.

Ahh bikes. You've gotta laugh or the men in white coats will lock you up

Richard