Originally Posted by Raleigh Madone

Hey, all very helpful advice. I'm coming to terms with my n+1 type - could not bring myself to sell my beloved Trek 7.5 FX when I got the Madone (though ostensibly they serve the same purpose - until I rationalized that I'll go cycling to Cuba one day, and wouldn't take the Madone there :-) Then the Pashley was supposed to replace the Raleigh, but I kept the Raleigh just in case - and boy was I glad I did, when I handed the Pashley back! Now I have my eye on a Bianchi Milano Citta (despite very mixed reviews - I'll see if I like the riding style) but will fix the Raleigh anyway. Not that I have any storage space! The expensive ones are in the condo, Raleigh in the building's garage where lots of bikes get stolen. Not sure I'd dare leaving a Bianchi down there.... I need a house!

Re the chain, it did improve when I removed 20 years worth of accumulated grime in the deraileur (cringe). It comes off when changing gears, never when mashing (which I don't do, I spin), so I hold my breadth every time I touch the lever. Funny how none of the stores repairing the bike ever ever suggested changing the chain, or anything else for that matter, even when I complained about the chain. Now even the brakes don't work. I'm thinking best is stripping the whole bike and putting it back together, changing cables and whatever else needs changing. The saddle too is broken, which it too bad cause I do think it was original. I'd love to have a Brooks but I'm not sure it's the right look.

I'll search the forum for skirtguard posts. Thanks again!