So if you’ve read my What’s this about page you’ll know that my project started before I began writing about it, so this first post is going to be a bit of a catch up of where I’ve got to so far.

Firstly, here is a picture of my current steed, the Red Rooster.  I bought him in 2007 from Edwardes in Camberwell, and I got a pretty good deal on him- in fact he may have been the cheapest bike in the shop.

Not to take anything away from him; he’s been great over the years I’ve had him, lovely to ride and no complaints, but I think I’d like to allow him to morph into something a little sportier.

(You may notice the saddle is pretty low.  On only my second outing after finally getting a replacement saddle I parked the Rooster outside the Oval, near where there were plenty of police about as it was match day.  I took my new saddle with me having learned my lesson, and got back to find the crooks had now taken my saddle CLAMP!  Can you BELIEVE it?!)

I’ve got bits and pieces of bike so far, but whether they will all fit together remains to be seen.  If not, then I suppose they’ll be going back on eBay, and I’ll have to try to find the right components.  It is, as they say, a learning curve.

The first bits I bought, and have already assembled, are below- the handlebars and gear levers.  And they fit together- my first success!

I was lucky enough to find the handlebars with brake levers and stem all attached, and grip tape applied.