D
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers
Guest
>I was most definately the only person clad in Aldi gear last Sunday on
>the top of Alpe d'Huez.
You trend-setter you...
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$
--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--
>the top of Alpe d'Huez.
You trend-setter you...
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$
--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--
D
David E. Belcher
Guest
"Gordon" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Like all the other fat middle aged sad blokes I too have become Aldi man
> from head to foot.
Wrong; fat, middle-aged sad blokes tend to have (a) slightly too tight
jeans with a checked shirt tucked into them, (b) poodle-like hair, (c)
a tendency to punctuate all sentences with the stock expressions "If,
like me,..." and "...you could do a lot worse than one of these", and
finally (d) present motoring programmes on BBC2 [1] ;-)
David E. Belcher
[1] Oh, and they tend to write Murdoch-syndicated newspaper columns
spouting puerile bigotry. Nearly forgot that one.
> Like all the other fat middle aged sad blokes I too have become Aldi man
> from head to foot.
Wrong; fat, middle-aged sad blokes tend to have (a) slightly too tight
jeans with a checked shirt tucked into them, (b) poodle-like hair, (c)
a tendency to punctuate all sentences with the stock expressions "If,
like me,..." and "...you could do a lot worse than one of these", and
finally (d) present motoring programmes on BBC2 [1] ;-)
David E. Belcher
[1] Oh, and they tend to write Murdoch-syndicated newspaper columns
spouting puerile bigotry. Nearly forgot that one.
D
dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers
Guest
>
>[1] Oh, and they tend to write Murdoch-syndicated newspaper columns
>spouting puerile bigotry. Nearly forgot that one.
One of the most important aspects...
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$
--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--
>[1] Oh, and they tend to write Murdoch-syndicated newspaper columns
>spouting puerile bigotry. Nearly forgot that one.
One of the most important aspects...
Cheers, helen s
--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam--
to get correct one remove fame & fortune
h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$
--Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off--
D
David E. Belcher
Guest
Jack Ouzzi <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hey, Gordon, my man ............... you sound just like me !!!
> I have also started up again after 25 years, I also have 105 kit (on
> my fixie) and Suntour Cyclone stuff (on my tandem)
>
> Bloody good kit at Aldi I have to say !!! Well good enough for me
> anyway .............
>
> Well you sound nearly like me ............ I aint got a spotty face
> like you !!
>
> Good luck mate ............ keep goin!!
>
Absolutely - that's the spirit! 'Holdworth Mistral' rings a bell,
maybe because my first proper road bike (in 1992) was a Holdsworth
Corsair (similar wind-themed name - maybe they were made at around the
same time?) - how old is it?
David E. Belcher
> Hey, Gordon, my man ............... you sound just like me !!!
> I have also started up again after 25 years, I also have 105 kit (on
> my fixie) and Suntour Cyclone stuff (on my tandem)
>
> Bloody good kit at Aldi I have to say !!! Well good enough for me
> anyway .............
>
> Well you sound nearly like me ............ I aint got a spotty face
> like you !!
>
> Good luck mate ............ keep goin!!
>
Absolutely - that's the spirit! 'Holdworth Mistral' rings a bell,
maybe because my first proper road bike (in 1992) was a Holdsworth
Corsair (similar wind-themed name - maybe they were made at around the
same time?) - how old is it?
David E. Belcher
D
David E. Belcher
Guest
"DG" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> BTW Lidl, Aldi, Tchibo... so what. If it keeps me on the bike, I'm happy.
Agreed - earlier this year I got 3 cycling jerseys from Aldi (or was
it Lidl - I forget) at a knock-down price, allowing me to ditch the
tatty-looking Wheelbase ones I've had for the last 8 years. Cheap,
yes, but certainly not nasty. At the other end of the scale, I also
have my kit from my old club - not a member any more having moved away
from the area, but as shorts & jersey were an Impsport semi-custom
order costing about 75 quid, I'll be getting my wear out of them for a
bit....
David E. Belcher
> BTW Lidl, Aldi, Tchibo... so what. If it keeps me on the bike, I'm happy.
Agreed - earlier this year I got 3 cycling jerseys from Aldi (or was
it Lidl - I forget) at a knock-down price, allowing me to ditch the
tatty-looking Wheelbase ones I've had for the last 8 years. Cheap,
yes, but certainly not nasty. At the other end of the scale, I also
have my kit from my old club - not a member any more having moved away
from the area, but as shorts & jersey were an Impsport semi-custom
order costing about 75 quid, I'll be getting my wear out of them for a
bit....
David E. Belcher
G
Gordon
Guest
"David E. Belcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jack Ouzzi <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
SNIP
> Absolutely - that's the spirit! 'Holdworth Mistral' rings a bell,
> maybe because my first proper road bike (in 1992) was a Holdsworth
> Corsair (similar wind-themed name - maybe they were made at around the
> same time?) - how old is it?
>
> David E. Belcher
Near as I can determine, the frame is from around 1968, as it doesn't have
outer cable guide braze ons on the top tube (or at least it didn't until I
had the frame resprayed - see below). The frame number is also low,
indicating early production. I actually bought the frame from Chas Roberts
of Roberts Cycles when they were located in Penge Road, Lower Norwood, in
about 1978. At the time I lived only 100 yards from the shop and spent much
of my time salivating over the custom frames that Chas turned out. If I
cycled (on the clapped out borrowed Raleigh that I had then) in the other
direction, about half a mile away was the Holdsworthy factory, an equally
delicious prospect. Regrettably, I was at that time not exactly flush with
money and my then partner regarded spending good money on fripperies like a
good bike as a waste, especially as I may actually derive some enjoymernt
from it. Heaven forbid!
However, one day I noticed this Holdsworth frame hanging in the window and
asked Chas about it. He had taken it in in part exchange for a new custom
job and he regarded the customer as bonkers because they'd ordered a new
frame almost identical to the Mistral. Being a good sort of bloke he let me
have it for a knock down price - 20 quid as I recall and I then scoured the
lbs's for bits to build up a cracking fast touring bike. Took much marital
grovelling and many white or dirty grey lies, but I got it all together in
the end. (As an aside a member of the shooting club I used to belong to was
claimed - on good authority - to have muttered as his dying words, "Don't
let the wife sell my guns for what she thinks I paid for them...........")
The bike has undergone many changes since I first put it together and the
current spec reflects this. About 3 years ago I decided to have the frame
resprayed deep red by Chas Roberts, with a number of modifications such as
cable guides to the top tube being added and it has hardly been used since
then. I just checked the spec as it was a bit hazy in my mind but it's below
if anyone is interested. It's also below even if no-one gives a toot on a
tin whistle...........
Frame & forks - all Reynolds 531 double butted
Headset - Campag record
Brakes - curious mix, Shimano 105 levers and rear brake, 600 front brake,
can't remeber why it has this combination, probably to do with brake reach
and shallow pockets. Works brilliantly so who cares?
Bars - GB randonneur
Stem - 3TTT
Seat pin - Campag Record
Seat - Madison G10
Front mech - Shimano 105 (I now remember that the clamp ring on the original
Suntour Cyclone MkII corroded solid and I had to cut the damned thing off
before having the frame resprayed, so it was replaced by the 105)
Rear mech - Suntour Cyclone MkII
Change Levers - Suntour Cyclone MkII aero
Chainset - Shimano 600 (an early Shimano product with captive bolt heads on
the cranks. Don't require an extarctor to remove, just a hex key. Neat
design)
Bottom bracket - Shimano sealed cassette (an early one that is just about
run in now, beautifully smooth)
Gear cluster - Suntour 6 speed on a Suntour freewheel
Wheels - Mavic rims on Miche hubs. Cheap and cheerful but they've done very
good service.
I have done literally thousands of miles on this bike with just about no
problems at all. This included a 14 day fully loaded tour of the Netehrlands
with my best ever wife who loves cycling just as much as I do and whose view
of my buying cycling stuff is very simple, "can I have one as well,
please?". We did over 1000 miles which pretty well covered most of the
country and the only problem we had was a broken spoke on my rear wheel
which was fixed in a trice at the Dutch LBS, of which there seemed to be two
every mile, and who charged about fourpence for doing so.
Don't know how many miles I put on that bike but it must run into tens of
thousands and it is still a treasured possession. Once I've got my weight
down a bit I'll get some new tyres and be off on it again. Can't say I've
got any attachment to any other mechanical possessions with the exception of
my fountain pens (I have more of these than you can possibly believe. Don't
argue, you wouldn't believe it.....) but the Mistral holds a very special
place in my affections not leats because of the memories it evokes. Ah,
happy days......and more to come introducing the kids to cycling (Bethany
aged 7 and proud owner of brand new Specialized Hotrock, Nat aged 5 towed
behind me on tagalong, usually doing his best to increase riding resistance
by dragging feet on ground or in conveniently placed bushes)
Misty eyed Gordon
news:[email protected]...
> Jack Ouzzi <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:<[email protected]>...
SNIP
> Absolutely - that's the spirit! 'Holdworth Mistral' rings a bell,
> maybe because my first proper road bike (in 1992) was a Holdsworth
> Corsair (similar wind-themed name - maybe they were made at around the
> same time?) - how old is it?
>
> David E. Belcher
Near as I can determine, the frame is from around 1968, as it doesn't have
outer cable guide braze ons on the top tube (or at least it didn't until I
had the frame resprayed - see below). The frame number is also low,
indicating early production. I actually bought the frame from Chas Roberts
of Roberts Cycles when they were located in Penge Road, Lower Norwood, in
about 1978. At the time I lived only 100 yards from the shop and spent much
of my time salivating over the custom frames that Chas turned out. If I
cycled (on the clapped out borrowed Raleigh that I had then) in the other
direction, about half a mile away was the Holdsworthy factory, an equally
delicious prospect. Regrettably, I was at that time not exactly flush with
money and my then partner regarded spending good money on fripperies like a
good bike as a waste, especially as I may actually derive some enjoymernt
from it. Heaven forbid!
However, one day I noticed this Holdsworth frame hanging in the window and
asked Chas about it. He had taken it in in part exchange for a new custom
job and he regarded the customer as bonkers because they'd ordered a new
frame almost identical to the Mistral. Being a good sort of bloke he let me
have it for a knock down price - 20 quid as I recall and I then scoured the
lbs's for bits to build up a cracking fast touring bike. Took much marital
grovelling and many white or dirty grey lies, but I got it all together in
the end. (As an aside a member of the shooting club I used to belong to was
claimed - on good authority - to have muttered as his dying words, "Don't
let the wife sell my guns for what she thinks I paid for them...........")
The bike has undergone many changes since I first put it together and the
current spec reflects this. About 3 years ago I decided to have the frame
resprayed deep red by Chas Roberts, with a number of modifications such as
cable guides to the top tube being added and it has hardly been used since
then. I just checked the spec as it was a bit hazy in my mind but it's below
if anyone is interested. It's also below even if no-one gives a toot on a
tin whistle...........
Frame & forks - all Reynolds 531 double butted
Headset - Campag record
Brakes - curious mix, Shimano 105 levers and rear brake, 600 front brake,
can't remeber why it has this combination, probably to do with brake reach
and shallow pockets. Works brilliantly so who cares?
Bars - GB randonneur
Stem - 3TTT
Seat pin - Campag Record
Seat - Madison G10
Front mech - Shimano 105 (I now remember that the clamp ring on the original
Suntour Cyclone MkII corroded solid and I had to cut the damned thing off
before having the frame resprayed, so it was replaced by the 105)
Rear mech - Suntour Cyclone MkII
Change Levers - Suntour Cyclone MkII aero
Chainset - Shimano 600 (an early Shimano product with captive bolt heads on
the cranks. Don't require an extarctor to remove, just a hex key. Neat
design)
Bottom bracket - Shimano sealed cassette (an early one that is just about
run in now, beautifully smooth)
Gear cluster - Suntour 6 speed on a Suntour freewheel
Wheels - Mavic rims on Miche hubs. Cheap and cheerful but they've done very
good service.
I have done literally thousands of miles on this bike with just about no
problems at all. This included a 14 day fully loaded tour of the Netehrlands
with my best ever wife who loves cycling just as much as I do and whose view
of my buying cycling stuff is very simple, "can I have one as well,
please?". We did over 1000 miles which pretty well covered most of the
country and the only problem we had was a broken spoke on my rear wheel
which was fixed in a trice at the Dutch LBS, of which there seemed to be two
every mile, and who charged about fourpence for doing so.
Don't know how many miles I put on that bike but it must run into tens of
thousands and it is still a treasured possession. Once I've got my weight
down a bit I'll get some new tyres and be off on it again. Can't say I've
got any attachment to any other mechanical possessions with the exception of
my fountain pens (I have more of these than you can possibly believe. Don't
argue, you wouldn't believe it.....) but the Mistral holds a very special
place in my affections not leats because of the memories it evokes. Ah,
happy days......and more to come introducing the kids to cycling (Bethany
aged 7 and proud owner of brand new Specialized Hotrock, Nat aged 5 towed
behind me on tagalong, usually doing his best to increase riding resistance
by dragging feet on ground or in conveniently placed bushes)
Misty eyed Gordon
G
Gordon
Guest
"Gordon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "David E. Belcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Jack Ouzzi <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:<[email protected]>...
>
> SNIP
>
Huge SNIP
>
> Misty eyed Gordon
>
Note to self - enable spell check before posting. Sorry about the typos,
it's been a long day.
Gordon
news:[email protected]...
> "David E. Belcher" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Jack Ouzzi <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:<[email protected]>...
>
> SNIP
>
Huge SNIP
>
> Misty eyed Gordon
>
Note to self - enable spell check before posting. Sorry about the typos,
it's been a long day.
Gordon