OH NO I'VE DONE IT AGAIN

Help, new excuses needed! So far I haven't come up with a good one.

My wife seemed remarkably relaxed when I told her I'd bought a vintage but tatty frame on eBay with the idea of doing it up in order to sell it. 

It was only when I showed it to her a couple of weeks later that she threw a wobbly. She had thought I'd bought a picture frame not a bike frame.

[Before]
The frame as seen on eBay

[After]
The head tube after respray 
& new decal

The frame half way through decal application

Who couldn't be moved by this Campagnolo decal?

So now I'm back up to four bikes (well three and a half until the Rossin is re-built). I might have to sell one of them. But which one?
You can read more about the Rossin project here. Unless you're Mrs ElPrez in which case, it'll be up for sale soon dear, honest.

Removal Of Decals

I removed the decals last night using the hairdryer technique.
This morning I realised I'd missed the ones on the forks. I removed the left hand side decals using the same technique. Interestingly I then removed the decals on the other fork without using the hairdryer, and they came off much more easily.
Overall I think prefer the clear look without the decals.

GOING STEADY

Yes we're going steady the
Surly and I. Already we've been to the pub, the very pleasant Roundhouse on Battersea Rise.



We stopped off for a takeaway on the way home. Just as well we'd taken our recently rediscovered paniers I had put away in the bedroom wardrobe.
I think I can feel some touring coming on.
12.60 Kgs by the way, much heavier than my roadbikes, but fine for the commute and shopping etc. Quite a lot lighter without the racks though. Have also added a Carradice saddle bag (for when not using the racks) which looks good under the Brooks.

MUDGUARD FIXED

The one small niggle with the build was the front mudguard which didn't fit perfectly. The guys at LCW sorted out a new bracket and fixed it in ten minutes.
I've added a bottle cage and a pump.
Now I just need to remove some of the decals. Hairdrier treatment I believe.






The bike weighs in at 12.60 Kgs by the way.
It's a very different ride from my road bikes but I love it. Makes a nice change sitting up and looking around. A dignified sort of a ride.