Ok, dragging myself back out of the gutter,I've managed to qualify for PBP, but still haven't pulled the trigger quite yet. Indecision is hangin around....
But, if I do end up going, I've made a decision to retire my home build SWB...be nice to ride something else.
So...[and I'm under no illusion that this is not going to be easy, so I don't need to be reminded!!], but having always really liked tadpole trikes, but never ridden one, I'm borrowing a mates 15yr old [but with only about 2k miles on the clock] Trice Q to attempt the Flatlands 600 next weekend, as a potential trial for PBP. I'm fortunate that I don't need to get round in time, but I'll be making a concerted effort too.
The mesh seat was not comfortable at all, and the boom is fully extended, so I've spent the weekend making brackets and fitting one of my old homemade fibreglass seats. It feels much better, but boy, on account of taking it round a large car park today, I can see why they added suspension to these things! [this Trice Q is the pre-suspension, triple 406 wheel version] It's going to be a bone shaker alright!
I've taken the chain tubes off and made a chain retention bracket for the drive idler. The tyres are Kenda Quests. Not the best, but surprisingly I can see no evidence of sidewall deterioration at all, so I'll take my chances. I do have some [old] marathon racers here, so I'll take a couple as spares.
I've only a few days to finish all the fettling, but I was wondering how folk attach GPS devices to these things?
I'm used to having the navigation unit virtually under my nose on my SWB bikes, and they can be very difficult to see in strong sunlight.
I'll be using a bare bones track on an Etrex Legend HCX. I've seen nav units attached to the main frame, but that looks a fair distance away from what I'm used too. I'll sort something out.
Can't help thinking of dear Mr Larrington [and, I think, Silverback OTP] who found themselves in a pickle on account of the retaining bolt of the handlebars breaking causing detachment from the main frame. [If memory is working as it should?].
Relatively old as it is - these bikes are just so brilliant. I've always fancied having a go on one, so here we are.
And as for the ICE VTX......well...!