I was five or six when my Mum taught me to ride in our local park. I guess it was on my sister’s bike, or perhaps a borrowed one. My Dad bought me my first bike (a second hand Raleigh) when I was 12 years old. I have owned a bike more of less ever since. Some came and went unremarked or unremembered, but these were, or are, special to me.
My Raleigh Merlin from the 1970s
In the mid to late 1970s I bought a Raleigh Merlin from a local dealership here in Aberdeen. I have no photos of it, but It looked more or less like this one. I owned it for thirty years or more. I commuted to and from Dyce in the late 1980s then to university in the 1990s and 2000s. In truth I bought it too big, but used it with great pleasure and success over all of those years. When finally I moved on to a new bike I donated it to a bike cooperative near to the university. I remember it fondly. I rather wish I still had it!
Our Thorn Raven Sports Tours
My wife and I bought our Thorns in 2010 when we retired. The Thorn Raven Sport Tour is a jack of all trades bike and a master of lightweight “Credit Card” touring. It’s been my pleasure to ride it ever since. We completed many multi-day tours together, some of them in the UK, France, Spain and Portugal. We have the Thorns still and find it very difficult to part with them. Unfortunately, Jacqui’s health means they no longer get the use they deserve as touring bikes.
My RC Triban 520 Sub Compact 105 GRAVL
I bought the Triban in the Decathlon 2025 Winter sale. It was bought to go gravel riding with a mate who liked off road riding. It’s the 2024 model. I had always wanted a Shimano 105 equipped bike and this was a real bargain. It was bought as a gravel bike, but I soon began to convert it towards road use. I replaced the 40mm tyres with Panaracer 35mm semi-slicks. The stock bars went and new Ritchey Corralitos Comp bars arrived along with a raised 40 degree stem. These together sorted out the riding position for me. A mirror and rear flashing light followed. Then a second hand Italian saddle from Ebay.
It’s a lovely bike on the road: smooth and responsive. It always gives the impression that it is straining on its leash. Its quickness belies its weight. For now, it is all I need in a road bike.
My Genesis Croix de Fer 30
I am something of a sucker for impulse buys. I spotted the CdF on FaceBook Market Place locally for £600. It was drop dead gorgeous, but too expensive for me at that money. A few weeks later the listing dropped to £400. I bought it that very afternoon for £340.
The bike looked stunning, but was in terrible, neglected, condition. The brakes barely worked. The chain, chain rings and cassette were all shot. The seat post was reluctant to move. The bar tape was torn, the saddle unridable. Hence I managed to haggle the price down to £340. Luckily I managed to find all the necessary replacement parts at very reasonable prices.
More to follow
