Hi from the UK - INDIAN Board Tracker tribute, my first build

[PeteMcP]

True Steve, up until the ceremony in two weeks time, it feels like existing in some kind of 'limbo' right now. Afterwards I'm hoping I can adjust to the 'new reality' as you put it. It's something one half of every couple must learn to cope with.

That used Lepper Primus saddle was a massive bargain. It was listed on UK eBay with bids starting at UK£35 or 'Best Offer'. Made my cheeky low ball bid of UK£30 as a starting point, never dreaming it would get accepted. These are rare saddles to see for sale in the UK. Most on eBay are listed by European sellers and the price of a good 'patina'd' Primus is usually in the 60-80 Euros ballpark - plus upwards of another 20 Euros to cover shipping to the UK.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

That Lepper Primus saddle underpinnings with your new Mesinger saddle, should compare well with the ride comfort of my Brookes B190.

Tom

 

[Oldbiscuit]

I don’t know what to say about your builds Pete, they all are pieces of art ! I am amazed at the thought process, design, fabrication, fit and finish on all your bikes. They all look like museum pieces, but yet you actually ride them. Truly amazing for sure !! I’m sure now Jen is looking down admiring your work as well.

 

[PeteMcP]

Well, though the last three weeks have felt like an eternity, April 22nd finally rolled around yesterday and so Jen's funeral/cremation went ahead as scheduled on a beautiful sunny Spring day. It was a small, intimate family focused service which felt all the more personal after the service was helmed by my Brother-in-Law Keith, a retired vicar.



After almost 49 years together, it inevitably feels like there's a planet-sized hole in my life, and finding motivation to do anything but sit and ponder often feels like the easy option. But having said that, I've made a start on trying to create some extra space here - inspired in part by reading the recent posts in this forum's 'Workshop' section of the Tavern. All the many pieces of equipment supplied (completely free) for Jen by the UK's wonderful NHS (National Heath Service) in an effort to help with her home-based care during the last several years was collected mid-week. It's surprising how more spacious the place looks minus a bath lift, rise-n-fall recliner chair, overhead hoist, wheelchair, turntable, zimmer frame, shower stool, shower step, hospital air mattress/pump and several pressure relieving cushions and mattresses. In fact, the place here already looks a little bare.... like it can house another couple of bikes no problem!
Time to face facts now and I've realized that Jen and I's long-held plan of moving to our place in Spain is not going to happen. Truth is I've absolutely zero enthusiasm for going there without her, so the plan is to offload the Spanish property sometime in the future. Which also means I won't be wasting any more money funding the storage of furniture and other stuff here in Alnwick. That 'stuff' will either be distributed to relatives, sold, or donated to charity and my bikes and tools returned to me for use here in the Alnwick apartment, where the plan is to convert the tiny, (but secure) high walled, tiled yard space into a useful covered workspace.

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

Thank-you Peter for sharing with us images of your dear beloved Jennifer.
I shed tears pondering your great loss.
I wondered what would become of the Spanish retirement plan with Jen not being part of it.
Well now we know.
" After almost 49 years together, it inevitably feels like there's a planet-sized hole in my life, and finding motivation to do anything but sit and ponder often feels like the easy option. "
Nobody would think less of you Peter, but you and Mishka will sort it out.Take care.

Tom

 

[indian22]

Pete it's been many years since the reality of extreme loss completely enveloped me, but your itemizing the large health care items, almost identical in number and type, which I removed from my home momentarily took me back in time; as if only yesterday. I found there was no normal to get back to, but there was a new normal in store for me. I see your engagement with the now reality of your loss quite positive and that empty feeling will gradually change how you daily deal with your great loss.

May you walk with God through this all.

Rick

 

[PeteMcP]

Anyone remember those Munro2 eBikes I mentioned in one of my posts a few years back? Always felt they were one of the cooler looking creations on the eBike scene - and still do if I'm honest. Just felt that they didn't get the credit they were due considering it was in 2017 when I first saw mention of them. No doubt their cost was one major factor which held them back. Over the years I always checked back on AliExpress to monitor their availability in the hope they would become affordable to me - but that was never the case once purchase price, shipping and import taxes to the UK had been taken into account.
Was casually searching UK eBay yesterday when I stumbled across a pair of new Munro 2 eBikes, one green, one black, listed by a seller in London. Description said they were bought new but unused due to lack of ride time. Asking price was comparable to those I'd seen on AliExpress - but no shipping cost or taxes to worry about meant it was way more affordable than any I'd previously seen. My only stipulation was that the bike must come with the pedals pictured in some of the Munro 2s advertising shots. Wasn't really up for purchasing an eBike which wasn't capable of being pedaled. Seller confirmed the pedal kit was included in the bikes shipping carton, along with full instructions for de-restricting the bike so max power could be accessible. All good! Thought I'd make a cheeky best offer £500 less than the auction start price and the seller responded immediately saying could I up my offer a further £100 'cause the price included shipping. Stuck to my guns and the seller accepted. Bike ships via courier on Tuesday. Expected to get here Thursday.

 

[curtisfox]

That's KOOOOL, with your added touches, it will be more so....Curt

 

[indian22]

Pete you know I like the style so good on you, nice negotiated price as well! If you don't offer you'll never know.

Rick C.

 

[PeteMcP]

Pete you know I like the style so good on you, nice negotiated price as well! If you don't offer you'll never know.

Rick C.

Rick, that's the second of what I would term very lowball offers I've had accepted without quibble just lately. I guess the recent large hikes in utilities and the cost of living has led to many feeling the pinch. I honestly made these offers expecting sellers to put up much more of a fight but that wasn't the case. There were 185 'watchers' for the black Munro on eBay and the listing still had three weeks to run, so I was surprised how willing the guy was to end the listing so early. As we say here in the northern UK, "shy bairns get nowt".

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

I hope this turns out better than the OHC plastic model engine.

Tom

 

[indian22]

Pete my Mom was a Stuart that ended up in the Territory. Strange how the Old World decided to re settle. One such modern settler came over from Edinburg & landed here 30 years ago. I enjoy listening to his tales, still has the accent. He's employed as a county sherriff's deputy. Really good addition to the community. Odd bits and pieces of language rub off on me and his manner of speaking enriches our language here in Indian Territory!

Rick C.

 

[PeteMcP]

Rick, One of the best things about the UK is that for such a small country, it has a huge and distinct plethora of regional accents, with many just applicable to specific cities. A few examples...Scouse (LIverpool), Brummy (Birmingham), Manc (Manchester), Worzel (West Country, Devon/Cornwall), Cockney (London's East End) and many, many others. Likewise, Scottish, Welsh and Irish could never be classed as an accent, 'cause each of those have just as many regional dialects. E.g. you'll notice a very distinct difference between Edinburgh and Glasgow Scottish dialect, despite the cities being only a very short distance apart on opposite sides of the country. Being born in Newcastle (Gateshead actually, on the opposite bank of the River Tyne if we're splitting hairs) makes me a 'Geordie'. Which has a very recognizable dialect - albeit virtually a foreign language to southerners. Running my business over the last 30 years involved exhibiting at shows the length and breadth of the country, as well as internationally in Europe and 3 x times a year in the US. I quickly learned to tone down my Geordie accent and talk at half speed so folks at least had a chance to understand what I was saying. In recent years, the BBC has become ever more 'woke' and has decided there's room on air for more than just the Queen's English to be broadcast to the masses. It's commonplace now to hear continuity announcers spouting several different regional accents in an effort to foster inclusivity. Good for them.
(Incidentally, if anyone's interested in hearing what a 'Geordie' accent sounds like, try searching for much loved South Shields comedian (un-pc to say comedienne these days) Sarah Millican who has fans round the world peeing themselves laughing despite making zero effort to tone down her accent. It's partly thanks to folks like her who've made regional dialects acceptably 'mainstream' during the last decade. More the merrier, I reckon.

 

[fasteddy]

Pete, Newcastle is my families ancestral home. Sir John Forster of Bamburgh castle is my 17th great grandfather. It's amazing what your rewards are when you save Richard the Lion Hearted's life from the Heathen Saracens.That's my fathers side of the family. Later years they were mostly skilled trades people.

My mother was from Birmingham. Mostly skilled trades people on that side. Her father was a tool and die maker and served as his companies Apprentice Master. He had on average 130 apprentices he was responsible for training. He was also in charge of installing the lighting on the Titanic for his company.

I just listened to Sarah Millican. Love the subtle humour. You know what she's saying without her saying it. My second wife was from Iowa and she couldn't see what the rest of us found so funny about the British comedians and comedy's we watched here in Canada.
It wasn't Eddie Murphy style humour.

Steve.

 

[PeteMcP]

Small world Steve. Bamburgh (pronounced Bam-burr-uh, not Bam-burg like I've heard so many out of towners say) is but a short drive from Alnwick here. The Castle there is one of the UKs most spectacular. First place Jen and I used to take our US pals who came to stay with us when they said they wanted to see Castles. We're spoiled for Castles here in Northumberland. Alnwick Castle (where they film a lot of the Hogwarts interior shots in the Harry Potter movies) is literally across the main road from our front door here in town. I could take visitors to another five Castles within half an hour's drive.
Glad you liked Sarah Millican. I just watched two more of her many videos today on Facebook and noticed they came with subtitles for those folks who find the dialect and delivery speed a little difficult to take on board. Also worth checking out the guy she married, comedian Gary Delaney who is the master of the one liner. Bet life in their home is a laugh a minute!

 

[Tom from Rubicon]

"I just watched two more of her many videos today on Facebook and noticed they came with subtitles for those folks who find the dialect and delivery speed a little difficult to take on board. Also worth checking out the guy she married, comedian Gary Delaney who is the master of the one liner. Bet life in their home is a laugh a minute!"
Maybe it has been all my years of old rebroadcasts of BBC programs on WTTW in Chicago that has conditioned me to dislike subtitles when Anglo Saxon is spoken regardless of dialect. I use Cockney rhyming slang when ever I can.

Tom

 

[indian22]

Hi guys, I'm enjoying your personal stories and the general theme of regional accents. One of my University brothers was from county Claire and spoke Galic as a first language and English as a very distant second tongue. He was a European champion cyclist who converted to competing in running events. He specialized in marathons and was an all American at the Uni level and finished second, twice at the Boston marathon after completing his degree. He was one of my Groomsmen as well. He competed in the Mexico City Olympics. but fell victim to Montezuma's revenge and failed to compete well.

I paced him on some conditioning runs. I was on a very nice 7 speed light weight and he was running so fast it was quite difficult for me to keep up. These runs were up to thirty miles in length with no stops and very hilly terrain. World class athletes are gifted but are also insanely driven to reach the highest goals.

Of all the languages I've ever heard Galic is certainly the strangest and their accent in English is very appealing.

Rick C.

 

[PeteMcP]

I hope this turns out better than the OHC plastic model engine.

Tom

No worries this time round Tom. Just received e-mail confirmation from both the seller and courier that the bike has ben collected in London. On its way.
On a slightly different note, the Munro 2 bike has a range capablity of 30 miles on its single lithium battery, designed to be housed in the fake motor's crankcase. There's room for 2 batteries in there, effectively doubling the range to 60 miles. So I asked the seller if there was any chance he could supply a second battery or if not, perhaps advise where I could purchase one. He replied saying he could supply a second battery - costing UK£580....gulp!!! so 30 mile range it is then for the time being.

 

[indian22]

Pete this is one of my problems with the factory e bikes battery packs custom fitted to specific frame shapes. For their rated voltage and capacity they are three times more expensive than simple rectangular shapes of good equivalent after market lithium packs. Want more battery capacity just add leather saddlebags on a rear rack.

I've gone rather daft (perhaps was already) over vintage bikes with racks and or saddlebags. I like the look, but fair enough, not as sporty or appropriate for a board track style, but darned convenient in use nevertheless. Quick and easy to remove for daily riding or reinstall for extended jaunts. That's how I set them up. As I like the look of the rack I typically just unmount the bags.

I think you'll favor riding your Monroe and it's a very nice addition to your stable of mounts.

Rick C.

 

[PeteMcP]

I hear you Rick. If I want or need the extra range on the Munro, I'll opt for what you suggested regarding additional battery capacity. And also, I tend to agree that a rack (and saddlebags) are pretty much essential equipment if you want to use a bike for anything other than scenery admiring jaunts. Got my eye on a lovely pair of vintage style leather bags from an eBay seller in India.