Raven Sport progress report

[Crudson]

After 5 months daily commutering use/abuse it's time to give this little beauty a well-earned rest for
a couple of weeks with a oil-change thrown in for a treat.
It's done +3200 miles, had 7 punctures [none in the 1st 2000 miles then; hedge trimming season
hit and it's been 1 a week on average..] and every pedal stroke has been an utter pleasure
as it's made my 34 mile commute a bit of a doddle.



I've had to adjust the chain about every 3/4 weeks, which it seems is higher than average.
[I do ride 48x16 gears, maybe that's why] so the bracket has nearly gone round to the point of needing a link whipped out.
As the more eagle eyed amongst you might have noticed, the back SKS mudguard only made it through it's last week held
together with good old red posty bands - I need a replacement bracket but initial research at SJS cycles etc hasn't yielded
a source. Any ideas folks? [looks like its a old copper pipe bracket i spotted in the shed today then!].
........and yes, I do wash it regularly.

[PH]

It's good to see a well used bike, I bought my Raven specifically for a 28 mile a day mucky commute, it's the sort of use where the advantages soon become obvious.
34 miles without luggage capacity?  How do you manage it?
Are they carbide rims?  If not you might consider them when those where out.  I found dirty commuting ate any other rim in around 5/6000 miles.
Chicken Cycles are the importers for SKS parts, their website doesn’t list the spare you need;
http://www.chickencycles.co.uk/search.php
Might be worth an advert in the wanted section, they do break occasionally though not usually there.

[Cake]

Nice bicycle Crudson!  It makes me wish i had a commute to do......

I use marathon plus tyres and they have survived two hedge cutting seasons without a visitation from the P*****re fairy.

As PH says, its good to see a well used bike..... Enjoy!

[Crudson]

34 miles without luggage capacity?  How do you manage it?

I work at a scruffy-arse engineers....so a backpack is all i need luckily [most of that
is taken up with spare inner tubes!...]

I use marathon plus tyres and they have survived two hedge cutting seasons

Jeesh, that's a blessed streak you're on!!....I think the company should change their name
as the irony has started to wear thin....!!
Thanks for the comments and link.

[Paulson]

Get yourself a Carradice Junior saddlebag in olive green to match that frame dude, that's what the 2 loops under the seat are for!!!!

[Crudson]

Welcome Paulson. What took you so long?
it wouldn't be right to cycle without the trusty backpack now [think it might be
a OCD security thing] - plus it keeps the old back warm.

P******e update - After a run of 3 in 3 days I
reluctantly gave in and swapped the rear wafer thin Panaracer Tours
for a beefy Panaracer Crosstown. So far so good!

[Paulson]

Welcome Paulson. What took you so long?

Err, I haven't got a Thorn yet - I felt like a fake!!

Put a large cat inside the backpack for guaranteed winter warmth!

[vik]

I love a dirty Rohloff!...

I used one of your photos on a blog post with a link back to this thread...I hope that's cool....if not let me know and I'll pull the photo.

http://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/rohloff-vs-mud/

Keep rolling on your Rohloff...many happy muddy miles!