Fat Dad Bike

Continuing my bikes series, here's a bike with a bit of history. The frame and fork - bought separately in the same week on ebay - are both 1990s parts from Cannondale, I think the SM600 model as you can see in that year's calatog. I always wanted one of these when they first arrived in Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative but I could never afford one. So! When I saw the frame for £30 (same price as yesterday's steed) and the fork for £notmuch, I snapped them up... and they sat in a box in the garage for 4 years. Hmm.

Then last year I fixed it up. The most interesting thing was cutting new threads on the fork steerer with a bodged tool. Hard bloody work.

Then I decided I needed a Girvin Flexstem. So another lengthy ebay search ensued. I eventually got a knackered complete unit and an unused stem and elastomers. So, I put the best bits together and now it looks like new.

Finishing touches: Wheels I built from period Hope hubs (24 spoke) and hard-to-find Mavic rims, Brooks B17 Narrow saddle and the Fat Lad logos I had made. The paint job (Hammerite spraycan black, cream brushed-on paint, red vinyl piping) was done mostly in the back garden. And the period cantilever brakes I happened to have in a box of bits - another old ebay whim purchase.

And then it was pressed into service. And the rack was added. And the Katie seat was attached with old inner tubes and jubilee clips. And the tag-a-long was added for Gordon.Then most recently the BikeBin for leaving it at the station in the rain.

This one is mostly used from home to Dunbar station, but also recently from home to Arran with the children and the tents in tow. That was blipped back in April.

Another well-loved bike I know every inch of.