Claud Butler Super Dalesman

In 1985, having grown out of my Super Galaxy, I bought a Claud Butler Super Dalesman frameset with forks, to build my own bike. I transferred the components I had upgraded on the Dawes and had new wheels built. I was so pleased with the GB Randonneur bars and Brooks saddle on the Dawes that these were duplicated on the Dalesman. When it arrived I was slightly disappointed with the colour, and with the whippiness of the frame when loaded - but stripped down it was noticeably lighter and faster than the Galaxy, and the forks are remarkably springy and comfortable. The frame is hand-brazed 531 - it is now almost impossible to find an off-the-peg bike hand built in England, which is one reason I treasure it. The other is that it is still a great bike to ride. It can get me to and from work at an average of 20mph, take in a 25 mile Wednesday evening ride, roll along for a century on a Sunday, and still leave me feeling ready for more - what more could you ask of a diamond-frame bike?

Shortly after buying the Dalesman I decided to go to University. It did one summer season, then was stored away. It was too good to go to Uni with me, and anyway by then I had a car (Harold the Barrel, my Mini van). When I left Uni I moved to Reading, and the bike moved with me. It sat hardly used in the basement of my house until early 2001 when I decided I'd had enough of being a fat bastard and started cycling to work.

After a month or so it became clear that the gears were not really up to the job (I was pretty strong by then) so I went to the local bike shop for an upgrade. The mechanic solemnly told me my bike was "obsolete" and that nothing could be done. Horrified, I asked some guys in the club if this were true. Happily, they pointed me and the bike to Bob Bristow, Reading's leading touring mechanic. Bob is blind, stokes a lovely George Longstaff tandem, and builds a mean wheel.

The bike now has the rear triangle set to 135mm over locknuts (try that with an ally frame!) and is fitted with Shimano Deore LX rear mech, hyperglide 13-26 8 speed cassette, indexed bar-ends, Shimano 105 front mech - and the same old Stronglight/TA crankset (although I've just replaced one ring). It also has a Shimano Nexus hub dynamo powering Busch & Muller front & rear lights, and shiny new SKS mudguards. And I have taken the plunge and gone clipless - Looks. You can't walk in shoes with Look cleats, but they are comfortable on long rides and easy to step into and out of.

I've just ordered a brake upgrade to replace the Weinmann centre-pull cantis which have been increasingly unsatisfactory as I go faster, in worse weather, and traffic behaviour becomes worse. The new brakes are Sun Tour, which surprised me, but they come recommended by Robin Thorn at St John Street, so should be good. We will see.

Stripped, the bike weighs about 24lb, but in normal trim it's closer to 29 with the Zefal HPX pump, rack, guards and all. For summer I run Hutchinson Excel tyres, which seem quite nice and sporty, and in winter I may go back to Hutchinson Globetrotters (after 3,000 miles the back is about half worn and the front is as good as new - and not a single puncture, despite the atrocious roads). I must now sacrifice a chicken to the god Kevlar, or the p*nct*r* fairy will visit.