Life took a turn in 2014 and having to deal with all that has been difficult to say the least. On top of that my health took a bit of a nose dive which has taken time to settle down and for me to come to terms with that. After over 2 years of hospital appointments I should be able to start cycling again within the next few months, weather permitting. The lay off has not been welcome, but life is a journey and it doesn't always take you places you really want to go.
The absence of blog entries hasn't meant that I have been idle. Bicycles have had to take a bit of a back seat as I have tried to renovate somewhere to live, but my interest has still been there.
I am in the process of building shelving for the store of bicycle parts. I am however at the mercy of the weather, as I do not have a dry shed to work in. The work has had to be done outside, hence the need for dry weather. I also need to empty the storage container, to build the shelving units in. I have done some work at organising parts into clear plastic boxes, so I can at least see what's inside. Organising the parts also give a better idea of what is there and what's in need of conservation and repair.
There have been some additions to the Springhill Cycle Collection and some machines have been removed by my estranged wife. The collection has changed focus somewhat, with more attention being paid to locally made bikes and those with a local history. There is still an interest in French bikes however, with three further acquisitions, another Lyon made bicycle, one from Paris, and one from Grenoble. The Collection has been asked to photograph the Lyon made bicycle for a French website. I will post about that, once it has been done.
The collection was also fortunate to acquire a Copenhagen Pedersen locally, in County Down. The owner is originally from a stone's throw from where the collection currently resides, and the bike was bought new in Germany. It came with her when she moved back and she sold the bike following a back injury.
So time and opportunity permitting I hope to start posting again on the blog. There are a number of projects in the pipeline, which includes a new 650B Randonneuse. I have the frame already, but I have decided to change the fork. That is in hand as I type this. I have some equipment, but not all to build the bike. I intend to develop some of the ideas I had for the 650A bike that I built a number of years back. The Springhill Collection has a 650B Goeland which is a real joy to ride. I would like something comparable that I can use without the worry of wearing out old parts which would destroy the authenticity and character of an old machine. I will write about the build in due course.
