Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas everyone!

If you're still reeling from Christmas like I am, you'll probably be feeling like you've been force fed unreasonably rich foods continuously for the past week. No complaints obvs... But I think what we all need is a little Bestimate update just to distract us all slightly from the inevitability that New Years Eve will be the alcoholic-big-mama-smack-in-the-face crescendo our bodies really don't need.

So brush away the empty foil wrappers, put down the white spirit and turn off Michael sodding Bublé for a few peaceful minutes to see what Patrick "Break the Code" McCarthy and I have been getting our fingernails grubby for.

So my flat has pretty much turned into a workshop since we began, wheels, frames and cans of Heineken all over the place. I've definitely hoovered up tiny nuts and bolts I shouldn't have, Henry wasn't best pleased.

This Viscount has been sold for a birthday present to Mr Paddy Smith, he is now the proud owner of another quality Bean and Pat refurbished vintage racer. Congratulations Paddy.

Patrick has been larking around with the Doves. This one is a hybrid Falcon which will get some new handlebars to be unleashed in the near future. Pat takes this pose quite a lot actually. Minus the bike.

Don't look so surprised Pat, I've suspected it for a while now.

This vintage Raleigh City 3-Speed is now on sale. £200 for quality British built elegance. It's not often one can say that now is it? Contact us if you wanna test ride baby....

This Blue and White Raleigh Winner SOLD! To the man in the chunky knit sweater and unreasonably volumised barnet.

And boy is he happy.

So that'll do it for this round up. Have a good evening everyone, don't use illegal cabs, be safe out there.

Beano. Xx

A Single (Bike) Mother's Lament

Ok so our fleet of Doves is taking slightly longer to spread their collective wings than we thought.

"Patrick 2: Multiply This" has swanned away to Peru for 2 weeks leaving me with all of the incubation duties.

It's not easy being a single parent. With 9 Doves to look after and a whole host of eager suitors waiting for the day we finally clip those wings, it's an awful lot of pressure for one person to take. Sometimes I just wish for it all to go away so I can have some 'me' time.

Don't get me wrong, the Doves are my life, I'd do anything for them. But when you're depended upon by so many people, the burden can seem so unbearably heavy to shoulder.

I have my friends and my family, sure. But I need more than just a shoulder to cry on, I need someone who I can really rely on, someone who'll be there when one of baby doves is crying or has shit the bed. I need someone who won't just bugger off to South America when things get tough or when life just starts getting a bit too real for them.
Beacause I've got news for you Patrick McCarthy, life isn't just one big simple equation. Sometimes 9 + 1 = commitment. Sometimes the square route of 144 is respect. And sometimes you need to look up from that calculator for a second just to be a man.

PYSCHE.

Ok so it's true the bikes aren't ready but it's not because I've been all crying and shit. It's because my cousin and I have been totally smashing a Grand Designs job on our new place.

Here is the story of our miraculous journey in pictures...

(Sorry for the poor quality photography. It seems no matter how many million of megapixels they cram into an iPhone, the photos still look like crap)

Oops.. Don't know how that got in here.

Beano. Xx

"Project Un-Caged Doves; Buy them, Unclip them, Let them Soar"

Mine and Patrick "Look Mum! No calculator!" McCarthy's trip was fruitful. Some nice Doves are in the nest. But at the moment they look like rabid, one-legged, retarded pigeons.

The lads transit van trip was fun too, and if you're wondering, it was 3-1 to me on stalls. Although mine was in the middle of a roundabout so prolly about three times as ridiculous.

But without further ado, the rad-ass steeds...

Dove 1

"Expand Your Horizons"

First up we have this total bute. It's a 10 speed Dawes Horizon with a Reynolds 500 Frame circa 1980's.

This hand built English two-wheeler is already a dream to ride. We picked it up from a nice guy with a ponytail called simply "Rob" who lives by the sea. We're gonna scrub it up, give it some new bar tape and it'll be good to go. 

"Reynolds 500 frames are super light and strong. Awesome."

Dove 2

"Afternoon Delight"

Secondly we have a saucy Ladies number. This 70's Raleigh will have your thighs quivering with anticipation, mainly because at the moment it has no seat.

We'll strip it back to make it less cumbersome, get those shiny bits gleaming again and find a nice comfy saddle for those mornings you just don't feel that broody. 

"British. Bootiful. Lavely"

Dove 3

"I've Been Puched off a Cliff"

Next up is an old Austrian beast that's been treated like your Grandma at a Fritzl family reunion. This needs serious TLC. It looks like its spent the last 20 years under a waterfall. Definitely something no scrub can just fix.

However with 2 new wheels, some new pedals, an absolute overhaul in the drive train department and a nice hot bath it'll be back fighting fit.

"I'll Be Back"

Dove 4

"I Von't a Viscount"

The fourth Dove we've taken under our wing is another Royal mess. The Viscount brand was a British Midlands based firm with a successful racing team in the 70's. They were hand built from quality components and once restored, this one will be fit for a King again.

It's a monster of a frame, you'll need a ladder to get on it if you're under 6ft and it needs a lot of tweaking and cleaning.

"Vis-Count Me In!"

Dove 5

"I'm a Cobra, not a Bloody Dove"

"Oooh! This velocipede is rather nice!" The "Free Spirit Cobra 10GT" was absolutely made to be in a blog titled "Project Un-Caged Doves; Buy them, Unclip them, Let them Soar". That's why it'll be a pleasure and a privilege to renovate it.

I'm told that they were sold in America by Sears as good quality, mass produced bikes. This 10 speed will get new shoes, bar tape and a jolly good wash.

"Did You Like My Use of the Word Velocipede Before?"

Dove 6

"Ou est La Bibliotheque?"

Landing in at number 6 is Un Velo Tres Special. This sexy Peugeot Carbolite racer is another example (the first being Marion Cotillard) of the French making something very sexy indeed. It's very light, very sleek, very fast and super chic.

"Oui, c'est formidable"

Dove 7

"It's Ladies' Night, and the Gearing's Right"

 What can I say about this Raleigh 5 Speed Ladies White Racer that hasn't been said already? Nothing.


Dove 8

"Androgynous"

This is obviously a well nice bike mate. It's a unisex Vintage Raleigh Town Bike with lovely old handlebars and (nearly) white wall tires. In an urban environment such as London, this fine piece of ass is sure to turn heads. 

We don't even need to do any work on it. I guess we could convert it to a single speed or something, but it's got a 3 Speed Sturmey Archer Hub. So what's the fucking point?

"Shake Your Rump ah"

  
Dove 9 - Le pièce de résistance 

"Wheely Nice"

I know what you're thinking. "That bike's only got one wheel Bro!" And you're right, it does only have one wheel. Our photographer didn't put it back on to take the photo. But that's not her fault, she was working for free and has been off work ill for nearly a week so give the poor cow a break.

All jokes aside though, we've stumbled across a total diamond in the muff here. I challenge you to find any information online or otherwise about the manufacturer of this bike. All I know is his name was Frank Shaw and he hand built bikes in Camberley. Honestly, if anyone reading this knows or finds anything AT ALL about the bike or the company or even if you know a guy called Frank Shaw, I'll buy you a beer, because I've got nothing man.

Just by the way, we know it's such a great quality bike for a few reasons: it's as light as a fart; it has vintage Italian Cinelli and Campagnolo components; and the big Yorkshireman who sold it to us said so.
This one will get a respray and a single speed conversion, the new lease of life it deserves. It won't be one legged for long.

So go on, soak up some lovely hi-res pictures. Spin that mouse wheel like it's a tumblr baby.

Beano and Paddy. Xx