£8 in two years -:)

With another cold snap this week and a lot of mud on the roads i am back to commuting on the old Muddy Fox Courier. Saves me hosing down the Fargo daily, then drying it down before hanging in the kitchen -:)

The old Muddy Fox i bought for a snap at £60, it is around a 1985/86 model. Flickr set of the bike
Made in Japan at the Tange factory it still has all the original drive chain of Sugino cranks and Suntour mechs and thumb shifters. The Moose bars i fitted i have had for years collecting dust.
I also fitted some old school 1.95 IRC tyres, an old Brooks saddle, pannier rack and tools/pump i had in the man cave along with a new chain and control cables, and in two years of near daily use until i got the Fargo it has only coast me £8 for a chain last month. It is the only bike i use a wet chain lube on for pure lazyness after being out in the rain.
Lights are only used for blinkies/back up, a Magicshine torch and bar mount provides rechargable lighting.
It gets washed once a month and chain oiled weekly and thats it...

I still love riding this old bike, it rides nice with the steel frameset and the thin knobblies are ideal for mud covered roads...

After rain all the mud at the road side gets dragged out. The Stonelaws road here was tarred a year ago and rolls real smooth now. But this mud at the side is dangerous for a cyclist in the dark esp when it is frozen.
Cycling to work you are very aware of the road conditions in these dark winter mornings.
I don`t think some car drivers realise how icy it often is by the speed they drive at.
Some don`t seem to understand you cannot pull into the gloop on a bicycle like in the pic below safely.
I always give a wave as drivers pass when they slow up behind before passing.
Sharing roads is not a big issue around here during commuting time when it is mostly the same drivers you see year round. Though i only see luckily a dozon in winter and less on earlier summer starts!

Sunset is 15.38 today, be the shortest day in a couple of weeks.
It is great having a `Dirty Bike` as you just hang it up in the lean to when you get home.
It is ideal for going to the shops, or pub, just remove the tools, no quick release skewers make this ideal for locking up, as does its value.

I love the Moose Bars and chunky Suntour Thumbies..

Dia Compe Canti brakes still have good power...

Hubs, headset and Bottom bracket get a yearly grease...

-:)

See bicycles do not have to cost a lot of money,  £8 for two years!... nice to ride something retro too...

Dusting of snow again on our Lammermuir Hills, maybe get some good snow riding again this winter...

Spectactular sunset again but the temperature plummits once the suns gone.
It is hard to be motovated to go out again at night after a day outside in the cold...