Hello again well the small girl is now 11 and completely in love with her own bike. I had surgery earlier this year and am keen to ride again, with the girl. I am considering getting a bit of an overhaul for Minnie the Mixte. The rear brake is still rubbish, I’d like grippier tyres, I want to replace the grips for cork or leather ones, change the pedals for metal ones, take off the basket and put a rack on the back instead, remove the plastic chain guard and put a chrome one on instead. The bike has always felt as if everything except the frame was done on a budget. It’s a Dawes Cambridge Mixte with a steel frame, but that frame makes my heart sing. I’m just trying to get my head around spending as much on upgrades as the bike originally cost (£230 seven years ago...) but there’s nothing off the shelf for the same total cost that is exactly what I want. I’m fed up with not riding, and the Vita is not an errand bike.

Anyway, hello ��