Finally bought a Ridgeback.

[GuyBoden]

About 5 years ago, I bought my wife a second hand blue Ridgeback Flight 4, with hydraulic disc brakes and internal Alfine hub gears ( the internal gears were broken, I fixed them with difficulty. ).

And, it has an eccentric bottom bracket.

I changed the handle bar stem to an adjustable type, she loves the bike and has cycled many miles.

I think it would of been the top of the Ridgeback Flight range when new, I'll post a pic tomorrow.

(Edit: My complaint; the paint is too thin, so easily scratches.)

 

[Gillstay]

About 5 years ago, I bought my wife a second hand blue Ridgeback Flight 4, with hydraulic disc brakes and internal Alfine hub gears ( the internal gears were broken, I fixed them with difficulty. ).

And, it has an eccentric bottom bracket.

I changed the handle bar stem to an adjustable type, she loves the bike and has cycled many miles.

I think it would of been the top of the Ridgeback Flight range when new, I'll post a pic tomorrow.

(Edit: My complaint; the paint is too thin, so easily scratches.)

That's good to hear and I do agree on the paint, it does seem to be excessively damaged on this one, but then I do not know the history.

 

[Gillstay]

To save others the puzzle if you fit the same grips and one wont go on properly its just lousy manufacturing and there will be a ridge of alloy inside that needs a bit of filing down as shown in the photo.

 

[Gillstay]

Just fitting a good set of pedals and found the ones on it were thread locked on. So alarm bells ringing I gave them each a whack and took them off. The threads had been damaged and this had been some ones solution. Shame they did not chuck some grease in the pedals at the same time.
Taking them off had disturbed the thread and the new pedals would not start. So I screwed them in from the wrong side.

Pulled them up tight in the hope it would align

what ever thread was causing the problem and it worked. Phew.

 

[scragend]

That's good to hear and I do agree on the paint, it does seem to be excessively damaged on this one, but then I do not know the history.

Likewise. I got mine second hand and the paint is very scruffy. I just assumed it had had a hard life, but now it looks like they do get scuffed easily.

 

[raleighnut]

Likewise. I got mine second hand and the paint is very scruffy. I just assumed it had had a hard life, but now it looks like they do get scuffed easily.

Strangely enough my 30+ year old Ridgeback hybrid has the toughest paint of any of my bikes

 

[Gillstay]

Strangely enough my 30+ year old Ridgeback hybrid has the toughest paint of any of my bikes

Perhaps they realised there were savings to be made after that.

 

[Gillstay]

All ready for a few days in Flanders.

 

[Gillstay]

Just worked out the cost.

Bike £50
Grips £10
Bars £15
Stem £5
Mudguards £16

So a good fun, fast, light touring bike for £96.00. Its a buyers market.

 

[Gillstay]

So Flanders went well, no Ridgebacks were injured during this undertaking and despite occasional rain we had a great time. Followed the WW1 front down to Ypers one day and it went along some excellent tow paths and cycle routes. Very well mannered motorists, who seem to be much more modest about their choice of cars.

 

[Gillstay]

Next day to Bruge took us through some nicely wooded area, so saw Red Squirrels which was a first for my Welsh chum.
Then later two Storks stayed very close as we cycled past.

 

[Gillstay]

Digging trenches and fighting across here must have been awful.

Now lots of wildlife, not a single hill and a large crab popped up as we finished this photo.

 

[postman]

from an ugly ducking to a swan, bike looks great.

 

[Gillstay]

from an ugly ducking to a swan, bike looks great.

Thanks. I almost put a lightweight rack on, but then realised we only needed one pannier and it was better on my chums bike

Final figure to build it up was £110 as I forgot the rear cassette cost. For riding around Flanders it was superb, but to go to High Peaks would be a different story. Did 40 miles one day which I was pleased with as covid knocked my fitness down badly last year. Comfy too.