Guy, thanks for the helpful info regarding the gears, I've certainly learned something I wasn't aware of. Funny thing is, I don't even regard a 1980's bike as "old" and I'm surprised there would be any spares availability issues with things like the rear cluster. I assumed pretty much all 6 speed clusters are the same and therefore readily available as replacements.
Biggs682, although I've not done much mileage on my Gemini, I can understand why the old boy liked his one so much. It seems to be a nice comfortable, docile ride and doesn't try to suddenly change course or throw you off every time you go over a bit of rough surface. I've had a ride on borrowed bikes in the past with pretty racy geometry that I just found way too twitchy and unpredictable, because you had to really concentrate on anticipating what the bike would do over every bump and change in road surface in order not to get caught out. That to me is just hard work and not my idea of fun cycling!.
Raleighnut, I became aware of the wide range of specs on the Pioneer range when I got mine and discovered that by pure chance, I had acquired a really nice Trail model with a 501 frame. Even allowing for the longer production run, the Gemini seems a much, much rarer bike, as there are loads of Pioneers about but there aren't loads of Geminis. I suspect the frame geometry is also very slightly different from the Pioneer, as to me, the two bikes do ride a bit differently although outwardly being very similar. Both nice rides but I'd say the Gemini is perhaps a bit more relaxed. It certainly feels a little lighter due to being 531.
