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Hi Jim,

Here are some shots of my latest project, "The Plummer." It is a 67cm, 198? Bridgestone/Kabuki Skyway 12. I named it after the police officer on the kids show "Balamory" because his bicycle, a classic English 3-speed, was the inspiration for the project.

I also included a shot of my dog, Jack, a.k.a. "The Hound of Castle Forbenstien." Sadly, he was not at his most photogenic.

The bike is going to be my new grocery-getter/child-trailer-hauler. There is no better feeling in the world than whooshing by a lycra-clad dude on a plastic bike while I'm riding "The Plummer."

Spec's on the bike:
- Glorious old Bridgestone/Kabuki high-tensile frame. It has buldge formed lugs, stamped drops, and many other hints of inexpensive manufacturing. Yet it has a 61.5cm top tube, suggesting that someone actually worked hard at creating an appropriate geometry for a bike this size.
- Brooks B-73 saddle
- Upside down moustache bars (the poor man's "Albatros")
- Suntour bar-cons
- Rubber block pedals
- Wald steel baskets, collapsible
- "European Market Basket" by Cynthia's Twigs, www.cynthiastwigs.com
- 27" Arraya rims and old Shimano hubs.

Plans for future upgrades: - Fenders! Yes, the bike screams out for fenders. But the loooong stays and far-forward position of the kickstand plate/chainstay bridge are making it hard to fit them. I'll keep working on it, but since we won't see rain in So Cal for roughly six months, it's not at the top of my priority list. - Internally-geared hub, probably a Nexus 7 or 8 speed.

Many thanks to Rich Pinder, Curt Crow, Karl Worley and many others for helping me find parts and for providing moral support.

Yours,

Forbes Bagatelle-Black
Santa Clarita, CA

fbagatelleblack@earthlink.net