Downtube Shifters rock

rolf_f

bigjim wrote:

I thought I was going pretty light. I'm one of those riders that does spend a lot of time out of the saddle. Even loaded. Don't know why as it's not that efficient but I'm not a natural spinner.
I have to force myself to stay seated. I like dancing on the pedals but you can't do that for long on some hills so it's easy enough to time the gearchanges. I don't see STI's as particularly more efficient. They both have there good and bad points IMO.
The grey paint on the headstock on my Royal is marked and it bugs me all the time. I can't figure out how to touch it up or spray it. I bought the frame and forks for £50 posted and built it up from there. Beautiful bike to ride. Not too heavy for a tourer. 531ST throughout. 12kg.

The reference to heavily laden wasn't directed specifically at your setup - it was a two step thing; touring bike to well loaded touring bike! The other week I rode my Randonneur from Stevenage to Haywards Heath and it was so heavy I could barely lift the back. The North Downs are quite hilly and I longed to get out of the saddle for a bit but with the weight on the back it tended to wobble a bit much for comfort (or efficiency!).

As for the touch up - tbh, for that I'd be tempted (and will do so myself for remaining issues on my Randonneur) to go to an airbrush specialist. I'd guess that they wouldn't charge too much to blow in a single colour of an already masked and prepped surface. Just do a good job of the Raleigh emblem (probably with masking fluid rather than tape) and I think it would work out fine.

Excellent price for the frame.