I went on the bike ride yesterday morning. The temperature was right at 69 or 70 degrees and overcast at starting time - perfect weather for a bike ride. The old Raleigh performed well, as always. I did, however, manage to pull the wire out of the sending unit on my speedometer. Since I was riding in a group, I didn't need the speedo or the odometer to follow the route sheet - just follow the crowd for twenty miles. I stuck the wire for the speedo back down in the sending unit after unloading the bike at home and it works still. I'll get some silicon or something and glue it back in place. As long as I'm careful in the future, should be good for a 100,000.

The "Rec Center" is planning on a few more rides this summer. If they are like the one yesterday, should be fun. Nice pace, good distance, and good people.

I put the decals on old Allis the other day - kind of like putting lipstick on a pig, as they say, but the old girl will look pretty nice once I paint the gas tank and battery box. Since the original lettering had the black letters outlined in white, I considered painting a rectangular white box where the lettering was going. No way I was going to try and outline the lettering. Just paint the tank and I'll call it good.

I modified the exhaust pipe on the trials bike to get it a little farther away from the float bowl. I need to dress up the welds a little still and then repaint the pipe. I'm going to order some pipe wrap for it and that'll keep everything on the engine safe from the heat and likewise my leg.

I cut up an old inner tube and glued a piece in the tunnel of the tank where it'll be hitting on the frame backbone. One more thing off the punch list. I need to fab up some type of return spring for the rear brake yet, but it'll be done one of these days.

Plan on getting back out in the shop a little bit today and maybe start cutting up the big branches in the yard before the heat returns the week.