Orange Bike Photo No.3 - Barmby Barrage, Yorkshire

The bike still needs a propstand. Clearly. But pretty much everything else is finished now, so I went out for a little evening time ride around the village. I saw a sheep with an Orange mark on its rear end, so I put the bike on the floor for an Orange Photograph.

In other Orange news, the 3 days until departure forecast only earier today, in the space of an afternoon, has almost certainly been put back another 2, putting it at 5. But now that today is nearly over, its actually about 4 days until I leave.

Zizzie and the Air freshener

I finally got round to mounting my mascot and figurehead, Zizzie, up on the front of my bike. She will, from now on, proudly be leading every journey i make upon (HMS) William Of. I also hung an Orange air freshener up there on the dashboard to keep things smelling good.

In other Orange news, i have recieved more Orange drybags from Alpkit to use as liners/stuffsacks. The Orange duct tape i managed to find on ebay has been coming in very useful. My brother kindly bought me an Orange Uniqlo quick dry T-shirt. The Orange bike ride proper should start in 3 days time, though there is a good chance of delay.

Orange Bike Photo No.2 - Manchester

Another Orange shot from Manchester. This one's from the Giraffe Cafe in Spinningfields.

Orange Bike Photo No.1 - Manchester

The first proper Orange Bike Ride photograph. From my favourite Orange location in Manchester - B&Q in Trafford.

First Photo of my Orange Bike

It's currently little more than a frame and some wheels. But it is Orange. I am going to spray a few more of the bits Orange. Particularly the Red stem which is slightly offensive. It should hopefully be finished within a week or so, already being far later than ideal. But, Orange takes time.

If England don't win the World Cup...

... I want the Netherlands to win. Not only because they play in Orange (so do Cote d'Ivoir), but because there's a good chance I'll be cycling through the country, on my Orange bike, at the time of the final.
I think i might be taken for a Dutch Nationalist.
I think that could be fun.

They're off to a 2 - 0 win anyway, so it could happen. Even them just making it through to the Quarter or Semi Finals might see me in the country.

Introducing Mascot Orange

I've been wanting a little mascot for my ride for a while now, and had decided that i wanted to attach it right at the front of my bike like a ship's figurehead. I've considered things like a jaguar car mascot or maybe making something myself. But, at the car boot last weekend, i saw something sat on the floor in the middle of the 'aisle' that grabbed my attention. It was a toy figurehead off a disney ship. The closest stall holders said it must have fallen off a ship a man bought earlier, but that they'd sell me it for 20p. I bought it.
I've given it a couple of coats of Orange paint, but it needs a few more. I just thought I'd share it now, because the next time you see her she will be up the front of William Of.
She is my mascot and guardian angel, and she is called Zizzie (it says so on her back).
I am considering changing the name of my bike from William Of to HMS William Of.

Orange Outfit

I've been looking into Orange fashion a little bit lately, to realise that there isn't really such a thing.
But, I was up in my room when i found an old (womens) Orange jumpsuit hidden underneath a dressing gown on the back of my door. I bought it a few years back when I was in college in a sample sale at an adidas shop. I struggle to recall why. So anyway, i put it on:

But it was far too small.
I figured I could probably pull it off with a B-Boy twist by tying the upper half round my waist, wearing one leg rolled up some and rocking some puma suedes. Of course styling it right out by busting a B-Boy pose:


I still wasn't feeling it.
But then I looked in my wardrobe and came across a sleeveless puffa jacket I'd made in college (or rather my mum made according to my design), and it was half Orange, and i knew it would finish the look off:



There is a practicality issue with this outfit for an extended bike tour, however, so I'll probably end up not using it. I might actually make some trousers from the boiler suit though. I'll keep you updated.