I did ask around about doing that. But it sounded as if it might turn out to be an expensive thing to do. I was led to understand that I would need some shifters, cables and rear mech. Also, the rear wheel has a 7 speed screw on block and I am not sure how to sort it all out with a more modern hub/cassette arrangement. If I had an idea of the cost I might consider it as I have found myself looking out for a new summer bike for next year and would likely spend around £1000. I suppose the cost of converting this one would still be cheaper, and I would like to ride it again if possible.
Forgot to add the little story about it.
When the bike was only a few weeks old I was on a club run and we stopped for our dinner at the regular cafe stop in Bellingham, Northumberland. It was a very popular place and sometimes there could easily be 25 to 30 bikes left outside. I came out to find no sign of the bike, thinking someone was having a joke and hidden it around the corner knowing it was new I didn't worry straight away. It soon became obvious that it wasn't a joke unfortunately and the bike was gone. Now I started worrying. There was nothing else to do but report the theft at the local police station and phone home for someone to come and collect me. No one could believe a bike had been taken, it had never ever happened before and to my knowledge I don't think it has since. I was sickened at the loss and resigned myself to the fact I would probably never see the bike again. The following day I answered the phone to the police from the station in Bellingham, they had the bike! On the day the bike was taken an officer was on his way up to Bellingham to begin his shift when he noticed a tramp on the other side of the road with what he thought at the time was a very tasty bike for a tramp to be riding. When he got to the station obviously he found out what had happened and said he had just seen the bike being ridden by a scruffy old tramp. I am not sure how far away the tramp had managed to get but the police soon tracked him down and recovered the bike. I travelled up to collect the bike wondering what condition it would be in, luckily there was nothing serious, the toe clips were all scraped so I think he must have pushed it some of the time. The saddle and bar tape were something else. The white saddle, same one as in the photos, was absolutely filthy with ingrained muck (to put it politely) and the bar tape was more black than white. The police asked if I wanted to press charges, I said no, I am just happy to have the bike back. But I think the police went ahead because the case was in the Hexham Courant newspaper and it turns out the tramp was quite a youngish bloke. I can still remember his name, it was quite a distinguished name to be honest and you wonder how someone finds themselves in such sad circumstances. A couple of weeks later we were once again at the cafe and the lady who ran it said she had something for me and from under the counter produced the water bottle that had been on the bike when it went missing. They came across it when they found the spot where the tramp had been sleeping rough under the bridge. I said thanks but I probably wouldn't be wanting to drink out of it again. People still mention it sometimes and ask if I still have the tramps bike, as it has come to be referred to.
