Gaiters on before the muck season

Twenty years old and the stanchions have never had a mark on them, which for a bike that has spent most of its life in Bristol is close to a miracle. I'd like them to see next spring the same way, so the gaiters went on tonight, before the lanes round here turn into what they turn into every October.

Front up on the paddock stand, wheel and mudguard off, calipers hung up on cable ties so nothing pulls on the hoses. Marked each leg with tape at the top yoke, slackened the pinch bolts and slid them out one at a time. Gaiters on, legs back in to the tape, pinch bolts done up to torque, wheel and mudguard back on, then pumped the brakes before I could forget.

While the front was apart I had a look at the header wrap, which had started coming undone at the lower bend. Cut back the tatty end, rewrapped the last foot or so and put two new stainless ties on it. The filter got a clean and a light re-oil while I was at it, because it was there and so was I.

Two hours, including tea. It looks more like a bobber now than it did this morning, which I'm told is the whole point.