In my previous post I mention I had a Claud Butler, as I said my Dad financed it, he also contacted Claud Butler for info on the frames they built, they told him get your kid (ME) send us the specs we will build it for him!!! the price was right, it was a fine frame and I rode it with SOME success, many, many events, including several hill climbs, I often did have problems with leaves on the way up, BUT I dont remember ever usuing shoe strings to help with traction, but then at 5'3" and 110lbs maybe I didnt need that, OR maybe I would have gone faster if I had!!! (I did win a few) MICK the north south thing, I DID feel, maybe MY hangup, a divide line between Brum and London, but then also the north and I mean Manchester etc, but I do know some real fast riders came from the north AND south. competition was good for all of us. By the way one post was talking about the % of club members that raced, Midland C&AC my club, STILL IS for 60 yrs now!!! I would say at least 90% raced in one form of another, from Jrs like me to Vets, every event you can think off, including running with the bike on the back through farmer Jones farm in the snow and rain and cold,Happy days??? YES worth every inch riden OR run OR walked, I have to laff now when I get the MC&AC newsletter, they NOW have write ups on WALKS!!! signs of the ages of some of the members now, BUT IT BEATS WATCHING THE TELLY, Cheers OldnotreadyforwalksyetBrit. Parker, Co.USA