We went testing again in an industrial estate in Bredbury on Ruth's birthday and reached 9.3 mph over a 50 metre stretch until a jumping chain stopped testing. The "jump" caused the crank and rear wheel to be twisted in their bearings so giving so much friction it was impossible to ride. In addition to the jumping chain, we also had a retaining ring come off the pedal pivot so that needs replacing with something more effective on the Ebony pivot. So some more parts and a chain adjustment before another go. Watch this space

We again went to Woodbank Park in Stockport on a showery Thursday (avoided the showers), but just used the Tarmac roads in the park rather than the running track. The bike was very stiff to pedal and steer and we realised that sitting in the dry "wet" room at Jon's house had dried out all the bearings. However we persevered and did a few slowish runs while Nick got used to the bike, and then a bit faster and saw 7 mph on the temporary indicator we had fitted. Confidence building, we set off for another faster run, but then we found the limitation of common plywood. The crank broke at one of the pedals and we found that the plywood had given up and delaminated then breaking across the smallest section. We were relieved it was the plywood glue that had given up and not our assembly. So we are in the process of making two oak cranks to replace the ply.

Have tried the bike on Woodbank Park athletics track thanks to help from Stockport Wheelers and managed to break the crank and chain first time, and pedal and chain second time. We then found out why! The track is rubberised and it is like pedalling through sand. When Nick tried the bike on the Tarmac road leading to the track with one pedal and one chain it was easy and accelerated. So some repairs and a look at the venue.

The "tyres" have now been added as we found that wood on wet tarmac was not the greatest combination for grip. The "tyres" are an adhesive, so still only wood and glue for the bike. Venue being sought with view to attempt early in the New Year.