You are reading a single comment by @JWestland and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@JWestland
Here's Westie's tips for n00bs on dating / identifying (yes for newbies but...maybe of some help to some here):
Dropouts: Vertical dropouts you're talking at least late 80s
Weight: Frame weight can give a good indication of tubing type, so does the internal diameter of seatpost (27.2 standard for quality tubing, but don't knock other types perse)
Tubing Decals: Can help with dating also, check the graphics style, especially Reynolds are well documented and changed every so often to narrow it down
Straight Forks: It was acceptable in the 90s (and still is but started there)
Bottom Brackets: Fancy BBs cutouts can also hint on country/maker
Decals: Graphics styles can obv. also narrow things down. Fluoro paintjobs, bold letters...Google is your friend.
Lugs: Type/branding..Nervex, spearpoint...
Geometry: Path racers are all early frames, but not UK specific. Very tight clearance track frames are usually late 80s and onwards though not ALWAYS
Hillary Stone if you have £20 to spare is an option too if nobody here can help. Veteran Cycle club is full of knowledge for the older frames and membership is £22 a year.
And people that repaint with no care or documenting original history should perhaps be repainted themselves. Suggestions I leave to the reader.