Pre 1950s rides of LFGSS: old bikes, vintage rats, classic lightweights

@Skülly any advise on cleaning those hoods much appreciated. I have some Mafac tops, turned brown...
That curved JT is very sexy - maybe a bit smallish? Love to see some more details from the fork crown.
Will post some updates of my ventures soon, have to refurbish and resize pics first :(
A quick one from my Dutch Union build - sold it to a young chap a few weeks ago.
Scruffy 53 JA Holland, 51 Maclean, 37 Sun Manx TT, 46 Dawes in the planning :)

Tia, Rogier

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There is still some more work to do. I am not happy with the bars but what to go for. Shallower drop bars, randenour bars, moustashe/lauterwasser style bars.

Then there are the brakes. They are rubbish. The brakes are gb sprite and the levers gb arret. I pull the levers and nothing happens as i have to pull the levers back to bars to get some braking but my legs are still a better brake and i am rubbish at fixed grear braking. It feels like i am using v brake lever with canti brakes or is it the other way around. The pads are cork. Not sure of the best solution. I have a bid on ebay for some Hiduminium Brake Calipers as i hope the cable pull will be a bit different and allow some braking. Maybe ditch the brakes altogether. Any bright ideas.

The chainset is not correct either. Got a williams chainset which needs rechroming but finding a bb that works is something that has eluded me mainly because i have no idea what axle length i need.

Bright ideas welcome.

Oh i need guards as well a saddlebag (a brooks carrier is now fitted).

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@cycleclinic do you still ride the coaster brake Dawes I sold you long time ago?

Such a beautiful frame and love the wheels - the RRA that is. Agree on the first style GB Hiduminium brakes and get a Superhood lever as well. Front brake alone would be sufficient if you are riding fixed gear.

I know you are a pro, but looking at the brake mounting: is there only a rounded washer (don't know the proper term) on one side of the brakes. If you tighten the bolts for example on the rear brake bridge, you risk squashing the bridge... Same for the front.

As for bars, what's wrong with these? Too deep? Those are Reynolds bars, aren't they...
Not period correct, but you might consider the Nitto Classic drops (picture attached) - shallow drop and timeless look. Vintage option would be Dawes Concorde bars, Strata South of France bend or even a GB Maes bend.

mainly because i have no idea what axle length i need.

have a look at this guide
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bblengths.html

how far is the stem in the head tube?
and the seat post in the seat tube?

the brakes did not have all the mounting hardware I needed. Given the bike is not being a ridden at present as I can't stop it in an emergency it is all academic. the curved washers I have dont fit properly so I will have to find a solution, may have to make something

Yes I still use the Dawes, it i the family town bike for popping into town and the like.

the bars are renoylds but I am actually bidding on these at the moment http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272465345917?_trksid=p2055359.m1431.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
the bars pic you posted would be perfect. Been looking at a few different Nitto bars as well. Can't make up my mind what I would like. I probably have to buy a collection of bars and then try them all out. It will keep me amused at least.

the stem and the seatpost are far enough into the tubes to not cause a problem. However a longer seatpost would be desirable but not actually essential. Just finding the parts I have so far has been a patience game. I'm in no rush eventually it will come together.

Fair enough and nice you still have the Dawes :)
Those Maes Kint bars are really nice, but you have to be careful as they normally would have a 27mm sleeve. The listing mentions 25.4 clamp, but might be worth to double check...
They are normally used in combination with Titan stems... The 62 afaik means they were made in 1962

About the axle length. I had trouble finding this with my RRA as well. Endied up getting a Bayliss wiley raleigh specific one if the end. (Cottered.) Seems to work pretty well with a sturmey archer hub but not sure whether that would translate well with fixed. The Chain line is good, although not quite perfect if I remember right. I'll have a little look see if I can find out for sure but I think it was one of these:

[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-NOS-BAYLISS-WILEY-MOD-14-Bicycle-Bottom-Bracket-axle-for-RALEIGH-BSA-/182302776722?hash=item2a72179d92:g:pTAAAOxyzxJR7ZjQ#viTabs_0]

Pretty sure thats the chap I bought it from (he seems to have a never ending stock of NOS Bayliss Wiley axles for some reason.)

The RRA had its own specifc bottom bracket axle-you could try searching around or V-CC or something to see if anyone knows the length of this I suppose as well.

The Raleigh Record Ace had a hollow nickel steel axle (A-16-N)

A16 BB axles can still be had, but it looks like they come as GC and NGC versions (Gear Case / Non Gear Case). There is this one for example on SJS https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/bottom-brackets/cottered-bottom-bracket-axle-a16/

Thanks all. there is a user on here though with a chatterlea 1" pitch chain, chainset, correct Bayliss BB for the crank and 1" pitch sprocket although I will need to check what chainline he has with that BB. I might buy those. Not sure the year though they look older than the frame.

Thanks for the BB info. It is this chainline quandry that made me think a TA chainset with a shimano UN55 BB would be a good idea. then at least I could get the right chainline without faff. However vintage faff is fun. Better than modern fustrating faff. That is is real faff.

If the bars are the wrong clamp then I will send them back. Or I will buy a titan stem. Oh the choice.

I might have a few surplus parts for another bike by the time I am done with this one. This how each new project starts.

Just re-discovered it. Mines a Bayliss Wiley 2c axle. But as I said, chain line not perfect so may not work with fixed gear I guess.
The A-16 axle above may really be better-even if its not such good quality as a Bayliss. I guess you could just replace it if it wears out as they seem cheap.

and people think the number of BB standards today is complicated. Cotter pin BB axles are even more of a minefield.

1953? JA Holland I picked up a few weeks ago.
Not sure yet how I will build it up - keep the Shimano 600EX driveline with 5 or 6 speed or go for period correct? Running tubulars on LF Racelite front hub and LF (round holes) Maillard fixed/free on the rear. Tbh, I have some other fixed gear machines in the planning, so tempted to keep it a geared machine.

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tyre scrappers as well.

Lovely^!

Here's my somewhat mission of a 'restore'... I use the term loosely ...

Frame: Unknown date Jack Taylor curved seat tube frame, w track ends. 'Present' from @NhattAttack who knew I wanted to see it repaired when she had it, so made it a parting gift when she left these shores for Americaland. Frame has seen a lot of action (probably been couriered-on at some point), mucked about with, bent about, possible ends or chainstay replaced at some point. When it came to me there was an inch-large horizintal crack across DS of seat tube, starting into the mitred join with the down tube. Repaired with huge sleeves brazed on to a good 3 inches above the crack. Painted in flam by Mario Vaz.

Fork unknown, nice track blades, drilled for brake, look built for 27" x 1& 1/4.

Decided to mix parts but retain a nice vintage feel.

Airlites on MA40 700c 40h/32h with 32c Paselas to fill those clearances meant for 27"s. Parts (hubs) from a forumer I can't remember, @broken_777, Vaidas and Talbot wheelworks/Blue Door cycles.

80s TA 'cyclotourist' 165s from Brixton Cycles, chainring from @m.f.

50s (?) Alloy domed Seat pin, 50s steel bars & 50s lugged GB 531 stem from @ElGato

70s(?) Brooks professional saddle from Graham who some will know from jumbles...

NOS Mafac racer front & lever from another forum member I can't remember, with cork blocks mod to keep anodise nice

Campagnolo Pista pedals Binda straps from @>>>>>>. Have some wider Milremos (found in Deptford Market!) I want to replace them with, just looking for some toeclip bolts for some nice french fluted chrome clips I found knocking around in my cupboard.

Building this has been really nice, if slow. Looking forward to riding it. Feels great very tucked as it's long and low, hence old-fashioned saddle clamp position.

Looing for a broken Mafac lever body to make a dummy hood, or a nice 'nobby' thing.... if anyone can help please shout!

@velo6 Dunno if I replied, sorry, about cleaning hoods. I used warm soapy followed by cider vinegar. Dunno if I destroyed it yet, time will tell, but ended up using a NOS one on this^. The one I cleaned may end up on a dummy hood/body of lever if I can find one that looks era-appropriate.

I probably have an old mafac lever at the shop for you. I can bring it along in the spring.

Bless you! Nice frame, thanks so much.

That stem, bar, lever combo <3 <3 <3

Cheers @Skülly for the tip on cleaning those hoods - much appreciated!
The JT looks brilliant in that flam colour - I've heard different stories about Mario, would you recommend him? Looking to have my 51 Macleans resprayed (first ever respray) - I usually keep them looking beaten up, but I would love to build a really nice one for a change and all the original finish is gone anyway...
Rough estimate on costs for a one-colour flam finish?

Cheers

BTW - I quickly made a 'honker' two weeks ago for this 64 Carlton Catalina - simply removed the lever from the Weinmann body - and hey presto :) and I will opt for a front brake asap

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honker

What a word.

Might hold out for a matching flat bodied shape to the mafac, though I do have a weinmann I could deconstruct it's not quite the right shaped body.

Oh god I can't remember the price at Mario Vaz, something like £90 I think.

I've heard good things about the newish paint shop Cole Coatings that used to be next to Sea Bass Cycles, recently relocated somewhere in SE.

Honker is probably not right - ha ha - was something similar though. Native Dutch ;) might explain a bit...

Price seems very fair for Vaz! Might give him a try soon.

Getting this after Christmas: rusty, crusty, Rudgy

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