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

Would love to have second dibs on the set of Airlites @jeff80 - depending on price. I thought I would get a set of Airlites for a Bates build, but it turned out to be a Bayliss L/F rear and Racelite front... Not too bad, but not what I was hoping for.

I think @jeff80 is only selling one of the red airlites.

My misunderstanding - cheers @Skülly - still a nice rear hub though :)

Yup just selling the rear airlite I'm afraid. I can't remember the price but I reckon I only want about £50 as I don't think I paid too much...

I saw the chaps from VCC were riding London-Cambridge on April 23rd - looked like a nice ride, so I decided to grab a frame and forks from the garage and build it up to ride down South from Cambridge and join them at Hoddesdon. Also a good incentive to build up the 1946 Dawes that had been in the shed for more than a year. The build was a bit hasty, 3speed AW hub was geared a bit too high at some sections, but we made it and the old Dawes did well!

6am start, done 85miles, only tin can in the ride - bum is still aching from not being used to the Brooks B15 Champion Narrow! Very nice ride though and met some new people :)

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First ride yesterday on my crusty rusty mystery machine - history known: acquired by Ted Smith (born 1910) as a young lad to ride with the Speedwell Cycle Club.

Nicely made frame, now running fixed on 27inch wheels, Philco centerpull front

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That's lovely that

Yeah, love it! It's got a really old feel about it.

Cheers @BobbyBriggs @Jonny69 - quite happy myself with how it turned out as well ;) bit annoying I don't know who made it, but was still fun to build up...
Next project(s) waiting though :)

supercheap old 1930's Dawes clubman anyone, Accles and Pollock/Reynolds tubing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1937-Dawes-Club-Frame-Forks-BB-only-Reynolds-HM-A-P-tubing-Russ-fork-21-/132204162010?hash=item1ec7fb6bda:g:VTEAAOSwZKBZJsj6

(not mine)

Anyone know how about the return of Chater Lea?
Was a bit surprised when they liked a picture of mine on Instagram. Website suggests that they're opening in late 2017. Website is sketchy on details.

http://chaterlea.com

A beauty ,
two questions ...
What finish did you use on the frame and what is that front brake ? can you show a pic of its set up ?

I was just about to ask the same thing

Thanks @Ado1965 - I tried to remove as much rust as possible from the frame, simply with wire wool - and then used an oily rag. Not the most durable solution, linseed oil might have been better. But then again, you can just wipe it over with an oily rag like once a month and it will preserve it...

The front brake is a center pull Philco - like Resilions they clamp on the fork legs, and as I modified it to 27" wheels it was very useful to be able to slide them up high on the legs.
Brake performance is terrible, but it looked OK and period :)

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.

I feel like I am spamming this thread, ha ha.
Another of one of my bicycles I recently "finished".
1937 Raleigh Speed Sports Model 33, 3-speed, original finish, Lauterwasser style bars, 21" frame - sadly I felt it was too small for me at 21" - glad it found a good old chap (V-CC member) as new owner who can appreciate a pre-war Raleigh clubman machine :)

The 'Speedwell' bicycle above found a new owner as well, a keen touring cyclist from Cambridge who needed a 1930s machine for one of Carlton Reid's Kickstarter rides (the lost cycleways from the 1930s).

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N=N-2+2 ;)
2 lugless machines entered the premises yesterday
Late 40s early 50s CB and a Royal Enfield unitized Lightweight Tourer 1951ish

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I know nothing about that. I hope it's not the same kind of thing as the 'new' Freddie Grubb (i.e. reusing a well respected classic lightweights-era name to flog far eastern mass produced hipster-targetted averageness)

^

Agreed, a guy I have bought a few bikes off owns the constrictor name and is starting to remake constrictor lockrings. They're really well done.

I'd prefer to actually see Chater Lea reinvented to making high end / quality modern road components ie start with some quality machined chainrings rather than try to recreate designs that are obsolete.

Don't suppose you want to sell those lovely Bluemels lightweights with spearpoint do you? From the Claude Butler?

Not at the moment @jeff80 - if I ever would sell them, I will keep you in mind.
They are not bluemels by the way - I think they are Bailey's

Whatever they are they're really lovely- As is the whole bike. Please never ever touch that original finish....

Thanks @jeff80
That was exactly the reason for the purchase - the original finish
Careful cleaning and trying to preserve :) bit smallish for me, but a long top tube - I will just see how we will get along.

Any Sun fans here? I have a couple of old frames and assorted old bits that might be of interest here, before they are swallowed up in the Classifieds vortex, or go unseen and unloved on ebay. Let me know..