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

Umm, that might not be quite so simple. Am in S. Oxon... but thank you! Am planning to be in The London on Tuesday but likely won’t have time to get down there. Bah.

Thanks, I think you're probably correct, I recall seeing white nylon pulleys in similar locations.
I asked the question partly because at 1.7kg for the frame, I thought it a bit light and racy for a hub gear!
Also when you look at other Stallard Zakopanes online, you only see those equipped with front & rear derailleurs - I think there's a tendency to build classic lightweights to the best spec. the period will allow - presumably so you can get it uphill!!

Well, when your frame was made there must have been quite a few old codgers around who thought 'chain gears' were foreign muck. Perhaps it was built for one of them!

I like this as an explanation.

Paris Galibier - A little optimistic but great nonetheless https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F173905095847

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My 1950 Stallard Zakopane has a double cable stop. What gears would have utilised this?

Very nice Pennine frameset . Probably overpriced in the current market but full of character.

My La Variable is sporting a Cyclo Ace (similar to some Simplex, like the Selection Standard) has two cables (to push/pull the rear dérailleur), maybe those ones? (right-click, show Image to see if bigger)

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Looking closer at that Paris Galibier, it has incorrect brakes, what looks like a tandem chainset and appears to have been resprayed. That price is extremely optimistic.

Can someone explain the thinking behind that PG frame? Genuinely interested.

Interesting article http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Paris_Gablier_main.htm

The seller is slowly listing some other bikes as well which are of a similar price bracket.

Ta

Strangely, the seller admits that their knowledge of bikes is limited. I wonder if they are selling someone else's collection? They are unlikely to sell at those prices, especially if they are not in original condition and with original parts.

Also, this is totally wrong.

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60s not 50s but this is on ebay with not long left-pick up only St Leonards though

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/113744931179?_trksid=p2545226.m570.l5999&_trkparms=gh1g%3DI113744931179.N36.S2.R4.TR11

Ad a nice mid 50's Carlton, all original by the looks of it https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C-1955-CARLTON-SUPER-COUREUR-60CM-REYNOLDS-531-STEEL-VINTAGE-ROAD-BICYCLE/293092214318?hash=item443da8462e:g:nOAAAOSwgaNc3djw:

Nicely priced too! tempting!

Luckily too big :)

Rather nice Cyclone https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F273847411358
Frame number ages it to 51' but no braze ons and the seat stays are "scalloped ".
@anidel You know Holdsworths, What are your thoughts?

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Very nice frame. Tad on the expensive side.
Dating is correct. And yes it's a Cyclone, as far as I can tell!

Stallard Zakopane brazing:

Another guess: This cable guide could be intended for use with a double right hand lever. There was once a theory that pressure on the chain caused by a powerful chain tensioning spring caused an unacceptable amount of 'friction' in the transmission. The answer was to provide manual chain tension with the extra lever so that when descending at speed on the small sprockets more tension could be applied to stop then chain coming off - when climbing on the bigger spockets the pressure would be realeased by slackening the tension cable. This arrangement was in addition to the conventional spring. I believe both Huret and Simplex tried this but, as you will have guessed, it wasn't very successful.

I think the second RH lever was sometimes used for a cable controlled front changer, but I have a feeling this was only because the original purpose was a failure - surely it's easier to control the front changer from a LH lever.

I guess Anidel is referring to the odd angle of the Paris's gear cable, but maybe he has spotted that the poor little Simplex TdF gear mech is never going to get the chain up onto that huge bottom sprocket.

This Paris is a hopeless mess of badly combined components, and the respray is already showing signs of damage in Anidel's photo.

Harry Rensch was a highly skilled craftsman but , and I daresay you have noticed this, the Galibier design did not catch on. I think its main purpose was to publicise the Paris name, and it was certainly successful in this respect.

I was simply referring to the missing cable stop, but yeah what you say also rings true

I have noticed the chainstay stops are unusually placed as well:

The extra stop could be for the front tension arm of an Osgear.
Here's a 1949 Paris with an Osgear with tensioner cable:
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bikes/paris-eric-rb.html

My frame has Agrati drop outs instead of Osgear drop outs. I think they are original going by the paint, but I am wondering if they have been replaced as there is no serial number on the frame, only on the steerer tube.

It’s true. My grandpa time trialed in the 1920s and early 30s and for the rest of his life thought derailleur gears were the work of the devil. Sturmey all the way! Their close ratio hubs were still being used by time trialists into the 50s and 60s in the uk.