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

Thanks @Jonny69
That's an epic 2 hour train journey then tomorrow morning for me.

Always prepared 😂

Bought an early B17 Standard and wondering its age.

It has AMS stamped on the underside of the saddle and also has a extra piece of leather separate from the main saddle leather which to me is unusual.

Does anyone know whether this is a particularly old saddle because of these features?

2 Attachments

Looking good

Cheers

My train arrives 9.40am in Staines. Then a short ride to Caffè Nero

We are going into the Chilterns - it's not the Alps, but there are hills. Couldn't you manage some sort of back brake ? I don't advocate fixed if you don't feel confident, and in any case the sprocket I can see on that wheel is too small for tomorrow.

Gearing: just looking at your pics I'd say your chainring is probably a 48 and the block 16,18,20, wheels 26". If I'm right that gives you possible gears of 78",69.3 and 62.4". If you're super strong the 78 (where you are atm) will cause the rest of us a good deal of pain trying to keep up with you, but if you're an ordinary mortal it will be you who suffers. I hope you've got enough chain at least to use the middle sprocket.

It'll be me who'll suffer :/ how steep are those hills?!

No back brake. There's no hole for it :/

Didn't manage to try it yet. Hope to arrive back home for a short ride. Worse case might just join for the morning coffee. Don't want to ride up and down hills without at least a pre ride :/

Managed!! All good. A bit of tuning and I think it's now good to go. Brake stops surprisingly well.

2 Attachments

I bought a box of three B17 (Narrow) in very used condition, claimed as 1950s, and all three had a separate layer as in your photos.
One proved 'used' beyond all reasonable repair, one now has different leather so I can't check, but the third has YSG stamped in much the same place as your AMS. Date code perhaps?

Edit: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/477427-brooks-saddles-date-code-decoding.html

Cor! Lovely.

Anidel's back brake:

Just drill the bridge!

However, it's really too late now for alterations.

There's no climbing to speak of for the first 20 miles, so no big effort before we're warmed up.

No way, no drilling. Crazy!!!

Cheers mate!

Sorry all, I'm out. Have an amazing time and take plenty of photos :)

Oh no :(
Sorry to hear that mate

Ok, I’m all set. Bottom bracket worked loose again and I realised what I hadn’t done: tightened the fixed cup. Cranks came back off this evening but now it’s all good to go.

1 Attachment

Also, 50+ miles on an 81 year old bike - can’t wait!

Headset is coming loose. Didn't tighten enough. At the station in Kew now but need to find a bike mechanic to tighten it. And brakes started to squeal hard too :/ didn't yesterday or not that much.

😢😭

I'm all fine. Frame isn't :(

1 Attachment

Bad one, Are you OK, What happened?

Fuck? You ok?

Head on?