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

Very nice, is that a Gillott stem.?

Yes, there’s quite a lot of original kit on it and quite a high spec

Two Albert Waller bikes -
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133541957827
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133543866614

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Those dupi stems are bonkers

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Odd bit of kit, apparently you could lock it in place http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=dd832396-a416-484f-827f-1d7f00c56cf3&Enum=102

That’s a classy looking bike!

@clubman and any others, re the 26” tyre discussion, any tan wall that are any good? I haven’t taken the plunge yet but was thinking the Panaracer
Pasela wire bead, have you tried them?

This is great https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303703822425

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I had a copper plated bike in the 70's :).

I've just looked at those Panaracer tyres - they may be excellent, but they won't fit vintage 26 x 1.25" rims.

Tan walls are only cosmetic, so if you can find decent ones there's nothing against them. What's 'decent' in this context? Well, not too heavy (say 16 ounces max.) and, most important, they must take enough pressure - 55psi is useless if you want to ride further than the nearest corner shop!

It's depressing to see these prices - I just hope no one is daft enough to pay them.

(the two Wallers)

Thanks @clubman glad I asked; when 1.25 does not equal 1 1/4! I think I've even previously read Sheldon's 26" tyres page.

Glad you pointed that out before I bought any more 26" rims - I was considering some for a light(ish) fixed set of wheels but I think the lack of tyre options confirms those should be sprints!

I don't think anyone would describe these tyres as 'lively'

Schwalbe's for the one set of 26" with an SA hub then :)

Tan walls are only cosmetic

I don't think I could fool anyone that that wasn't a concern :D

Very cool. Was it common? I can't see it being very durable :)

I've seen a few bits and bobs that were copper plated instead of chrome. I saw these Constrictor toeclips on Ebay a while back. I've got one normal nos one and one that was a bit rusted that I've stripped and am slowly trying to polish - I may get them copper plated or just the rusted one re-chromed. Hardly dare use them after all that. [Needless to say I should have just done what @BigBlock recommended initially and de-rusted and polished the rusty one as it was.]

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woa , sorry big pic

Cheers. I think I must have been about 6 when my dad bought it so it’s always been my benchmark for a ‘proper’ bike!
He was pretty pleased to have it back looking better than it did in 1983 when he bought it

A bit of lunchtime fettling today on my newly acquired Dawes cyclo sport

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Apologies for the sacrilegious red dot brake levers, the tape is shellac’d to the bars making brake lever replacement tricky. Likewise plastic saddle is a placeholder..

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He was pretty pleased to have it back looking better than it did in 1983 when he bought it

I did wonder whether he'd bought it new in 1947, which would probably make him about 90 now and fairly old to be wanting it back.

I think your Dawes deserves a rather better chainset - a Williams C34 would suit it, I'd say.
I guess you've just taken the mudguards off to repair them !

IF you decide you want new mudguards for that I have some nice dark green Bluemels ones ones with a spearpoint front. I bought them as they are nice but never found the right frame for them...

He's a youthful 74 so hopefully he's got a few miles left in him.

The chainset on the Dawes is the original 46T "racing pattern" - I agree, it deserves better.
I'm hoping I'll be able to repair the mudguards - do you have any bright ideas on how that can be done?

The chainring has been chewing it's way into the chainstay and there's about 5mm of lateral play in the BB axle.
I tried loosening the lock-ring on the NDS and was slightly confused that it was spinning the fixed cup...
Eventually I twigged that this has a Bayliss Wiley oil Bath BB - I've never handled one of these before - the BB shell is unthreaded, similar to a Mavic Zap BB I have in my parts bin...

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This is my Dad's 1937 Raleigh sports X light roadster model 35 x that he picked up in a local charity shop for £90 recently. It was missing a saddle, mudguards and the gear lever was on it's last legs. I gave him the mudguards from my 1939 Raleigh sport and a spare quadrant gear lever. He won't use the sprung Brooks saddle I gave him much to my annoyance!

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They sound lovely - If I enjoy riding this one and decide it's a keeper I'll drop you a line,

Those spearpoint Bluemels are splendid

very elegant

Always wanted a Raleigh "gentleman" bike.
One day I'll go on the lookout for a Lenton.

Rather nice Hobbs with Gnutti cranks - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333754197734

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