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

Blimey - Hope you didn't come to any harm.

I'm okay thanks @SideshowBob, it's just very inconvenient.

Go TA or Williams 5 pin I guess? Hope the wine survived.

Glad to hear you’re ok but i did enjoy this:

I was carrying a pheasant and a guinea fowl and a bottle of wine, but even still?

I wasn’t carrying anything that heavy just a brace of hens and jug of cider...

Good info on those chainrings, I’ve seen a couple of those come and go on Ebay and been tempted.

Yer definitely give them a miss.
I'm basically on the look out now for a 46tooth 1/8 5 pin chain ring in excellent condition if anybody has any recommendations.

Prototype. Another jig needed for the cotter pin hole.

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Wow - That looks amazing!

Phwoar, that's amazing!

Love it!

All I know is it's hard to find the early Stronglight ones that look like that Aluvac ring in 1/8. I've been looking for a while, got an ok 3/32 48t, saw a rattier 3/32 46t come and go on Ebay.

What crankset is it going on?

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I'm basically on the look out now for a 46tooth 1/8 5 pin chain ring in excellent condition if anybody has any recommendations.

Assuming you want this for fixed, I suggest you just stick to 3/32". There's very little benefit in using 1/8" chain, except that the wear rate will be slightly less. There's no shortage of chains and sprockets in 3/32" and there are plenty of chainrings; I have more TA Adapter rings than I'm ever going to wear out. So I think you need a TA five pin adapter - I'm sure there are plenty out there.

Because the adapter itself is a casting it is more rigid than the other TA types. This is noticeable when using a double chainring because the Cyclotourist and Criterium rings tend to flex under effort causing the chain to foul on the front changer - this doesn't happen with the adapter set, which was not known as 'Professionel' for nothing.

Although most adapters are intended for use as doubles, these are ok to use as singles - in the unlikely event that the inner flange fouls on the chainstay, you could always file it off.

If you're not familiar with this type , let me know and I'll find a photo.

30s - 40s Merlin and a load of parts - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233821691559

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Oh. wow. Bet that'll go skyhigh

Yeah I reckon with all the parts there.

Thank you @clubman interesting post, I keep coming back to TA rings as the best option on a couple of builds. For a double I’ve been tossing up a double adapter vs cyclotouriste. The adapter has a 44t minimum inner ring, but I guess not a problem if you’re also weighing up flexing the cyclotouriste rings while pumping your guns!
[Also it’s to go with a Simplex TdF so I believe only 16 teeth total, i.e. 44-50 front and 14-24 back or similar]

They did a single ring adapter as well as a double - you need a look at the back and will see there aren’t the shoulders on the arms to brace the inner ring. For what it’s worth I guess a marginally better chainline than an outer ring on a double (with a single axle as well). They come up on Ebay fairly frequently as do 1/8 singles in decent sizes.

FYI the Canadian seller with a large stock on Ebay isn’t selling the old logo shown in the pics - I confirmed they were and stumped up for a few 1/8, but when they arrived they weren’t. Not the end of the world and I couldn’t be arsed sending them back across the Atlantic. Doesn’t feel very zen having vintage bike bits shipped around the world in the first place!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TA-Specialites-Professional-Track-Crank-165-MM-49-T-615g-Crank-Track-Pista-/393048890144?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
You mean something like this.
I love it, thanks for the advise @clubman, I had no idea that this was even a thing.
Not that I'm going to buy this particular version but it gives me an idea of what I'm looking for.

That’s the pup. I’d give Hilary Stone a call, this is sold but I bought similar from him and I know he had more then. Some good info on this page too http://hilarystone.com/chainringstaadaptors.html

If you’re patient the full set of Stronglight cranks, TA adapter and chainring does come up on Ebay. It’s about 50:50 if silly money or sensible.

This site is extremely useful for all things TA, particularly searching for the ref numbers of the correct bolts etc http://www.blackbirdsf.org/ta/refindex.html
The timeline shows you can just squeak in pre 1950s :)

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Amazing

Thanks @HarmanMogul the bits have arrived.

@veloham
I was expecting some more before and after photos of the Gillott. How is it.

Dropped it off at Argos yesterday. I stripped the bb and good news is the serial number matches steerer, looks like a little centre punch mark between the chain stays (Ron Cooper’s mark), lugs look quite tidy. Bad news is under the horrible layers of paint there isn’t a saveable original finish (I could see traces of a metallic lilac around the bb, guess that’s original colour); also top tube is a bit bent as well as crushed. Anyway, first step is they’ll blast off the paint, take it from there. I’ll put some pics on the Gillott thread tomorrow. I couldn’t face stripping another frame in the bathtub. My wife also looked pretty sceptical when I said I’d bought it by accident. Had to get it out the house!

The bits are mostly clean now, the front Record derailleur cage is nearly worn through! I think I can mostly cover the £300 purchase price selling some of it. I could probably mostly cover the Argos bill selling the Hi-Lo, it’s filling me with lustful thoughts though 😬

Saw @SideshowBob’s Holdsworth hanging up while I was in there. Looks very nice 👍

Got an email from Argos yesterday saying it's ready for postage 😁

Vintage Viking 1950's racing bike Reynolds 531
Buy Now £295 - Totnes

?? why eBay links no workey ??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Viking-1950s-racing-bike-Reynolds-531-Cyclo/363223490199?hash=item5491ce9e97%3Ag%3AIYgAAOSwq69frZSV&LH_BIN=1&LH_ItemCondition=4

Accidentally winning an auction on eBay is a viable excuse I've done exactly he same thing myself and of course the great thing is that your purchase can be looked upon as an investment.
What's the plan with rebuilding if your thinking of selling off the parts it came with.?