-
Those bottles to go on your 1952 Gillott with Simplex TdF etc? Works for me! 2 bottles for a long stage.
I've got a TdF planned for my 1948 Hobbs but it's a pretty small spread of teeth. 16 total I think with 26 biggest rear. I've got the T.A. double I posted previously with 44/50, looking out for a suitable 14-24 freewheel. I know @clubman will think I'm a wuss but I don't think I could tackle an Alpine stage with that setup. Not without the second bottle full of amphetamine laced porridge.
If you're a VCC member, have a read of the Wally Summers article starting on page A2 of 'Cycling, Second Series, 1947 01 08 Jan'. I really enjoyed that. Gives a flavour of the time. There's another article in reminiscences on classiclightweights where the writer remembers senior club members going across to France and Belgium to race and coming back with rims and spokes (I think). It's a little later in the 50s if I remember, but even if Mavic sprints, TA rings, etc. weren't available in Britain directly I can imagine them coming back in suitcases and being drooled over.
veloham-
Yes on my Simplex equipped’52 Connoisseur 🤓
I’m actually using a Juy 51 (Juy 53 up front) which has a bigger capacity than the TdF -
If I were going Alpine pass storming I probably wouldn't take a bike with a Simplex TdF, but if you use 44 x 24, that will give a gear (700's) of about 48.6", which would get me up most passes since the roads are now so well engineered that a lot of the difficulties have been removed. How they managed on the poor surfaces which existed into the 1950's I can't understand - I rode L'Eroica (Italian version) in 2012 with a TdF, 43 x 22 bottom and found it nothing like low enough because the 'white road' surface was so loose that attempting to climb out of the saddle just caused wheelspin.
You should be aware that the TdF was never great at engaging the bottom sprocket, and 24 teeth is its extreme limit. It's essential to have the chain tight enough to pull the jockey cage almost horizontal, otherwise it fouls on the sprocket and won't engage.
You might be better off, if you need to achieve a lower bottom, by using TA Cyclotourist rings with a smaller inner and perhaps a 14-22 block. It's quite possible this may mean you can't use the big ring with the bottom sprocket (not enough chain) but that wouldn't be a great loss. N.B. I haven't tried this - I don't guarantee how well it would work.
Attitudes to gearing were different in the heroic era of the fifties- I was amused to read in an article about Charly Gaul that "he span his low 45x23 up to the top of the pass"!
absurdbird
clubman
Good infos Clubman.
Was there also an equipment difference between the League and Union cyclists?
Aside from obvious massed start vs time trialist gear.
I’m thinking of putting these on my Gillott - but they’re a bit over the top maybe.