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

wheels

Yeah, you’re right. Sad but true ☹️

Picked up a nice early 50's Gillott Spear point earlier today - original paint in nice used condition....but two dents on top tube, one pretty visible. Would repairing the dent and trying to match the old paint as it is little grubby anyway be better than doing the whole hog?
Anyone with similar experience?

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I have used an old stem to roll dents out - Sheldon Brown covers it IIRC. But it's gonna mess up the patina, to put it mildly. I'd just enjoy it as is !

Picked up a nice early 50's Gillott Spear point

And some pictures…?
:)

Will take some later today, one below is from seller, plus some I took quickly on the phone when collecting

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Wowzer

This Gillott has an attractive patina. If you repair the dents and respray the frame you would need to refinish the whole bike (eg - rechrome the chainset etc.) to make it look right. It would be a lot of trouble and expensive. Personally, I would live with those dents.

If you do repair the dents and need to touch in the paint, I suggest it's best to use matt paint - gloss will draw the eye to to the spot. If it looks too matt, just wipe with an oily rag to blend it in.

My priorities with this bike would be to repair the front mudguard and replace the anachronistic Simplex (?) parallelogram derailleur with something more in period.

Incidentally, I would put the handlebar down a bit before I rode it anywhere - it's so far out there must be almost none of it the steerer!

It certainly looks a nice machine - I hope you manage to do plenty of enjoyable miles on it.

Very nice. I like it a lot.

I'll see about the repair of the dent, unfortunately lost a friend last November, a master painter, specialised in restoring old paintings and frescoes, he would've done the job so well that nobody would be able to see the difference.
Or I might make a sleeve for the part of the top tube out of thick leather, something like when you wrap the handlebars with, it soon gets real patina.
Chainset is very dirty - bike was in shed for some time and it has a thin layer of grease and dust on it, hopefully will look better when cleaned.
Yes that Simplex is out of sync and will be replaced, mudguard in front though seem to me to be original shorty?
I will of course check all the parts before trying to ride it, stem included, but it has been pushed back in the queue by another two bikes I bought from the same seller. It was like a chocolate egg hunt day, slightly ahead of Easter. 😅 Apologies for pics quality.

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That is charming, to me it's more beautiful in that condition than it would be restored. Yes, one could whinge about the Simplex, but that is part of it's history.. we did that back in the 70's. However, the bottle carrier clamp can GTFO ;-)

Thank and yes, that bottle cage seems to be a feature on all the old chaps bikes, as is the Garmin attachment. Will source appropriate one in due course.

I need some new tubs for my Hobbs of Barbican as the old ones have disintegrated to the point of being no longer being viable. Does anyone have any suggestions for some new ones that don't look too out of place on an old bike? We really need another run to Cambridge again this year.

A Gillott Spear Point has become something of a holy grail for me and yours is a particularly fine example! Lovely bicycle indeed! I wonder how such a ride feels.

I know from my experience with my early 90s Daccordi (an unusually quiet classic kind with stunning lugwork ) and a similar dent on the top tube, that a good workshop could roll out the dent and match the paint (which I never ended up having done). But you have all that beautiful patina and that would be a shame to lose. It's been 10 years since the dent and nowadays I just enjoy my rides.

I also have a soft spot for 50s and 60s black bicycles, so that Ephgrave really caught my eye. For a moment, I imagined you standing in the garage or whatever of the seller, as he casually revealed all these treasures for sale. Must have been quite a day : )

Is it possible for tubs to look modern?

Don't forget you will need at least two spares, and they should have been fitted to a rim so they are already stretched and have at least some glue on them.

I used to like tubs, but outside actual racing they're really only any benefit for high speed stuff like a chain gang. For me, the game's not worth the candle!

If you're near NW10, I could give you one suitable heavy tub that I got half way through repairing about 15 years ago. I went over to lightweight 700's and haven't regretted it. It's orange - pm me if you want it.

In the early '90s my daughter had an almost identical Evans (a bit smaller than yours) which she used quite a lot.

Naturally, at that time her contemporaries had mountain bikes, and it was interesting that all her friends who tried the Evans said 'Doesn't it go easily!'

The bike is still in a shed, waiting for a grandchild to grow into it.

Thanks. I have not taken it out for a ride yet, hopefully soon.
I did went on a (very short) ride on that Ephgrave which had a wash and degrease on Saturday. Coincidently, there is a chat above old tubs above and that is exactly what happened, rear tub has gone flat on me after couple of hundred of yards, first flat I had in more than 5 years 😖.
Spent some time picking the protective film off those ornate lugs, as good job as they can do at Argos was spoiled by not removing it, so some surface rust appeared and it is a bugger to get off. Nails seem to be best option, unless someone can let me know of better, perhaps non mechanical way to remove it, presumably after 10 years or so since the frame was repainted?

This is a smallish frame at 21 or so inches seat tube. Your daughter rode late 30s bike to school? As my daughter would say...awesome!

i always buy second hand tubs on ebay.
tubs dont seem to be that popular so you tend to get some great bargains as long as you're happy to wait.
condition and practicality are my priority when looking for tubs over looks and aesthetics.
i like continental tubs (gatorskins) they are durable and last.
vittoria tyres definitely have a timeless look about them and will look good on any vintage machine however i do find them quite sensitive especially on uk roads.
whichever tyre i have i always fill them with a good latex sealant for added protection.
the cheaper tubs like continental giros or vittoria rally are a waste of time and in my experience just disintegrate before they ware out.

Ive just returned from a trip to Chateaureax in France. 270 miles over three days.
Note the Continental tubs which did a fine job throughout.

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Well done!

But that's addressed to you more than the tyres.

Awesome

Well it seemed quite natural at the time; the bike wasn't expensive and it did a better job than the new ones her friends had.

Great to know - may I please ask re bottle cage - what type it is ?

This just appeared
Pricey, way too spendy for me but so much want
And those front brakes

https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gumtree.com%2Fp%2Fbicycles%2F1948-pashley-tradesmens-delivery-tricycle.%2F1453755014&data=05%7C01%7C%7C450b0cb8131c4c7abe2708db23d0f4e5%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638143152580403937%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=owQWGFITXOmNFD%2FWQoyXCvK6k%2BVmcHHW%2F0KGAMQTm6c%3D&reserved=0

Those brakes clearance must be huge 😲

Cannot see a brand name. Its a strange design it came with brackets to strap to the handlebars but they would have been in the way of my grip.
I have had to strap them to the bars using the bar tape and string. I then lacquered it all to keep it water proof..

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