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

I take my hat off to you, Chris. I hope I can ride like you when I’m your age!

Thanks for the reply!
I realise my setup is unconventional, indeed the last time I had a Sturmey Archer pulley it was as you say on the seat tube, on a 1930s Sun Wasp tandem.
But here I'm being a bit stubborn, trying to avoid clutter on the frame and creating problems for myself... But yes otherwise I agree with all your points! If I can't find a better cable stop solution I'll revert to a more traditional system!

This might help:
https://www.merciancycles.co.uk/online-shop/assorted-parts/sturmey-archer-cable-stop/

Sturmey made a metal clip which went over this plastic stop, but as you know their clips were less elegant than the one you've made.

Your set up looks as though it will work - before you go to more trouble, ride the bike and make sure that fixed hub is what you want. I gather it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Oh that's great, thank you, will look into this.
I only tried the fixed SA hub around the block, I want to properly sort out the cable stop before going further... But having some experience riding both fixed and Sturmey Archer, it was pretty much exactly what I thought it would be. I read online that people didn't like the "slack chain" feel but I didn't notice this, or it didn't bother me anyway.
Really hope to get something sorted over the weekend and ride the bike to work next week for a more representative test...

Well done @clubman, a tough ride indeed.
It has been unseasonably cold with a persistent wind for what seems like forever. At least judging by the photos it was dry, even still it can make for an uncomfortable ride.

The bike looks very smart and so unusual did it garner plenty of interest while out.
Was repairing the puncture straight forward with that set up. Im assuming you used the old school puncture repair kit method and not just a replacement inner tube.

Thanks for your comments, Falconvitesse.

Apart from the headwind (which was a tailwind on the second day) this shouldn't be all that tough, but my lack of riding this year was a factor - I think one loses fitness more quickly when old - the tendency is to revert to one's natural state.

It's easy to imagine that these old roadsters are very hard work, and this view is often supported by the experience of riding one, but most of these bikes are in bad condition whereas my Sunbeam is now near perfect from the mechanical point of view. In addition I've got the bars down as far as possible so that at least the centre portion is lower than the saddle - I'm not the first person to do this, and I don't think it was rare back when these machines were common. Finally, this is a 'light' roadster - they can easily be 10 pounds heavier than mine.

I wasn't aware that the bike attracted any interest on this trip, but I was on a main road on two weekdays, so I saw very few other riders. In Oxford itself it could be said that eccentricity is normal,so probably this bike doesn't look unusual there.

That puncture: I just changed the tube. It was in the front, so not much more difficult to get the wheel out than normal. Traditional roadsters have rearward opening rear ends but this 'forward looking' Sunbeam has modern style forward opening ends. A full roadster with chaincase is a real problem to repair a backwheel puncture at the roadside, especially considering most punctures happen when it's wet - I have no idea how to repair an inner tube in the rain.

So now I need to get out on my bike and capitalise on last week's work!

Im not sure about Oxford but im sure there would have been some second glances in Dartford and its environs.
Would you consider fitting a full on chaincase, Lighter and arguably more practical without it, however looking at Sunbeam Roasters on Ebay they do look cool with the chaincase.
Good luck with the riding.

Looking at the Sunbeams on Ebay I was shocked by the prices - I had to go and check that the £ sterling hadn't collapsed to 100 to the dollar!

Particularly outstanding was the one with the rusted out chaincase, which had been stripped various essential parts (Cranks, BB) and appears to have been sold for £260!

As it happens the photo in that ad., showing the chaincase rust hole, shows the reason why a chaincase could not be fitted to my machine. Inside that case there can be seen the 'strut' which forms the right hand chainstay on these frames (mine has a conventional RH chainstay). If you have a Sunbeam with a chaincase you can't use the bike without it because it forms part of the frame, but equally, you couldn't add a chaincase to my frame.

These chaincase/strut frames are not rigid, and you can hear the case flexing if you get out of the saddle to climb.

I have most of a 'chaincase' Sunbeam in a shed. It's a 21" gents frame with 26 x 1 and 3/8" wheels including 3 speed hub. I think it's from the BSA period. If anyone wants this, I'd be pleased to see the back of it for a modest donation to the forum. Collection only from NW10.

I'm driving back from Girona and happened to be staying overnight in Chartres. Went for a wander around the town and there is an old bike festival going on including numerous stalls selling parts.

I'm not very knowledgeable on bikes of this era but the stalls look like an absolute treasure trove of equipment. Here's a small selection.

4 Attachments

Any pictures that you could post here?

Yeah sorry, roaming data is a bit patchy here, thought I had added them to previous post. Now updated.

Amazing! Thanks. Were prices decent?

1 Attachment

A friends dad has "donated" this to me, so I can sell it to fund some rack building.

Does anyone have an idea on how old this is?

A very pretty bike but I have no idea on how to price this for sale.

5 Attachments

Sad your rack habit has come to this

Rack habits are expensive.

Also there are 7 bikes in the garage and this one fits neither me or my partner.

I don’t think that’s as early as 50s. I’m inclined to say it’s 70s but it might be 60s. Being a Motobecane, I wouldn’t have thought it would be too hard to date it if you can find a frame number somewhere.

Bearing in mind I know nothing about bikes of this era and that I’m not buying anything but yes prices looked reasonable.

I think the Motobecane is probably later than 1950's because it has a parallelogram derailleur (Huret?). In the 50's bikes like this one more usually had 'plunger' rear mechs.

Value - It's in good condition, but you need to find some one who actually wants a French 60's shopping bike. May be a difficult task!

I have no idea on how to price this

That's why auctions exist. As a nice practical ready to ride bike, it's £50, but if two Motobecane collectors want to fight over it, it could be £500

Well you, I can only hope!

If anyone here wants it, they can have if for FREE. as long as they pick up and have a good cup of tea?

WhereaboutsAreYou?

Warwick 👍

Ah, ok, well that’s a bit easier than The Famous London and a reasonable drive from Oxford
Will check with fam and get back unless anyone else dibs beforehand:)

Before this goes to Classifieds/eBay, an interest in this Hobbs Blue Riband ladies bicycle? GB Hiduminium caliper brakes; frame ref number on dropout is for 1948; Williams cottered chainset has 1949 code; Sturmey Archer rear hub is dated Aug 1948; gear cable connected; Phillips pedals; Britannia mudguards; rims appear to be Weinmann; tyres worn; brake levers aren't original. Acquired in a joblot and sat idle for a while, so a fettle would be required. Based in Greenwich or Lambeth (work). Looking for £175.

4 Attachments

New (old) chainset for the Paragon Andy Bone, but a lack of spare 700c tyres means it's fitted with tubular on Fiamme sprints for now...Question is do I dare commute on cheap tubs?

1 Attachment