Anybody know about 'Classic' bikes?

I may have found a cool old (cotterpin cranks) 5 speed to convert. The decals read 'Classic'. I've seen another one recently that was a bit more recent, but never heard of them before. I imagine they are cheap bikes made by some shop, possibly Woolies, back in the day or something. Anybody know anything about them? Is it likely to fall apart on me? Should I stop being a name snob?

Should I stop being a name snob?

Certainly not...

Old technology, rendered obsolete by square tapered spindles and cranks, but good enough to win pro races in the 50s and before.

While top racing bikes made the switch many mid to lower end models continued with cottered cranks for some time.

Cotter pins would come lose and fall out if you weren't careful. And then your crank would come off because the spindle was round.

If the crank is from the last 30+- years it's likely steel and junk.

If before that it could possibly be collectable.

Ride what you want as long as you ride.

I also have acquired a square-tapered crankset I'll replace it with. It is more the frame I am worried about. But I guess as long as it's light, it's alright.

My days of cotter pin cranks are some of the darkest of my life. filing carefully angled surfaces onto £2 pins only to shear the threads, or to come loose or rust or generally depress me.

I've stripped more cotter-pins that I've made useful posts on this forum*.

*4

Like I say though. I will replace the cranks. It's the frame I'm talking about.

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I have something very similar hung up in my garage. Mine's a Carlton Continental, but by the look of the rack and finishing kit on yours I imagine they may well have rolled off the same production line. It looks like those stickers were added later, as they look fresher than the rest of the paint job. I know the Carlton factory made lots of bikes for many different companies, simply changing the style of lugs to ones associated with a particular brand. I'd say as a second bike/pub bike/hack it should be ok. Strip it, de-rust it and hammerite it, and you'll have a bomb poof tank will be invisible outside the boozer.

Like I say though. I will replace the cranks. It's the frame I'm talking about.

hmm..got a nice stealth-pub-bike vibe goin on..

Which will hopefully be repulsive to thieves!

I have something very similar hung up in my garage. Mine's a Carlton Continental, but by the look of the rack and finishing kit on yours I imagine they may well have rolled off the same production line. It looks like those stickers were added later, as they look fresher than the rest of the paint job. I know the Carlton factory made lots of bikes for many different companies, simply changing the style of lugs to ones associated with a particular brand. I'd say as a second bike/pub bike/hack it should be ok. Strip it, de-rust it and hammerite it, and you'll have a bomb poof tank will be invisible outside the boozer.

Cheers.

I'll hopefully getting looking sharp.

So, if I understand, you're just looking for advice on cottered cranks?

My days of cotter pin cranks are some of the darkest of my life. filing carefully angled surfaces onto £2 pins only to shear the threads, or to come loose or rust or generally depress me.

plus 1 , As they started to go the cranks would shoot forward 20 degrees when putting the pressure on, result when racing your mates through Oxlea Woods as a kid is right foot shooting forward off the pedal and a plimsole [old flimsy trainer for the younger readers] stuck in the spokes and dragged through the forks rounded off with a face plant.

resulting damage five broken spokes , one broken toe and a five mile one legged ride home with only the back brake connected :)

I've stripped more cotter-pins that I've made useful posts on this forum*.

*4

+1

Pretty much a one way trip to broken fingers and fucked cranks.

Picking up the bike on Friday. This is the state of the cranks and bb. I've ordered a shimano bb, so hopefully that will do the trick. I've got some nice vintage square tapered cranks to put on too (below).

If I'm not bothered about the cotterpin cranks, I'm hoping to be able to saw them off if the pin is stuck. Then pumping wrench to get the bb out?

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if it's that rusty, good luck getting all of the parts out. i'd leave it, if it is a beater!

I was going to make it a polo bike if I couldn't remove them. By the sounds of it, they may not be safe though?

They won't be falling out on their own if rusty.

as safe as those shitty other cranks you have there!

Shitty?! Those are 'vintage'! (And all I could afford.)