Geoffrey Butler Track Bike Questions

Hi All,

I already have a Giant Omnium set up for the track, TT's and training but have wanted to get a GB frame for years as I am reminiscing my youth when I used to ride & race them especially at Herne Hill.

I finally tripped over the following which is my perfect size and spec: -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220699545233

I won't be picking it up until next week, but have a few questions if anyone can answer them:-

1. Anyone have any ideas of a date of manufacture, the girl who owned it bought it 2nd hand 6 years ago, it doesn't look as chunky as my old GB frames from the mid 70's so I'm guessing mid 80's?

2. Not sure if the front forks are drilled, but if they need doing, can I fix it to take a later day Campag brake or will I have to go for an early super record?

3. If it needs respraying can I still get the transfers?

4. She says it has Mavic Cranks, but I have never heard of them, they look like Campag, but would welcome anyone's thoughts.

Finally I have paid £400, which seems reasonable seeing at it has Campag Hubs (Hoping they are record, but I didn't want to go asking too many questions)

Opinions welcome?

looks lovely - 400 seems like an ok price and those are pretty standard mavic fluted cranks i ould guess

you can get stickers made very easily yes but doesn't look like it needs a respray from the tiny pic - bikes get scratched whatever so you'll learn to live with the ones it's got.

Give the shop a call / email regarding the age of it. They were really good when I contacted them regarding my GB road bike. Just send them some photo's and the serial number and see what info they have on it.

Nice looking frame, I love GB bikes, both me and my housemate have one.

Cheers Lads, looking forward to get my hands on it.

Those Mavic Cranks look dead ringers for Campag, just hope it is 144bcd so that all my spare rings fit.

Can anyone answer the following question for me?

1. Not sure if the front forks are drilled, but if they need doing, can I fix it to take a later day Campag brake or will I have to go for an early super record?
   
   

Thanks

/attachments/33578
I used to have a very similar one when I was young - same bar tape too!

1 Attachment

/attachments/33578
I used to have a very similar one when I was young - same bar tape too!

Cheers JC, do you know I had two of them frames and a couple of roads frames as well and the only photo i have of one of them has gone missing, mind you it was over 30 years ago.

BTW George Clair is still at GB in Croydon, not sure if Bert O'Sullivan has retired now?

/attachments/33578
I used to have a very similar one when I was young - same bar tape too!

Dodgy stomach that day, Jason? :P

Can anyone answer the following question for me?

1. Not sure if the front forks are drilled, but if they need doing, can I fix it to take a later day Campag brake or will I have to go for an early super record?
   
   

Thanks

I'm sure you can sort it so a modern brake will fit, assuming it's possible to drill the fork.

/attachments/33578
I used to have a very similar one when I was young - same bar tape too!

WOW look at the surface..... :O

It's almost as smooth as JC's legs!

Your coach was totally giving the DX 'suck it'

So has no one got any advice about drilling the front forks to accept an Allen key fitment front brake?

Have you got a picture of the fork? It's doable if the fork has enough material to drill. I know Dammit on here had it done to a bike he owned and I think Edwardes in Camberwell did it for him.

Have you got a picture of the fork? It's doable if the fork has enough material to drill. I know Dammit on here had it done to a bike he owned and I think Edwardes in Camberwell did it for him.

Cheers, I'm travelling down to Southampton to pick it up in the morning so will load some photos when I get back (Subject to snow)

Right lads, finally got the bike stripped down at the weekend after managing to secure from George at GB Croydon some original stickers, I even managed to get some original Columbus tubing stickers as well.

Frame is being sprayed Pearlescent White with the Replacement Red Stickers lacquered over the top, I'm going to have to stick with the Mavic Cranks until some nice Campag Pista 165's turn up at the right price.

As the rear brake bridge was drilled I'm having that brazed back up. The wheels are Campag Large Flange 32 at the Back and 36 at the front (radial), I wish it was the other way round but beggars can't be choosers.

So my questions: -

Until the bike is back together I won't be able to assess the size stem I need, but I figure to keep to Cinelli for bars and stem to keeps things looking cool, any recommendations, I normally use 46cm Bars on the road, but appreciate narrower for a track bike, so which model of bars and stem should I look for? The Bike came with some Cinelli 65-40's which I think will be too narrow, what size diameter stem to they take 26 or 25.8mm?

It seems impossible to get a genuine Campag Pista Headset, is there much difference with the Strada set?

I've just ordered from Hubjub some of their Cobra Clamp on brakes with lever, so that should cover me with brakes for the road.

I'll post pictures when finally done, I'm also restoring a Geoffrey Butler Audax bike with Athena 11 speed, now that should look bling with Genuine Candy Apple Red paintwork!

every Cinelli stem had a 26.4mm clamp all the way until the 1990s when they changed to 26mm.If you can, check the bar centre with a vernier to find out the diameter of your bars and stem.

every Cinelli stem had a 26.4mm clamp all the way until the 1990s when they changed to 26mm.If you can, check the bar centre with a vernier to find out the diameter of your bars and stem.

Thanks for that, how can I tell that I'm buying the correct stem?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52941171@N08/5837151142/

Does anyone know something about these geoffrey butler track frames?
Sended some emails to geoffrey butler http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/ but they did not answer. Its hard to find any info about these frames. I really like my new frame, just got it. Somewhere got info, track drops are made by zeus, not sure of it...

It has 26.6mm seatpost size and it has a reynolds 525 sticker on seat tube. No serial numbers above at the bottom bracket.

Does anyone have geoffrey track frames?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52941171@N08/5837151142/

Does anyone know something about these geoffrey butler track frames?
Sended some emails to geoffrey butler http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/ but they did not answer. Its hard to find any info about these frames. I really like my new frame, just got it. Somewhere got info, track drops are made by zeus, not sure of it...

It has 26.6mm seatpost size and it has a reynolds 525 sticker on seat tube. No serial numbers above at the bottom bracket.

Does anyone have geoffrey track frames?

Take some good photo's and see if there is a serial number anywhere and email them to George at GB (Give him a call first) George was able to date my frame quite accurately and should be able to help you as well.

I used to race on one of their chunky stay Colombus frames with a cut out BB, have never seen one since, have you?

ok, try to find some serials. never seen GB columbus frames. just reynolds 531.
thanks for help

Ok here it is build. Waiting answers from gbcycles.
Photos, thanks for amazing photographer John_Amunét.

Is that an American football pitch in the middle of Helsinki velodrome?

Yes it is, thats how we roll. You can get hitted by ball. You should come over and try it.

Yes please!

hows the weather this time of year?