For Sale: 1900s Path Racer

Probably the final item in the mass cellar clearance (unless those last boxes reveal anything).

My beloved and much-admired Path Racer. Maker unknown, but Raleigh forks. The forward-sloping top tube proves it's not just a faked-up roadster like many. Frame size is approx 22 1/2" but sizing is different on these bikes. Basically most adults over 5'7* will be fine on it.

Chater Lea rear hub (flipflop)and crankset, stirrup front brake with dinky little lever, wooden grips, period but good condition 'Johns' saddle. Stainless steel rims (later than the frame). tyre size is 26x1 3/8, so I'd recommend fitting some creram Schwalbes if you're planning to commute, or do a long ride, as these tyres look correct but are elderly. Black paint is 'presentable' and with a nice patina, but don't expect pristine new enamel.

So basically this is the original of which the Pashley Guvnor is a copy. It goes as fast as it looks, too. Ive commuted from Canary Wharf to St Johns Wood on it, and blown a few hipsters into the weeds on their Charge Plugs! A 100 year old rarity that you can do the FNRttC on with no worries, and completely outclass any new fashion-bike!

Sadly, the lamp is on permanent loan to me, so cannot be sold with the bike.

Asking £700, which is considerably less than it would fetch on the open market, so I'm not prepared to haggle unless you have a very interesting p-ex. (Carrier bike, Xtracycle kit, Brompton, 23 or 24" classic tourer, old French bike).

The bike is currently on display at Cyclemagic's museum in Leicester, so it's collectable from most places, or I can bring it to London by arrangement.

Since the photos, the grips have been varnished, and the tyres have got a little bit of dirt on them, but otherwise WYSIWYG

PM me, or text 07761 401829.

Those who like to complain about asking prices, go away and read up on the facts. I'm not a speculator, and this is a dearly loved posession. I just need the money right now.

Lovely bike. Good luck with the sale.

Lovely bike. Don't make 'em like they used to..

Absolutely beautiful... Whoever gets this will be a very lucky camper...

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... too beautiful it makes me cry

Thanks chaps, now I just need someone to get their wallet out!

PM-er couldn't complete transaction, so back on sale. Next year's Tweed Run, anyone?

SWAP....... For my sole

have seen this in the flesh...hhhmmm...it's so so sweet.

ps I think you'll find it's s-o-u-l, unless you're planning to swap some manolo's...;D

I'll swap wot I fuckin like, so em yeah SWAP.....For my s.o.u.l ;0

Lovely bike with great style. Love the semi-drop bars and Chater chainset.

However, with the frame clearly showing braze-on fittings for a rear rod brake mechanism, it could hardly have been a path racer so no doubt it is indeed a 'faked-up roadster'.

Sloping top-tube frames were popular on roadsters (as well as more sporty machines) in the early 1900s and again in the 1930s. I have a machine that is very similar to the one pictured, with a sloping top-tube frame and with semi-dropped bars and 26in wheels. Mine is based on a mid- 1930s Armstrong roadster.

There's a whole load of information on early bikes on the National Cycle Museum website (sales catalogues, etc), although you may have to be a V-CC member to access this archive material. It's a useful source for identifying early machines. Yours has Raleigh forks, as stated, so it's a fair bet that the frame is a Raleigh too.

Anyway, whatever it's based on, that is one characterful and stylish machine. Good luck with the sale.

Well, for the sake of clarity, I should point out that I bought this bike from a well known person in the V-CC, and and officer in the Yorkshire club, Bygone Bikes. The chap is a well-respected cycling historian, and collector of fine machines. The other Club members and officers at the sale all knew the bike. There is indeed a braze-on, but the historians seem satisfied that this was a generic boss, and does not signify a roadster.
The bike is currently on show in Cyclemagic's premises, under the eye of eminent cycling historian Roger Lovell, who likes the bike very much.
At this year's V-CC week at Ampleforth, lots of memebers were very appreciative of the bike, and it was admired. They reckoned it to be worth about a grand on fleabay.
Hope that eases any doubts.

http://www.didierdeflandrien.be/

Try this guy. He's in for stuff like this. Think i can met him Sunday if you like.

Great website!

Fantastic. Beautiful bike good luck

Just to update, Im collecting the bike from Leicester this week, and it will go onto fleabay next week, internationally. Lets see what she makes?
Thanks for all the comments. Its good to have vigilant folks like wheelnut on the forum, to stop the chancers fleecing us.

Will the person who enquired about the bike last week, please text me again, or PM me, as I failed to save your number!