Current Projects chat and miscellany

Thought I'd pop this up as I'm undecided what to do with it.

It's a Rudge Sports frame I'm guessing from the mid 60s. I think it was a 3 speed as it has 110mm axle width at the back, and I'm confident this would have meant 26 1 3/8 wheels, but it will sit on 27", which is what's you see in the pic, as I have them spare.

It's a rust encased thing, but seems solid. So far, after spending an eternity removing the top race from the forks, I've been able to able to regreese the headset, and bottom bracket with new bearings. The headset is a little indexed, but quite useable. I've also swapped the bottom bracket spindle for a cotterless one.

I can build it up as a singlespeed from spare parts, including the 27" wheels and drops, but I think it may look odd, any thoughts?

First, is it the right size? Those old english frames have miles of top tube. You might want to check and make sure you have a short enough stem.

If it were me, I would use wide touring-style 700c and the biggest tyres that'll fit. Then run SS with probably a coaster or some old centre pull brakes with decent pads.

I reckon swept back north road-style bars and a big old sprung brooks would work best.

It'll probably be quite lazy handling, so I'd build and ride it accordingly.

North road bars sound like a good idea given that older "sport" bikes still had super-lazy seat tube angles - It's also worth considering a reverse seatpost (a la gaston).
I had a path bike once with similar geometry -with 120mm stem, inline post & deep drops I was nearly bent double!!

Project slave is a go...

(not my pic, but same wheel and colour and no decals)

First, is it the right size? Those old english frames have miles of top tube. You might want to check and make sure you have a short enough stem.

If it were me, I would use wide touring-style 700c and the biggest tyres that'll fit. Then run SS with probably a coaster or some old centre pull brakes with decent pads.

I reckon swept back north road-style bars and a big old sprung brooks would work best.

It'll probably be quite lazy handling, so I'd build and ride it accordingly.

Thanks for the response. I have an 80mm stem, not great looking, which i think will bring it similar to my Raleigh which has a 125mm stem. I'll put them side by side shortly to check.

Based on the 27" wheels, I should be able to get at least 35s in there with a 700c rim, although not sure if t he width would work. Pressume i just need to measure 35mm at the narrowist point. If I'm going fat, then maybe cyclocross tyres would look nice? Conti Race Kings?

I have a pair a weinman 610s So that parts sorted.

Northroad bars sound a nice option. There seems a be slight variations when I look at ones on eBay. Not too keen when I see them come to a 90 degree sweep, maybe45 degree.

North road bars sound like a good idea given that older "sport" bikes still had super-lazy seat tube angles - It's also worth considering a reverse seatpost (a la gaston).
I had a path bike once with similar geometry -with 120mm stem, inline post & deep drops I was nearly bent double!!

Not sure I could do a Gaston, even if it was too long. I'll do a quick and dirty with drops because I can, but am liking the north road option.

Bad photos and quick bar-tape wrap (till I get the position sorted, may need 1cm shorter stem), but I reckon red look pretty good.

Nice lighting choices by the way Ed!

Not sure I could do a Gaston, even if it was too long. I'll do a quick and dirty with drops because I can, but am liking the north road option.

It was a pretty popular way to set up bikes back in the day, and doesn't look as wierd with an old-style clamp seatpost.
http://www.lfgss.com/post2957904-62989.html

+1

Good find. Rocking horse poo is easier to find in 26.0 diameter.

I think the bars look great as well, but I can only find them in 26.0mm diameter. Is that your point, or have you seen them in OS somewhere?

It's been too long since I've seen my Dolan, I can't remember how my new Deda North Drinks bars look on it

Got this a few weeks ago but forgot to put it on here. Happy birthday to me.

Great fun, going to make it lighter though, some of the parts are a little.. agricultural.. I will probably never push them near their limit. Different cranks, stem, bars, post, seat, brakes and chain all going on on thursday!

I think the bars look great as well, but I can only find them in 26.0mm diameter. Is that your point, or have you seen them in OS somewhere?

Syntace only ever made the Stratos 200 in a 26mm bar diameter.

Various other companies do their own versions, think Nitto make one in 25.4mm, Deda and Profile both do versions in 31.8mm, but none of them are as good as the Syntace' in my mind.

Mind you, if anyone's got a pair in 44cm width, I wouldn't mind doing a swap for my 42cm!

Not sure I could do a Gaston, even if it was too long. I'll do a quick and dirty with drops because I can, but am liking the north road option.

Quick and dirty with drops. Id redished the rear alreadyand had to put a different tyre on. Doesn't look to bad on drops though. Time to find some eBay bargains.

^ Looks good - the 27" wheels work well - mine was intended for 27's - so much clearance the wheels were in different time zones!

Is that a black Biopace chainring, fixed...?

Certainly is - it's a 400LX MTB ring 48T
I stuck it on to see if it works or whether there'd be a pulsing chain tension.
It worked - I can only assume that although the radius changes there's a constant amount of chain in contact with ring throughout the "circumference".
I changed it beacuse I find them annoying as they don't promote smooth pedalling which is one of the good reasons to ride fixed

I like yours more. Hopefully mine will improve as I move from spare parts to chosen ones. Happy with the black and silver mix though - along with brown rust.

Certainly is - it's a 400LX MTB ring 48T
I stuck it on to see if it works or whether there'd be a pulsing chain tension.
It worked - I can only assume that although the radius changes there's a constant amount of chain in contact with ring throughout the "circumference".
I changed it beacuse I find them annoying as they don't promote smooth pedalling which is one of the good reasons to ride fixed

Can't be too many people who've used that setup... :)

Yeah, I guess there are more or less half the teeth on the ring in contact with the chain at any time, although the angle of the chain to the sprocket must affect the tension a bit.

I finally got the bike finished to full Keirin spec, as raced by him in Japan with considerable success during the 2009/10 season.

More images and description here:

http://vintagebicycle.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/nagasawa-keirin-bicycle/

1 Attachment

Hmm, it's alright that.

^^ Gorgeous.

just building up a 60's road frame from a local frame builder, will be all nuovo record.

Basically used as a commuter in the seat, nothing too racey. Anyone used GB randos?

At the minute my choices are gb randos with an 80s gb forged stem or mavic comte de coucy with cinelli xa or campione del mundos/cinelli 1a.

Will be going with aeros, tend to cycle in the hoods. Anyone any views on the comfortable bars? I think it might be the randos, but not sure if they will look wrong with all the nuovo record on a lightweight style bike?

Just got a Surly Cross Check 60cm frame for £140. Unused apparently:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200770911579


Not sure how to build it up yet. Blank canvas.

Can't be too many people who've used that setup... :)

Yeah, I guess there are more or less half the teeth on the ring in contact with the chain at any time, although the angle of the chain to the sprocket must affect the tension a bit.

Yes In the end I found it slightly annoying on clean flat roads so I stuck a round 1/8 ring on when I built the Centurion

Sheldon said "A 42 tooth chainring will generally engage 21 teeth against 21 chain rollers, regardless of its shape.
There is a slight variation in tension resulting from the varying angle between the two straight runs of chain as the axis of the chainring rotates, but this has not generally been of a sufficient magnitude to cause any problem in practice for me".
http://sheldonbrown.com/biopace.html

Just got a Surly Cross Check 60cm frame for £140. Unused apparently:

Not sure how to build it up yet. Blank canvas.

They are awesome, I had mine built up with full 105 and enjoyed it imnmensely, now my missus who I donated it to has built it up with an alfine, dynamo and risers.

So versatile.

Here's how I had it.

Did she inherit the mud too?

Anybody here know what framebuilders would be good to approach for a somewhat unique custom frame at lowest possible price?

I am not bothered about tubing. This is for a super-practical rig. I want road geometry but with 26" wheels.

I kind of want it to look like a tall persons bike, such as;

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1m7lgr6gh1qkaq0ko1_1280.jpg

But with 26" wheels.