1937 Bates Vegrandis project

Those brakes came up a treat. You should get some shockstop rubbers from Big Block. They really make those levers much more comfortable.
Who are you using for the paint?

Yes, they did cleaned up well, thanks.
I have to say I was tempted to get a pair of shockstops.
Will send the frame to Argos. They've done another frame a while ago and really liked the finish.

what a great bike you have here. congratulations!
i live in portugal and we can see bikes like that...

try brown tape on the bar... but you have a black brooks... i don´t know for shure if black fits better...

Thanks barreto.
I think black will be best but I'll wait until I get the frame back as I've decided to spray it red, so maybe red tape would also work.

Quick update. Frame received back from Argos last week. Hopefully I will start to build this soon. Sorry about the poor phone pictures.

Congratulations! This is one of the most convincing rebuilds I've seen.

It's so often you see a machine where much work has been done but the overall effect is spoiled by a glaring anachronism - like a modern chainset on a pre war machine. It would be easy to imagine that this one had been delivered by time machine straight from a 1930's Brooklands 'massed start'.

I have built machines something like this one, but I usually put them together with a particular purpose in mind - the Gillot shown below was built for *L'Eroica, *and I have made compromises for the sake of practicality: the Gillot has 700c rims. Many *Eroica *riders were on tubs, but they seemed to be having an awful lot of trouble with them.

I wonder what this Bates will be used for - it would be a pity if it's not ridden much.
That 3 speed block would be ok for a time trial, but I think most people would find it tough going riding anywhere other than the Bath Road with others on more modern machines.

1 Attachment

Thanks clubman.
The idea was to build it as close as possible to what it would have looked like 70 something years ago (as per catalogue this model was sold as a fixed bike, but I wanted some gears). I'll ride it, enjoy it and have a feel of the 'goodness' of the Cantiflex tubing and Diadrant forks.

The ratio on the 3 speed block is very close indeed but I wanted to try a time trial/racing setup. I was thinking originally about riding L'Eroica UK on it but it will too hard on my little legs so I will be using another bike with a more sensible 2x5 setup.

Cheers.

After much delay I managed to put everything together last weekend. It has been tested and I just need to cut some cables, get some bar end plugs and get use to the idea of adjusting chain tension every time I change gears.
The chain went over the biggest sprocket, left a nice mark on the spoke protector (that is what is there for I guess) and a first battle scar inside the chain stay, that although small, pretty painful.
Very pleased with the result. It is a comfy and quick ride.

Absolutely stunning!
I can't begin to imagine how much this has cost you and your attention to detail is second to none.
What's the red stuff holding the brake cables together?
Is there a matching rear mudguard?

Thanks 7VEN.
The red stuff holding the cables is a piece of cloth bar tape I had left after wrapping the bars.
The mudguard is a Bluemels spearpoint extension and as far as I know they were fitted just at the front.
Like on this picture. Might not be the same type of mudguard but same principle.
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/racingbates800.jpg

Only just seen this but wow what a build! Kudos to you.

Superb build.
Is there accompanying livery?

I have been following this with great interest.
Congratulations!
My only suggestion is the brakes.
The GB Hiduminiums were post WWII, and the originals would have cantilever (Resilion) or Sieber alloy brakes, so if you ever find a set of Seiber's grab them! In the interim, I have some reproduction Shockstops ready to go onto the GB levers.

For a jersey, have a look at the Pinterest board
I am going to get one with the collar, and front pockets and buttons from here and they can also supply the sleeves like these
all in the light blue and off white. Then get the embroidered name done and then that sewn onto the the jersey.

Only just seen this but wow what a build! Kudos to you.

Many thanks.

Superb build.
Is there accompanying livery?

Thanks. Do you mean the transfers?

I have been following this with great interest.
Congratulations!
My only suggestion is the brakes.
The GB Hiduminiums were post WWII, and the originals would have cantilever (Resilion) or Sieber alloy brakes, so if you ever find a set of Seiber's grab them! In the interim, I have some reproduction Shockstops ready to go onto the GB levers.

For a jersey, have a look at the Pinterest board
I am going to get one with the collar, and front pockets and buttons from here and they can also supply the sleeves like these
all in the light blue and off white. Then get the embroidered name done and then that sewn onto the the jersey.

Thanks. True about the brakes, but I've never seen Sieber brakes and very difficult to get early ones, so I'll fit some Burlite I've got (same age as the Hiduminium I think) for the time being. I thought about Lam brakes as an option as well but I'll have to find them first.
I'll have a look at those jerseys. Sounds interesting! Cheers

there are other brakes mentioned in the 1939 Brown Bros. Catalogue

Welldone...great build.... and your hubs/rims are something else.....the rims are like hens teeth.....the stem also is a treasure......whats next?

Awesome. Not being British, or in any way knowledgeable about bikes this old, the patriotic nostalgia thing kind of went past me but it's a lovely bike. Never seen forks like that before. Only thing that bothers me is the zig-zag top tube cable but I assume it's supposed to look like that!

there are other brakes mentioned in the 1939 Brown Bros. Catalogue

Thanks I'll have aloof. I always wanted a Brown Brothers catalogue but they seem to go for silly money.

Welldone...great build.... and your hubs/rims are something else.....the rims are like hens teeth.....the stem also is a treasure......whats next?
Thanks rogeroo. I've been lucky with those rims as they came on a wheelset I've been sold for a tandem. When I saw the profile I've decided they were too skinny and kept them for this. As for what is next? I'll try to ride it as much as I can.

Awesome. Not being British, or in any way knowledgeable about bikes this old, the patriotic nostalgia thing kind of went past me but it's a lovely bike. Never seen forks like that before. Only thing that bothers me is the zig-zag top tube cable but I assume it's supposed to look like that!
Thanks. The cable was not done on purpose. It was straight when I first fitted it but after riding ended up like that. Thing is that the cable clips are made of rubber so not as strong as metal ones to keep the cable tight.

Thanks I'll have aloof. I always wanted a Brown Brothers catalogue but they seem to go for silly money.

a higher resolution version can be bought on CD from Bruce Robbins (has the 1938 and the 1952) or it can be downloaded for a fee from the VCC, but given the size, might be cheaper to join!
I bought the CD of the 1952 version, and now I own the hardcopy; postage to Australia was very expensive. PM on way

The cable was not done on purpose. It was straight when I first fitted it but after riding ended up like that. Thing is that the cable clips are made of rubber so not as strong as metal ones to keep the cable tight.

I have the Dunlop cable ties, and also follow a gentle curve.

Hands down my favorite forum build. I doff my cap to you. well done.

Lovely!!!

This reminded me of this: http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bikes/holdsworth-la-quelda-hoddinott-rb.html

Amazing bike! Well done!

Also forgot to ask, how does it ride? What is the super champion OS gear like to use?

are you going?
VETERAN-CYCLE CLUB - THE TWENTY-FIRST BATES WEEKEND
FRIDAY 6th, SATURDAY 7th, & SUNDAY 8th, JUNE 2014

Wow ... Just found this thread, what an amazing project! Love it all, everything!

Those wheels are stunning. I also want to get a set of 26" Alumlites made up for my current project, but not getting my hopes up. I managed to pick up a pair for a fiver at the dump a few weeks ago, but they were 27" ... I love the profile of them though.

The gears on my current project, Cyclo Ace Racing 3-Speed. Interesting to see how they compare to the Osgear.

Cyclo Ace Close Ratio gears by zombikombi1959, on Flickr