Pre 1950s rides of LFGSS: old bikes, vintage rats, classic lightweights

Some images of the La Perle.......

Those cranks ❤️

The big decision is to whether to respray. I've hand to sand some of the paint off near the rusty areas to see the 'depth' of the rust....fortunately, everything looks ok.
The last respray I had done was by Mercian was a bit pricey....but beautifully done!
Also, getting decals and doing the pin-striping............

I do like that chain wheel, the bike should look stunning when it's finished,toe clips look so much better than clipless pedals,adds to the character

I wouldn't repaint it.

Oh no, don't repaint that. The Pin striping is far too nice, as are those red fades...

No chance of fitting clipless pedals!!!
Yes, I think your right about the paint. Respraying the frame with the pin-striping means that it would not 'go' with the aged components.....

PLEASE Please please Don't repaint - why would you? It would be like someone giving "Whister's Mother" a botox makeover !! I beg you please don't.

Fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

I rode an ordinary. Bit bigger than that one though. Pretty frightening if I'm honest. Like being up on a horse. Looks easy and fun from a distance. I enjoyed it though.

More like washing her shawl, I would have hoped!

My mate has one, but I can't find the picture of me riding the bugger!

Jack Sibbit
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F254068837694

Interesting read on Classic lightweights - http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/sibbit-builder.html

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I've started a build log of the La Perle here.......
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=393581

'Oldest bike used regularly'

My current everyday bike is based on a 1940's Sunbeam frame, but the kit is very mixed and includes 700 rims and tyres, so I'm not sure whether this can be categorised as a truly 'oldest' bike.

In the 1980's I used a 1924 Saxon for some years as a hack. This does have some slight interest because I have a little history for the machine.

I bought the bike complete from its original owner in 1981. He had been given it as a sixteenth birthday present in 1924 - I may say I spent some time trying to persuade him that he should not part with something he had had for so long, if only for sentimental reasons. He was determined to be parted from it and eventually I handed over a small sum of money and rode it away.

The old boy had been a club cyclist (The Wheatsheaf CC - never heard of it before or since) and he had used this Saxon to commute all his working life - he reckoned the bike had done at least 200,000 miles in his ownership. I'm pretty confident he wasn't exaggerating.
Naturally, this raises the question of how much was original, and the answer was... ..very little.

All that was left was the main frame (it had had new forks) and the front hub. The stem and handlebars could also possibly have been 1924, but he did not confirm that. A few weeks later I happened to meet him in the street and I mentioned that although I was pleased with his bike, the bottom bracket bearing had proved to be completely worn out. "Really?" he said "Well, I am surprised by that since it was replaced fairly recently." "How long ago" I asked.
"Oh, about 1963." Time flies when you're having fun!

Although the Saxon wasn't really a great machine to ride, I used it for commuting and winter club runs for some years. I remember calculating that I must have done something like another 20,000 miles on it - still retaining that front hub (a Brampton).

It's shocking to realise that my Sunbeam frame is now older than the Saxon was when I got it, and that I am now just about the same age as the old boy was when he sold it to me.

Photos will follow if I can find any.

Yes?

EDIT: The rest of your comment didn't show up for me straightaway, I've read it now - that's really cool! 1924 is now almost 100 years ago... but even your 40s bike is 70+ years old now, that's a pretty good age for a frame I'd say.

I expect you know this, but Hugo Koblet won the 1951 Tour de France on a 'La Perle'.

You guys.

Yes, I knew he rode one ...I was hoping that this one was his, but the pump pegs, mudguard eyes and small size suggest otherwise!

If you look closely at old photos from the 1950's you will see that it was normal for top pros to be given frames with mudguard eyes.

Koblet used a Campag rear mech for that '51 tour, so I'm afraid that is another reason for doubting that your machine was his. It looks a very desirable bike who ever was its first owner - I hope you find it suits you when you get to ride it.

That's interesting, I've never noticed the mudguard eyes on the race bikes. The bike that I have is simplex gear equipped, and single chainwheel. There is no markings on the seat tube where the simplex from gear changer would have been fitted.

nice (late 50s?) EG Bates in Portsmouth with lovely original paint/decals and some original parts. Currently £3.20 with four days to go...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E-G-Bates-Vintage-racer-bike-Barn-find/333017249830?hash=item4d895ff826:g:nh0AAOSwvERcPlfc:rk:6:pf:0

Quick update on the Ordinary restoration,End plates made for the pedals,I used some 3mmX50mm flat bar,shaped to a "Rhombus"(flat diamond),12mm hole drilled in the middle to take the axle which will be made from a 12mmX130mm coach bolts (these give a nice domed head) a brass sleeve will be placed between the plates on the axle to form a bearing surface,I have ordered a set of (four) pedal rubbers, two per pedal, these will be fitted to the ends of the plates either side of the axle then the pedals will be fitted to the crank arms

this looks interesting. Badged as a Holdsworth but it doesn't look like any Holdsworth I've seen, having Ekla lugs and a reinforced brake bridge. Hill Special maybe? Mostly 70's low-end components but it does have a nice Simplex 'Competition' double chainring and half a Juy '51 shifter.

I finally bought a new frame for commutering so my Gillott can retire from such duties.
I will strip it down and polish up the frame, under all the grime is a set of Harden hubs and chrome drop outs, albeit worn and pitted. The colour is a deep bronze colour.

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When I bought the frame it was red, you can still see evidence of this where the badge was and around the lugs.
I unfortunately was not very careful removing the paint as
a. I'm not very patient
b. I hadn't noticed the bronze paint under the red paint.
Consequently I have rubbed the paint back to the metal on the top tube.

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