Ellis-Briggs Track/Path Racer - 57.5cm - SOLD

Hi all

So the advice tends to be that you should never buy a bike that's the wrong size... It's good advice. Having pieced together the bits for this and ridden it for a few months, it's just too damn small. Ho hum. Lovely frame, with a few quirks that I'll get to, great as a commuter/patina build.

Ellis Briggs path track racer, was sold to me as a 1973, which I've no reason to doubt. Track ends for super-hip fixed gear riding, but plenty of clearance and mudguard eyes for the winter commute/rack as preferred. Drilled front and rear, as you'd expect.

Sizing:

Seat tube CTC: 57.5cm
Seat tube CTT: 59cm
Top tube: CTC: 57cm
Rear spacing: 120mm (naturally)

So, the bad bits about the frame: it's been repainted in a slightly lighter red, which covers most of the frame. However, as you can see from the seat tube, the original metallic red is underneath and is possibly salvageable. What I assume to be the original lug lining is visible. Certainly a lovely colour underneath it all. I started to rub away the top coat and you can see the original underneath. Alternatively, it's close enough and you could leave it how it is. However, plenty of small chips about, no rust showing though.

Slight ding on the top tube (right hand side), but is pretty minor. Bit of a squeeze to get the wheel in, think one of the dropouts is a hair out, but looks ok as you can see from the rear photo.

Slightly more disappointing though is a slightly squashed rear brake bridge either side of the brake nuts. Came to me like this and has never been a problem, but it'd look pretty unsightly if you ran without a rear brake.

Components:

• Original headset and BB (I assume) - fair patina
  
• GB bars - a few scratches
  
• GB stem- fine, seemingly well-polished!
  
• unknown fluted 27.2mm seat post - as you'd expect
  
• Brooks B5N - rescued from my old Carlton, a bit scuffed
  
• Weinmann 730 brakes (checking), red washer - plenty of patina.!
  
• Weinmann levers - hoods have seen many better days, but holding together just
  
• Weinmann cable guides - lovely condition
  
• Milremo crankset 48t - lovely chromed crankset, TA copy 50.4 BCD I think, uses same rings, again has seen better days but not too bad condition. Always planned to change the ring for a pista version, but never plumped for one off the bay. Think of the double ring holes as drillium :)
  
• Raleigh Mach1 Omega flip-flop wheel set - destickered, but have another set of stickers if you want all out HHSRB. 17t generic sprocket I think.
  
• Very well used Gators, but have some lightly worn ones somewhere if you're in need of some
  
• Shiny new cables and Fizik Superlight tape
  
• Suspect it's a SRAM PC-1 chain - you'll want to change this I expect, or at least shorten it
  
• Comes WITHOUT pedals, might be able to find some to get you home if it's a deal breaker
  
  

Was £275, NOW SOLD

Give me a shout if you want any other angles:

You have PM

Still available, would also be willing to sell without wheels if that works for anyone.

Price drop: £265

Price drop: £255

As I say, shout it you want her sans wheels or with a silver pair.

Last drop before moving elsewhere.. £245

Laverly :) GLWS.

Still, available? I can offer up £185?

Still available, but unless that's the price without wheels, then thanks but no thanks.

Any last offers..?

Clearance for guards, can throw some in if that would help..!

13th post lucky... £225

£215? Or make me an offer minus wheelset? Don't want to have to create a gumtree account :(

Post-xmas flash the cash... Now £210

Would you be willing to post to Cardiff?

Will take £200 collected in London, inc some old MKS pedals if that helps seal it. Otherwise, looks like it might be off to Cardiff at the end of the month!

Nice bike, nice price and a top seller!
I love these path racers.
GLWS

Ta muchly! Indeed, handy with the clearances and all.

Open to splitting, given lack of interest.

I've also decided to part with the Miche Primato / MA2 wheelset in the build thread for this, which might match better (though slightly more ££): http://www.lfgss.com/conversations/268538/#comment12369759

It must just be the time of year if nobody wants this lovely bike

PMming....