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You could try setting yourself some rules / boundaries for your urban riding. For example, in London, I only have one rule, and that is - no cycling on roads that accommodate trucks and buses. You might think that's crazy and it'll take forever to get anywhere - it doesn't though. You just need to learn routes that are a bit more intricate, but you save some time on waiting on traffic lights (small roads have less). I had my commute down to 35 minutes, from Hackney Downs to South Ken (> 8 miles).
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Heh, yep I didn't realise at the time that with those old brake levers, you're supposed to loosen off the clamp and thread the tape underneath the lever housing, rather than curve around it. There's one close-up photo on the flickr set that looks creased and kind of bad, but the tape job actually looks pretty neat from arms length, and the tape is solid.
What can I say about the shifters - a moment of madness / distraction on my part. Simple enough to move them up the tube, but some of the powder coat might come off.
Thanks re. paint job - by far the most fun part of that build was painting the lugs... I would happily paint frames for people if they'd let me ;) -
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I rebuilt this from a shed-bound, peeling but sound frame in summer 2011. I had it powder coated in what I can only assume is 'safety handrail' yellow - it's what they had loaded in their paint guns, and I liked it...
Still available: £225
Components are:
Rear derailleur: 1960s (I think) Campagnolo Nuovo Valentino
Front derailleur: Campagnolo Valentino
Shifters: Campagnolo Valentino
Brakes: Weinmann calipers (surprisingly effective)
Brake levers: original Carlton-labelled Weinmann levers
Chainset & cranks: Stronglight (not sure exactly what model)
Saddle: Charge
Seatpin, stem & bars are the original CarltonsWheels, tyres, 5-speed rear cassette and chain are fairly generic but brand new - I was pretty limited in what I could get to fit the weird Raleigh factory sizes from the early 1970s. The bottom bracket is a brand-new threadless model, which came loose (I knew it would) after first fitting it, but since I re-tightened it, it has been solid.
I spent quite a bit of time painting the lugs and the stem etc., and I don't know if anyone happens to be a Carlton fan, but there are a couple of places you can buy the appropriate decals if you want to.
I'm selling it to make space for a new bike; I enjoyed building this but to be honest, at 55cm, it never really fit me properly - I'm 6'1"
I live in Glasgow, but I come down to London pretty often, so if you live in either of those places I can deliver the bike in person. Can ship too if necessary.
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Don't know if you're still looking, but I'm about to put my restored Carlton Corsa up for sale on LFGSS - I posted it last year, here (http://www.lfgss.com/post2372108-49949.html)
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I've just finished putting together my first road bike build, and have been trolling these forums quite a bit for the last month, picking up useful advice and inspiration. Here's the result - couldn't have done it without lfgss, and of course the Bike Station (if you live in Scotland you'll know what I mean).
I picked the bike up on eBay, and have replaced pretty much everything except the handlebars, stem, and headset - any comments, complimentary or slanderous, would be appreciated...
Full album here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpt-howdy/sets/72157627392752195/with/6080377268/
This one's in the Urals