The story of the restoration of a 1950s classic bicycle for a Land's End – John O'Groats charity ride in aid of Alzheimer's Society
I’ve managed to remove the old headset that came with the Ellis Briggs frame (essentially the chromed rings at the top and base of the head tube, which contain the bearings that take most of the stress of steering and road vibration). It’s in poorish state, with some pitting of the bottom bearing race – so I’m now in the market for a 1950s headset. Until I find something better, I’ll re-use the old headset, now cleaned and greased.
Better news is that I’ve found an alloy stem manufactured by GB…
…and some delightful GB “randonneur” handlebars. I’m not entirely sure about their date but, until someone proves that GB weren’t making them in the 1950s, I’ll assume they’re of the right vintage…
I'm Steve Pudney, a health economist now at the University of Sheffield. I carry out research on policy on disability, and I'm very concerned about the prospects for many disabled older people. I'm a keen cyclist and so decided to do something practical to help by raising money for Alzheimer's Society. Please consider supporting us.
Pingback: 17 Jun 2016: What state are we in? | Old Bloke On An Old Bike