29 Dec 2014: The market for bike bits
One of the most interesting aspects of this restoration project is the large and very active market for old bike components that I hadn’t previously known existed. Ebay is a … Continue reading
28 Dec 2014: Gears – back to the drawing board…
This is what the geartrain now looks like. It’s a 4-speed 14-28 tooth freewheel with a narrow 3/32″ chain. I’ve had to admit that my attempts to get the Simplex … Continue reading
27 Dec 2014: Luggage…
Weight is the enemy… It would be hard work struggling up steep hills on a heavily-laden bike with 1950s-vintage gearing, so it will be important to take the bare minimum … Continue reading
23 Dec 2014: winter fuel payments
In Britain just before Christmas, the government pays £200 to everyone aged over 60 to help with the increased cost of heating during the winter. This winter fuel payment is … Continue reading
29 Nov 2014: Steering and brakes
I now have a pair of GB “Coureur” brakes in place. They are side-pull lightweight brake calipers, designed primarily for racing bikes. Not as effective as the French centre-pull brakes … Continue reading
25 Nov 2014: Progress!
Quite a bit of progress to report.. The bike now has a beautiful hard leather “Swallow” saddle made by Lycett in the 1950s. Lycett was one of the early competitors … Continue reading
2 Nov 2014: The other bike….
Our plan is for Eric to make the ride on an old hand-built bike too. My earliest surviving bike is a tourer bought from Mosquito Bikes in Upper Street Islington … Continue reading
26 Oct 2014: the crankset
The bike will have Stronglight Competition cranks. Stronglight was another French company that supplied the British market in the 1950s. Today, these cranks seem very old-fashioned. They’re (heavy) steel and … Continue reading
25 Oct 2014: more on gears…
Back from a long trip to Australia, and keen to make progress. While away I managed to find gear components made by the French Simplex company. Simplex gears were popular … Continue reading
21st Sep 2014: a start on the wheels …
A pair of Airlite large-flange hubs has arrived. They were produced by the British Hub Company, which was in business in Birmingham from 1904 into the 1960s. The Airlite was … Continue reading
Old Bloke On An Old Bike 