New Carlton Thread

I have the Blizzards on one of my bikes George. Durable certainly if not the grippiest tyre especially in the wet...

Dear Svetty,

I don't have a wide experience of narrow road tyres ... I have only really had a long experience of Continental "Ultra Sport" tyres when I first got the Carlton, and these really had hopeless grip in the wet. The Blizzards are better than that, but I if its wet I ride with much more caution than in the dry. It is not just bikes that cannot stop quickly, but cars also, even with ABS. All ABS does is prevents a lock-up of the wheels, and the stopping distance is still much longer in the wet than the dry.

The trouble that some drivers seem to assume that braking distance is not affected by the wet if they have ABS!

So I ride with the thought of preserving a wide clearance from cars in the wet! And my commute is normally entirely on non-traffic streets and a nice cycle path, but unfortunately that is under about a meter of water at the moment, as it runs beside the River Severn. 

ATB from George

Well the newly re-juvenated Carlton is continuing to challenge me, and is making me better. My right knee now aches after the punishment I have given it pushing what is a fast bike to the edge of my capacity. The big chain-wheel on the front has been finding the small cog on the back for sustained work, and this can but strengthen me up again. Strange how an inanimate object can become such a wholesome challenge, Not to be refused ...

ATB from George

Dear George,

I was one of the members to initially offer my wishes of full recovery following your unfortunate accident.

Looking forward to seeing you saddled and pictured in full blown riding gear  on your newly restored Carlton  so we can perhaps bring this thread to a most deserving rest.

KR

Tony

Dear Tony,

I have a good friend visiting in March for good music, beer, food, and cycling. Hopefully some nice photos on the cycles will emerge!

In itself that is a spur to get back into top condition myself!

So long as as I can ride a bike, this thread or one like it, is likely to be a permanent embarrassment here, sorry to say, because it might encourage other grey haired old sons of bitches like me to keep going as well!

ATB from George

PS: I gave up on the Wodka thread, because it required too much care over the behaviour of others, who might be potentially not happy about sharing of such crazy exploits as we went/still go in for! Nobody could consider cycling potentially embarrassing, I think!

I never thought it would happen, but I have bought another bicycle! 

An Ambrosio aluminium framed road bike with carbon fibre forks, Ambrosio wheels and double pivot brake calipers, otherwise equipped with Campagnolo gears [ten speed by two chain-wheels at the front], and has the Campag brake levers that have the built-in indexed shifters ... Very neat, and will be easier to use than the friction levers on the down-tube of the Carlton! But once learned the technique never goes!

Very smart. Not new by any means, but the first cycle that I have ever enjoyed with a drop bar. It is in fantastic condition, and has a brand new rear derailleur!

Unlike the Carlton which has a lovely smooth ride and flexes under hill climbing power, this one is not quite so smooth, though there is no tendency to shimmy in the steering [like the Peugeot used to, mentioned earlier in this thread] and is just as solid and safe downhill as my old Carlton.

And more to the point the cycle is actually my size. I can stand over it without being in tip toes! The dimensions from the saddle to handle-bar and from bottom bracket to saddle top have been taken off the Carlton, because I had found an idea position on it despite the basic frame being a good two sizes too big ... We had to fit a less forward fitting on the handle-bar stem to get the reach right.

I am going to collect the new one on Friday.

It has good mudguards, and amazingly with a Selle Rolls saddle weighs exactly the same as the Carlton at 22 lbs [10 kgs] exactly in both cases. If I took the mudguards off then no doubt the Ambrosio would be marginally lighter, though the Carlton gains lightness from the ultra light Gran Sport calipers and brake levers, and only having six speeds rather than ten at the back.

In my view this is a very modern style of machine that will be contrasted enough from the old English classic for me to enjoy the good points of both rather than just use my favourite all the time! It is a surprising blue colour that will not show itself in photos for sure! The forks are black. The hubs are not black, thank goodness!

It has gears as, 35 and 50 at the front and 12 to 28 at the back, compared to the Carlton with 42 and 53 at the front and 14 to 24 at the back. A much wider range in the modern set-up, and the changes are just as quiet as the Carlton. I have never really heard an indexed gear shift as quiet as this.

Fancy me get a cycle with some carbon fibre in it! Testing it out earlier, I reached 21 mph on the first ride. It corners nicely without having to concentrat on the line. The Carlton has this easy feel, but the Peugeot certainly did not ...

ATB from George

Ankerdine Hill in Worcestershire ... on a cycle. Not me of course, but my new [to me cycle] has been ridden up this. I am challenged to do the same with it. I would not have dreamed of trying it with the Carlton as the lowest cogs are far too long legged for this kind of thing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSHRznVQnlc

ATB from George

Hi George,

I hope you enjoy your new bike. I guess the urge to upgrade is there with all boys toys. 

Why is the car parked across the road at the end? Looked dangerous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mCuR0zgv30

Proper hill-climb. Mt Baker, just down the road. This film from 2007. I've ridden it once, but not as a race. (Leave the sound off - it's just cheesy music) And apologies for the shrieking/yelling woman near the end.

We have two great right climbs right on the North shore. Cypress and Seymour ski areas. They climb from sea-level (mountain roads actually start a bit higher, but it is easy to do them from sea level by adding a route up through some suburban roads) to about 1000 -1100m over about 12-14km. The climb of Cypress is about 20 minutes riding from my front door.

Coming back down is quicker!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIxEl8HPnxs

I would not want to go down that hill as fast as that!

The white painted building on the right at the end of this clip is the Talbot at Knightwick, and is one of my favourite watering holes. No doubt that if I went up and down this in the near future, then we would be going into there afterwards!

This hill is about six miles from me!

ATB from George

Dear Steve,

Actually this rules out the DAC V1, unless I can gain all the money for it first. Cycle or DAC, and that was the question in mind, but riding the new baby tonight, and there was no contest. Really it will be an utter contrast to the gentle and sweet Carlton, and if it can ascend the Ankerdine with its previous owner who is retirement age, then I should be able to get into good form again and manage it! I am only 51.

So the gramophone, which is lovely already, will stay as it is, and the Carlton will get a stable mate. 

One bike good. Two bikes better!

Fundamentally though my bikes are for commuting, and fun when allowed for! So not really only toys, but then neither is my gramophone. If I go on holiday, I miss music after only 48 hours, and so perhaps I should get an iPod!

ATB from George

Dear Winky,

This hill I have known all my life. I was born and brought up only about four miles into Herefordshire from here. I used to take my girlfriend to the Talbot for a drink in those more relaxed days!

I shall enjoy watching your film. The car turning round in the road is all too symptomatic of the careless way motorists behave everywhere. A danger to themselves and all other road users including other motorists.! Deplorable in my view.

So what do you reckon to me getting a cycle with carbon forks! And a not steel in the frame?

Probably you think I have caved in! 

ATB from George

PS: Nice film, and thanks for sharing!

Caved in? No. I think it great that you have a bike that properly fits you. I know the Carlton worked well for you, but the new one sounds more functional, if less "romantic".

I've gone the other way, of course, recently buying an older steel machine with Italian racing heritage. It is actually on the small side for me, but I don't plan on riding it much. More of a collectible, really.

Dear Winky,

The new machine is not in any way sweet or romantic, and the Carlton definitely is. A huge contrast and both will have their clear strengths, which means neither will be "the" favourite, but there will be a real choice of which to use and this will ensure fair shares for each!

I am so pleased by this. 

Unfortunately [?] this rules out the Nain DAC V1, but then my system is already going so well for me.

Ideal and not really to be adjusted till something wears out!

When you come to the UK, please do call in, and we can take out the two mounts, and swap halfway!

ATB from George

PS: It is full of mechanical details that I am unfamiliar with, so it will cost more to run than the Carlton. Nobody but me lays a spanner on the old lady, but this has alsorts of things I would not feel confident to adjust or repair! Thus the seller, who is the guy who has built my wheels, will get a regular service job now!

I was sharing an email with a friend when I admitted to telling the new bike to "Behave!" when I lent it against the wall. This is something I always say to the Carlton when I lean her up, so that she will not fall over and hurt herself. Not all I say to the old bike though, but it showed that the new one certainly got under my skin.

But the previous owner heard me say it! I told him that I always did that with bikes I lean against the wall. Adding that I supposed he thought I must be mad. He said, "Mad, no, but properly eccentric." The conversation went further ...

My friend, whom I told this story to, said that there was a connection with a cycle that no replay machine [for example] could ever match, and that he also talked to his bikes on times.

How many others will admit this eccentricity?

ATB from George

It is a strange thing, but sometimes buying replay equipment has provoked quite a bout of doubt over the wisdom of spend the money. 

Certainly my ESL 57s caused my me much gnashing of teeth, the Nait 5i-2 not, but even the rDAC had me shaking my head and that is by no means an expensive item compared to the great majority of quality hifi pieces. A Burndy cable costs more!

But this cycle that is coming to me on Friday has me on happy tenterhooks of excitement and anticipation. 

I know that is many respects it will be a more efficient and responsive machine than the Carlton, which itself is no slouch. It is s sort of indulgence. Nobody actually needs two bicycles to commute. And maintaining a commuting cycle so that it can be used for fun is hardly an indulgence, but two of them is a luxury. 

Yet I am so pleased to find a quality machine that contrasts in so many ways with the Carlton that it hardly seems a silly decision. Both cycles are in top condition, and have a value if everything went wrong. 

I now know that I could never bring myself to spend the requisite money on the Naim DAC V1. That would probaly be such a ruinous decision from the spending point of view that I'd never bring myself to enjoy it.

I hope to put some pictures up this weekend when I have the two cycles together.

I am like a child two days before Christmas, except I know what is in the parcel, and that makes it even nicer!

ATB from George

Good for you George.

Photos posted for George.





Great looking bicycle George. I'm delighted for you.

George, congratulations! First, on the right size for you, looks like this fits you much better. Should be more comfortable too, with carbon forks. I like the hidden headset, and the ergo levers. Those Campy levers are very comfy. Enjoy!

Dear George,

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Dear Hawk,

The gear change is a wonder to behold. Campagnolo friction change gears are sometimes called "school-master" gears, because you learn a lesson to be able to use them at all. Bit like a a crash gear-box on a car compared to synchro-mesh.

Anyway I took a little ride out after I took the photos, and found some of the lovely Hills in Worcester, such as Fort Royal Hill, Cole Hill [where I used to live], and Lansdowne Crescent Lane. My goodness this is Hill Climber, and also faster on the flat than the Carlton.

I hoped these two would be complimentary, but the new one is better or the equal of the Carlton in every way, without the classic charm of the Carlton. 

So I think the Carlton will become the social cycle on perfect weather days, the cycle to enjoy a blast from the past, the cycle to remind myself of the pleasure she has given me since I was given her just over four years ago. The cycle that taught me the school master lesson about the fragile friction shift Campag gear system  The cycle that made me faster on a cycle than ever before.

But not the cycle for Norwegian Alpenist riding later this year ...

I could not be more pleased, and the Carlton will never leave me, because it offers something other than pure efficiency ...

It offers something both comfortable and challenging. Riding the Carlton defeats all first timers. The Ambrosio Guido Mark Two frame [as fitted with very nice running gear] is easy for anyone who can ride a bike ...

ATB from George

Ride it in good health!

Dear Hawk,

Thank you for the most kind thought!

The brakes are so much better! I should be able to dodge the cars with then!

ATB from George

Dear George,

Time to eat humble pie.

Nice bike and glad the thread goes on and even on a happier note.

Perhaps you could get Richard to rename  the post including your new baby.

Happy riding!

KR

Tony

PS. Are you going to get rid of those mud guards or what?

It is on the Ambrosio!

I got it anyway. Norway - this summer - is a must. It is an omen from Thor!

ATB from George