New Carlton Thread

Yes, it looks very much like a potentially broken thumb, and just off to the X-ray unit. On foot, and five miles there!

Catch you all later!

They were very nice at work. "Go home, and get the Doctors to sort you out!" No question at all about what that meant. Unfortunately we are busy, and already down on staff because one is away for a family funeral, so I feel bad about being useless to them at the moment.

ATB from George

Hi George.

Really sorry to hear about your thumb. On the positive side, it could have been far worse I suppose!

Will the broken thumb preclude you working?

You need to sort out this claim pronto!

Julian

ps - you should not be walking 5 miles to the hospital for the x-ray. Take a cab and keep the receipt.

Suspected broken Scaphoid bone. Two weeks in a splint, so that it can fix itself.

I went to the Police station to find out how get the driver’s details, and they said that they were unable to give me the details because of Data Protection Laws!

Still they did give me enough information to contact the Policewoman who attended the scene.

At least I have the time to sort this out, though not a good time to be loosing earnings …

ATB from George

Just popped in here and was sorry to discover your unfortunate collision George. Saddening for you and your lovingly restored bike.

I hope your Policewoman is helpfull to you and you have a strong case for claiming not only for damage and personal injury but loss of earnings aswell. Keep every bit of paper that supports your claim.

Get well.

regards
Geoff

Thanks Geoff,

Kind of you to say so.

The bike survived considerably less damaged than me, and given that it pitch-polled and landed upside down six feet away it is amazing that all that is spoiled is one brake lever and the saddle. There is not a scratch on the frame, and it appears true. I actually rode it for a few minutes last night with a broken wrist [!] at about 9, but one handed and nothing seems amiss apart from the saddle being on the scew - rails bent - and a chunk out of the back, and the leather shaved off one side! It seems to have taken the brunt of the landing ...

Tomorrow I will contact the Policewoman, and make my next visit be to a solicitor if necessary. I cannot afford to loose half December's earnings [given that I am off till at least the 28th, and possibly weeks longer than that, subject the next X-ray] as we are paid normally on the 26th of each month though it will be before the Christmas break in this case. If I don't get something sorted out before New Year's day then the rent and Council Tax will not be paid.

Simple really. It could amount to a crisis if it is not sorted out quickly. On the other hand I no longer panic over stuff like this. My boss [the owner] is a very reasonable man, and will no doubt help with a sub to be recouped over the next few months ...

Good job that I did not have a Christmas spurge really!

ATB from George

Well a difficult afternoon of it with progress, but at a speed that movement is hard to find.

The Police Report on the "incident" is with the Justice Department, and I spoke directly to them from Worcester Police Station. It takes two to three months to decide whether there is any case to be made, either against me or the driver ...

So next was a visit to a good Solicitor, and the lady I spoke to there was much more helpful, though she said anything would probably take even six months to be settled.

But the real success was that the attending Policewoman rang me during the initial Solicitor interview, and many details were immediately cleared up between the Solicitor and the Policewoman. This was a stroke of luck really.

Otherwise it is like trying to stir cold treacle!

When I see how much I get paid for December, my boss/owner may be the first port of call for assistance ...

ATB from George

A very slow law is standard for all, unless of course you are a footballer or a "star" ie have won a terrible TV show or whatever. Joe public has to make do with 2nd or 3rd best unfortunately.
I hope you eventually get some kind of positive resolution.
Try and have a good christmas anyway.

Dear Howard,

The way it looks now, as soon as have fully initiated the Civil case [tomorrow with luck once I have secured the finance to persue it, either house insurance or no-win-no-fee] I think I may just buzz off till the 27th in time for my next X-ray. No reason to stay here at all once everything that can be done has been ...

ATB from George

Hi George,

Sorry to hear you've been injured. Hope you get well soon. The bloke in the cage was clearly an arsehole!

Just a thought if you're in a union they may have free solicitors available. My union certainly does.

Best wishes
Steve

Dear George,
Sorry to hear of your accident and injury, hope things work out for you soon,
Try to have a quiet Christmas and New year,
All the best,

Chris N

I don't really quite know what to do. My wrist has been aching like mad, but the use has come back in the thumb and a lot of bruising has come out. When I took off the splint in time for bed a few minutes ago the movement is almost normal, so I think I'll see what the quack thinks! Being off work does not suit me one bit.

Without a hint from me, my boss has paid me out for a full December [and I was not expecting anything before Christmas Eve], even adding a little bonus. Sometimes people are kind at exactly the right moment. I'd rather go back to work than have to get involved in a load of legal barny, if the Doctor will allow it. Even if it is so called light duties ...

ATB from George

Hi George,

Wrists are very easy to sprain, i suggest a bandage support (not too tight!) which should make it more comfy for the time being.

You were lucky not to brake a clavicle - the most vulnerable bone to break in a bicycle crash...
I’ve always been lucky with my bike crashes, lost count how many but the worst (and last one) being 9 years ago ~ oncoming car being driven without due care and attention etc; without warning turned right, strait into my path… (and impact!) sending me flying over the bonnet and onto the road.
That resulted in a slighty fractured clavicle, quite bad bruising to right arm, upper leg, lower leg, left foot (instep), and grazing to bashed knuckles on left hand. Talk about ouch!.. i couldn’t get up after the crash because right leg wouldn’t move properly, but luckily I had very kind hearted help at hand within seconds, and the ambulance arrived fairly quick.
There wasn’t much wrong with the bike ~ the chain fell off.

As to going into work; follow the Doc’s advice, and don’t go back too soon just because you feel guilty, it’s not your fault this happened. If you do go back too soon, you'll feel awful, and hurt all the more for it.

Besides, it’s too cold and snowing buckets so stay at home in the warm, take it easy and listen to some good healing musik -
Your Doctor should prescribe some Bach clavier with therapeutic qualities, the twinkley keyboard action will stimulate your digits into regenerative life all the quicker.

Take care

Debs

The good news and then less good, though not terrible.

Firstly my wrist was up to a little bit of TLC on the Carlton this afternoon, and the less good is that the back wheel now has a wiggle in it. Only about an eighth of an inch, but the writing is on the wall for its future once we get into some good weather. In any case I had planned to have two wheels built up by Easter, so the schedule will be brought forward.

Otherwise the bike has nothing serious [i.e. things that cannot be substituted using Allen keys or spanners] wrecked, so only things that will be ironed out at future TLC sessions! The great thing about running a classic is that maintenance is on going. You can never quite say that the work is entirely finished!

I have to go to the Doctor tomorrow to get a sick note or be sent back to work. Very much hoping to be allowed back to work. Enforced rest does not suit me, when I don't think more time off is justified, though if the Doc insists that I stay off work - well only a fool ignores professional advice really.

Otherwise things look set fair for a nice few days over Christmas. Let us hope that the snow goes in time for the weekend!

ATB from George

Just back from the GP for a decision on a sick note, and the visit was wasted. More than half the doctors are off themselves! The reception begged me to return tomorrow! But this very cold weather has caused my wrist to ache like mad, and so given that work is very slow this week - I just rang in - I think I'll leave it and let the decision about going back to work wait till next Tuesday when I see the bone doctor at the Hospital ...

But I am getting cabin fever here. I wish I felt up to going away and visiting friends. I have been offered to go to friends near Oswestry, but the idea of the journey and all the pitfalls [and even getting stranded up there] seems too much just now ...

More Beethoven from Immerseel, and Bach of course to divert me. The brakes on the bike have frozen up, though as my wrist feels now, getting on it would be silly.

ATB from George

Well today I went back to the GP was written off till the 31st. And next to work where I was received sympathetically by the owner, my manager, my production colleagues, and the ladies in the Office.

Regardless of sick leave, I am returning on the 4th of January.

My flat mate [and his GF] are away till the 3rd of January, so now begins Christmas. Tomorrow I shall install my 9-inch artificial tree, and I got the Carlton in from the shed so that I can strip and restore the brakes etc! I have decided that my Norwegian Aunt is correct in stating that it is madness to ride a bike in the Winter, and I shall walk to work until better weather and visibility...

So I have a fortnight to make the Carlton ready for more reasonable conditions.

Next Wednesday [a week tomorrow] Pawel and Justina are coming for an English farmhouse Sunday lunch, which I do exquisitely, and will be a high point in the holiday time for me ...

ATB from George

quote:

My flat mate [and his GF] are away till the 3rd of January, so now begins Christmas.

..., and I got the Carlton in from the shed so that I can strip and restore the brakes etc!

So I have a fortnight to make the Carlton ready for more reasonable conditions.

And now the old girl is in pieces! A frame sits only on two wheels - parts strewn on newspaper on the floor!

But not much seems amiss. Had some spare brake levers of the even more ancient and even shorter "Gran Sport" variety, which replaced their Record successors, as one of them was really wounded beyond repair in the crash.

It is good to have the flat to myself!

ATB from George

George, sorry to hear you were injured, and hope you are feeling better.

Your Carlton is very interesting, reminds me of an older Canadian made road bike I once owned, lugged Reynolds 531c with Campy Super Record, 1985 vintage. In my heart of hearts I think nothing beats the look of a classic British or Italian steel frame. The record crank had a beautiful alloy look unmatched by anything since, although I had a C-Record once. At present I have a red Italian Marinoni, nicest looking of my bikes, an early production Litespeed Titanium, nicest riding bike, and a couple of Trek carbons - I worked for a Trek dealer for years. We have a frame maker here named Michael Barry, he used to race in England and when he came to Canada he started his frame business. Makes only steel road frames, and has one of the finest bike collections in the world, a virtual museum.

Anyway, although I prefer the ride of modern bikes, I like the classic look of the older Italian and British frames. I still keep all my shifting at the downtubes, mostly Campy retrofriction, and the look of a Campy 1" headset can't be beat. I grabbed a few different styles before everything went threadless. By the way, if your frame is a bit large that's great as it means it's more comfortable and has a bit more flex. If you ever need any questions answered I'd be happy to oblige. I'm no expert, but I repaired and fitted bikes for the past 12 years, and years ago I ran a repair shop in Alberta for a large retailer, and I've been collecting parts and literature for years. Don't know if I'll ever use them, but I always kept back-up parts just in case. You know, things like a Campy 8 speed rear der, 1" headsets, a collection of 1" threaded forks from Easton, record brake levers, 130mm rear hubs, a variety of freewheels from 6 speed to 8 speed (regina, Maillard, suntour, etc), and so on. I just knew they would be hard to acquire in the long run so I snagged them when I got the chance.

I hope you are overcoming your injuries and that you are successful in regards to the motorist who hit you. I know what it's like day in and day out, the attitude some people have against cyclists. I've had beer bottles thrown at me, someone tried to hit me with a pumpkin once (thought it was funny to throw it at me), and people from the comfort of their car like to play games with you in traffic.

Enjoy your 'restoration', and have a good holiday!

Dave

Dear Dave,

Such an old machine is really work in progress. All the crash means is that progress needs to catch up a little! I had bought already an all steel 1" Super Record Headset as NOS, and I marvel at the simple thing, yet so elegant and perfectly finished. I shall fit it while the old girl is off the road - in place of a Levin-Tange Japanese ally set. Methinks the Carlton is closer to Campagnolo than anything from Japan.

Also, and I did not realise it, the rear derailleur was bent in the smack, but I have a spare Nuovo Record of the completely ally kind, rather than the Super Record kind with Titanium parts, and this hangs in place of the old bent Gran Sport. But I shall completely re-cable the bike and reset everything. New wheels will come as soon as the snow goes ...

Ambrosio rims on stainless spokes [Sapim or DT - no decision yet] set on some good Super Record hubs - used but nigh mint!

But never again will I ride this bike in the dark in the winter, even though there was no ice on the road when the crash happened. Walking will be fast enough in the winter ...

The blessing is that the frame was not bent.

Thanks for the thoughts, ATB from George

George, campy headsets of that vintage are works of art. I found a 'NOS' british thread record headset at an old bike shop in Toronto. I have some of the newer ones, from the '90's, one of them is the 'mushroom' shaped one. The newer Campy stuff from the mid '90's on just did not have the alloy metallurgy look that their old stuff did.

Funny, when I was 14, just after my dad died, my soon to be stepfather arranged to buy me a 'Coventry-Eagle', with campy. It was poorly assembled, I found out later the guy put the headset bearing upside down, or something like that, always scraping. Point is, the campy parts were nice but shifted so poorly. All the other kids had Peugot's, with Simplex mechanisms that shifted much better, and I had my Campy changed to Simplex. Years later I'm going out of my way to find Campy! Both of my 8 speed Record derailleurs have the fancy ti bolts, for what that's worth.

My new age Trek US Postal I purchased as a frameset, then I customized it from the ground up. Campy Record hubs, DT 14/15 spokes with alloy nipples, and Campy Moskva rims. I had them built by an awesome mechanic here. He used to handbuild wheels for bike manufacturers before there were wheel building machines, he sat in a chair all day lacing. He built them in 2000, and they are as true as ever. Sadly he had a heart attack one day riding to work. My friend left Park spoke wrenches on his grave as a tribute. Are you able to do your own spoking? It's an art I've never mastered. I have spare Campy rims as backup, and one other rear wheel he built for me as backup. The thing I love about the older hubs is the ability to rinse the freewheel in solvent and re-grease. The rims have no eyelets and no machined braking surface, they look like mini "Vento's".

By the way, I used my rear Super Record derailleur for 10 years, then had a friend sell it online for $100. No wear after 10 years!

I still ride in the winter here, providing there is no snow. I just realized the beauty of your bike being steel - you can crash and still just have to clean up the 'wound' and re-spray. My carbon bikes won't tolerate a crash. The Litespeed is very resilient, it's a mix of regular Ti and the 6/4 variety.

Take care, and remember, just a few months until spring!

Dave

quote:

Point is, the campy parts were nice but shifted so poorly. All the other kids had Peugot's, with Simplex mechanisms that shifted much better, and I had my Campy changed to Simplex. ...

Dear Dave,

My number two bike [currently on secondment to my friend Pawel] is a Simplex equipped Peugeot, and yes the gear shifting is very neat compared to Campagnolo, but in the end Campy got there!

I was given some "C" Record friction levers and these give at least the same feeling of confidence as the Simplex system [friction, not indexed] does, and also the sense that superbly finsihed polished ally is much nicer to handle than grey plastic!

But I agree that the old Campy friction levers are a little like trying to fish for noodles in soup!

For some thoughts on the "C" Record shifters, see earlier in this thread. Plus a couple of pictures - rare as hen's teeth of course.

ATB from George

quote:

Originally posted by George Johnson

George, that looks really smart.

Happy Christmas.

Nice pictures George. The green paint is uniquely nice, reminds me of older Bob Jackson racing frames. The other thing about Campy is the infinite longevity of bearings. Their headsets never become 'indexed' to the straight ahead position. My front and rear hubs haven't been touched, not even re-greased. I've taken other record hubs apart and found virtually no wear. Legend has it that Campy, like Naim with matched drivers, selected only the best bearings and the rest got sold off to other manufacturers.

Have a great Christmas!

Dave

Dear Dave,

I am sure that in times gone by Campagnolo were certainly in the market for the very best bearings made, and that as presumably most bearings come out of a limited number of bearing factories the rest of the less closely graded bearings did go elsewhere!

The disappointment with the Tange headset is that though fitted new and never abused, it certained already has an indexed feel to it!

The Tange bottom bracket once fitted was ecclipsed by a bitza arrangement of unmatched Campagnolo parts - very old thin cup housings with their original bearings and a Super Record spindle, but with some wear apparent! Fortunately I have a complete mint Super Record set coming now to match and correctly offset the crankset, and this was the pinacle of traditional bottom brackets in the olden days. This not just be smooth and strong, but durable. I hope it will be the last BB I shall ever fit on the bike actually.

As it is the front room is still strewn with parts! Tomorrow I'll go and get some new brake and gear cables ready for the rebuilding this week. I have taken the derailleurs and brake callipers entirely to pieces and cleaned and oiled them. They have come back pritine smooth, and precise in action. When I tried this with the old Weinmann brake levers [and Shimano derailleurs]they re-assembled with so much play in them that they were worse after being rebuilt!

And yes I do like the colour, which is Mid-Brunswick Green. It is actually the colour of the old British Ministry Of Defence staff cars, and not the slightly bolder British Racing Green which everyone takes it for. I like it, and it makes the bike look quite "low-key" which is a good thing if it is left locked up outside the bank or something!

Magpies like bright looking thigs to pinch!

ATB from George

I will add that on a High day, I have done nothing with the bike, and indeed tomorrow is a Sunday, so another day of inaction. Monday will see the progress continue and not before!

ATB from George

No bike rebuilding today!

Tomorrow is a nine-fifteen appointment with the bone doctor at the Worcester Royal Hospital!

Then to work rebuilding!

ATB from George