New Carlton Thread
Posted by: George Fredrik on 06 December 2010
Well part of my increasingly contented life is assisted in its happiness in the process of creating a great mid-1980s cycles as it should have been fitted out had the English cycle making business not been in terminal decline apart from great almost cottage-industry scale production of bespoke cycles ...
In the summer I had rebuilt the old lady with a good selection of Campagnolo running gear. However certain parts eluded me at a reasonable price - and the price has to be reasonable.
But since my return from my Polish fortnight, I have been searching diligently for good parts to finish the job. NOS - British Standard Bottom Bracket, Headset, fine used brake levers [to compliment the fine calipers already fitted], and a mint rear derailleur - all from the Record group set between 1973 and 1985. Plus an amazing gift of later "C" Record gear levers [fitted and superb] ...
The only remaining thing to do is to build some wheels on Record hubs [already in the shed from the summer-time] with Ambrosio rims ... This will wait till New Year ...
I have ordered some Brooks bar tape to match, and Christmas week [vacation by order!] will see a significant amount of further fining down details and rebuilding.
I hope that this thread may live long enough to see some fine photos of a truly finalised set-up.
Something to gladden my heart in an innocent sort of way.
Dobranoc, all, from George
PS: The cycle is daily machine as well for fun, and it is no fair weather cycle, as a commuting machine. Really it is a biking parallel to an older Bentley [without the implied weight!] so really too nice to use that way, but a real pleasure in spite of being too nice to leave tied to a lamp post if I go into town. Fortunately only cyclists of certain [veteran] age recognise it for what it is. Otherwise it is simply old hat.
Posted on: 16 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Dear Hugh,
I asked my whell builder friend, who is now retired from running a good cycle maintainance shop in Birmingham to recommend a risky tyre that was as fast as they come! Risky in terms olf old fashioned prone-ness to punctures! The old girl is going to be for fun now, so both tyres being up for the morning commute is not important now as the Elswick will serve that purpose.
You should see his stack of spares! And his own selection of cycles. I was surprised that he has just bought another! Can't remember what, but Carbon and Aluminium frame. Feather light. and of course fitted out with a great running gear. He has two of this type, and the older one has mudguards, set up as a tourer ...
One real advantage of having a such a fellow to build my wheels only half a mile away is that he is close if they ever need tru-ing.
ATB from George
Posted on: 16 July 2011 by George Fredrik
I am getting itchy to get the wheels back now! Next up is to get some bar tape, and then when the wheels come then ten minutes with an oil can and screw driver to align the derailleurs again , and I am set for a crazy ride out!
Sometimes I wish that there was some kind of fast forward on life as there is on a video player!!!
ATB from George
PS: Dear Hugh, the cycle will never go off good tarmac. Though we do have our fair share of nasty dips and potholes!
Posted on: 16 July 2011 by Huwge
George - something from the Open Corsa range then. They go like the wind.
Personally, I'd still go for the new Conti Attack / Force combo or the Supersonic. Changing the tube by the side of the road with the Vittoria's may make you feel like Sisyphus!
Posted on: 16 July 2011 by winkyincanada
This guy, Laurens Ten Dam, finished the TdF stage today after a little detour off the road. That's suffering for your sport.
Posted on: 17 July 2011 by fixedwheel
You might also consider that Rabobank run Vittorias......
If you want a super quick tyre, then, IMHO, Conti SuperSonic. Just don't be surprised when you are through to the canvas in 6-800 miles.
John
Posted on: 17 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Dear John,
Considering the fact that the Carlton will not be required for my daily commute, then I can experiement with quite puncture risky tyres, and tyres that may nbot have great durability! I'll still commute with her on nice days, but generally the Elswick will be my daily hack. With mudguards, easy handling, and being heavy and slow, she is an ideal safe machine for less than pleasant conditions, and if there is a morning puncture, no doubt the Carlton will fill in for a day even in the winter.
I'll put some bar tape on later!
ATB from George
Posted on: 17 July 2011 by George Fredrik
One of the saddle and two of the bar tape now fitted.
ATB from George.
PS: Tomorrow I'' get some white self-amalgamating tape from Maplins instead of the horrible black fixing tape supplied!
Posted on: 17 July 2011 by George Fredrik
I am so excited about getting back onto the Carlton, [and so sad a person who needs a life], and so pleased that my sole current invesrment is a pair of nice wheels to be built, given the impending world economic meltdown that I mounted the old girl, just to remind myself how comfortable it is on a well considered classic style frame [even one two inches too tall] and took at least seven photos to get this!
Best wishes to all followers of this thread. the conclusion should occur before the "£" cannot even buy the wheels and tyres! I have some good tubes!
ATB from George
PS: NEVER going on an aeroplane again!
Posted on: 17 July 2011 by George Fredrik
PS: NEVER going on an aeroplane again!
Not even to Norway to see my aunt ans two cuisins! Trians, cycle, and ferry will have to be used, assuming I cannot find a sail-ship for the crossing. Otherwise why turn the replay equipment off when not in use ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 18 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Got some self-amalgamating tape to sort out, in a permanent fashion, the bar tape ends. The only stuff is black, but much neater than the flimsy normal insulation tapes that comes with the bar tape.Thanks John - fixedwheel - for the tip.
Just waiting [impatiently] for the wheels. Wish it could be this weekend, but I doubt it! Will call by tomorrow after work! Just to see!
Last real task, before crusing into the downhill decline of leaving middle age for old age! Got the replay right, and will soon have a great cycle going again. What else is there to want!?!
ATB from George
PS: Maybe I'll push the boat out and get one of those snazy electroniic speedometres now after thirty five years of wondering how fast I can go!?! There is room to mount one on the bar beside where the bell is.
Posted on: 19 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Fuuny pic. the Titfa suits the forks better than a little. And the white bar tape also!
Posted on: 20 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Post sript on the Peugeot Triathlon:
My friend Pawel inherited [after a fashion] this bike off me, as though it is a nice cycle, I never got on with it. Pawel thought it grand and preferred it to my Carlton and offered to buy it. It became his ...
But after a while he fell foul of the frame the same as me. So I sold it on eBay for him, and he is carefully guarding the money for a new angle on getting a good cycle for himself. A Polish friend of his recent returned to Poland for a holiday and bought the necessary parts to build up a fine modern [aluminium framed] hybrid road/mountain bike. It goes so well that Pawel wants his friend to repeat the process for him with the money from the PUG.
I doubt if any hybrid will keep pace with the Carlton however ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 25 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Less than a week till the old dear is the right way up on proper wheels - to be used in Poland, Norway, and of course the United Kingdom!
Hopefullu i'll avoid Masonic, ultra- right wing [allegedly Christian Konsertiv Protestant Fundamentailist] idiots along the way.
ATB from George
Posted on: 26 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Back in one piece again! At last, and finally the chapter closed, even if the insurance thing still is not quite finished.
I am more than pleased, and nice to ride on a bike that twitches in the breeze!
ATB from George
Posted on: 26 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Nice wheels for sure! The wheel equialent of Naim actually. Hand made Ambrosio rims hand built onto Campagnolo hubs, though not Records!
And it flies! Vittorio tyres are so smooth, which is a surprise given how skinny they are ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 26 July 2011 by GML
Hello George,
Sorry I missed you earlier, but a nice country pub beckoned.
The new wheels on the Carlton look fabulous, good for you.
Best wishes
George.
Posted on: 26 July 2011 by Hook
That is one fine looking ride! Congratulations George!
Hook
Posted on: 27 July 2011 by pjl2
Fabulous George, a real classic. Something to take pride in. I suspect that many hours of pleasurable cycling await - stopping off at country pubs etc. Lovely!
Peter
Posted on: 27 July 2011 by George Fredrik
When you pot something back together like the Carlton, you find a few little wrinkles. Easy to sort out ...
But she has found a form on those wheels that never quite was reached with Maillard hubs and Weinmann rims. It is crazy fast, so care must be taken. The plain looks of the green livery are simply misleading. With nothing spare fitted, it is barely different in weight to a modern carbon-framed road bike, but the quality of rattle-free silent riding is priceless in comparison. I showed the old girl to the guy who built the wheels up, and he was surprised. Nice to surprise a professional like that.
An observation on the Brooks B17. Perhaps not many here have ridden horses, but if you have then you will know that a good leather horse saddle is not only more comfortable than an arm chair, but also more comfortable even than the best car seats. The B17 reminds me of the direct connection that good horse saddles give, and also the safety that comes from such a direct connection. Hard it is not, nor rigid in the bone shaker sense, but its natural suspension is more Lotus than Daimler.
ATB from George
Posted on: 28 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Today my newly found friend the wheel builder trued up the back wheel on the Elswick, and fixed the cotterpins on the crank arms. I had to wait till the Carlton was back in one piece before attacking this, bcause it might have left me without a working cycle for a few days.
A sloppy creaking crank is horrible but no bike is worse. Both the crank arms were very badly worn, but just able to be rescued, thank goodness.
Off to Bromyard for a week to house sit for friend up on the Bromyard Downs. I'll take the Carlton over as there is some very nice riding over there, and if the car breaks down, it is only eleven miles to work.
Catch you all next weekend, unless I have time to come home for long enough to check in.
ATB from George
PS: Note well. Apparently it is now a legal requirement to have pedal reflctors fitted if riding after lighting up time. No doubt this would make a claim against a driver of a car, who knocked you off now, if you were without these reflectors would fail. Important for those of us who have to ride in the dark from time to time. I fitted such reflectors as a result of the advice.
Posted on: 28 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Running the old girl for three days - as is without careful adjustments [and one initial simple cable faillure that was rectified in less than two minutes] - this early evening I took the long and winding lane up one in four [Landsdown Lane - back of Elgar's house till 1934] to see my good friend Pawel. I knew that the cycle was running far freer than ever before, so I attempted the bank one off bottom geat standing on the pedals!
Racing bikes are not designed for climbing such vertigeanous slopes unlike mountain bikes, but it was made in easy style! Need to learn how to avoid wobble when pulling up on the bars, but it was a nice sensation/ ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 29 July 2011 by George Fredrik
For the fun of it, I have put a very simple speedometer/odometer on. Wired job and just five function modes. I have wanted to know how fast I was going for the last four decades, so at last I'll know for certain!
Managed 24 miles per hour on too short a straight to really get going completely flat out, as a first test.
ATB from George
Posted on: 30 July 2011 by George Fredrik
Haha! The road up by the old Race Course on the Bromyard Downs allowed for 30 mph to be acheived. The road is rather bumpy so hopefully some more can be managed this weekend. The roads out towards Hereford are fairly wide, straight and flat, so that is the place to go! These speeds are simply dangerous in town surrounded by inattentive motors!
ATB from George
Posted on: 31 July 2011 by George Fredrik
A reasonable photo of the cycle yesterday, in the middle of a 35 mile outing including some serious hills!
ATB from George
Posted on: 01 August 2011 by George Fredrik
Two personal bests now achieved in the sense of them being measured. 30 mph [or a few fractions faster] achieved pedalling, though on a rough road, and also just over 40 mph coasting, before I braked it back to something more reasonable.
Also managed over fifty miles in two days including doing any other more useful things!
ATB from George
