Broken Carlton.

quote:

Thats a little OTT - you don't have to read George's posts.

Chris N

Chris
My reference in no way related to George!!
Peter

quote:

Originally posted by northpole:
George
The bottom bracket on my last bike became 'stuck'. The only solution the mechanics could offer (after trying all sorts of brute force techniques!) was to apply heat to the frame in the hope that differential expansion of the different metals would free it up.
The downside was that it would damage the paint finish.
Not a problem in your situation as the frame is in for a re-spray.
Might be worth trying this now George as BB's do wear out - cheap to replace, but only if you can get them off!
Peter

Dear Peter,

I managed to easily remove the pedals and bottom bracket, as I was given the loan of some splendid quality special tools by a workmate. He used to be a bike nut, but has moved on to motorbikes. He has no pushbike now, so let me have the tools on permanent loan, so he could borrow them back if he ever has the will to.

As with everything else on the bike it was removed with no force beyond the normal, and it took me less than five minutes to get the pedal arms and bottom bracket out. Sorry for omitting this gobbit!

ATB from George

PS: The guys at Argos really did like the old frame. They all had a good gander at it! A proper little crowd having a look. Admittedly, the frame is a modest one by Carlton standards, in lowly 501 Reynolds tubing rather than the highest quality 531 [of the time as there are much more advanced Reynolds tubing sets now], but the guy who booked the job in said his favourite old Reynolds tubing is the slightly heavier [ounces in the frame only, and totally outweighed by choices of fixings in any case] 501 in that it is very resistant to impacted dents, has good corrosion resistance, and allows for the jointing to be very strong when well done, and very easily repaired in the field if necessary. He told me about a big Indian ride he made years before where a village blacksmith had remade a failing lugged joint on an ancient 501 frame! You could not do that with a butt-welded steel joint or anything more modern!

I was delighted to see that, if not in nice cosmetic condition, the old Carlton frame was still in very fine functional condition! And as straight as an arrow, which is not always the case. They will straighten the alignment out if there is a distortion. As the guy said. “It will see you out and your grandchildren if they are interested!” I told him that it would be my nephew!

George

I know this is a bit ahead of schedule but I presume you will be buying a new saddle.

Please consider a Brooks, they are leather and also period. I have one and being leather it moulds to your bum and becomes ultra comfortable. They last for years.

Here is the URL.

http://www.brooksengland.com/en/Shop_Saddles.aspx

Regards

Mick

BigH47

George has asked you to respect his thread, please comply with it.

Regards

Mick

Dear Mick,

Exactly right. Choice made, and price known, and dealer selected:



Brooks B17, in brown, which will set off the Green of the frame very nicely ...

Not till July, as £65 has to be saved up first!

Best wishes from George

George

Well done, good choice, the B17 is the ultimate classic.

Just make sure you proofhide it.

Regards

Mick

Dear Mick,

I grew up on a farm where horses were a perfectly normal part of life and winter pass-times. The summer saw them out to grass, on a six mionth holiday!

I learned how a leather saddle - bike or horse - must be cared for, cleaned, and fed to keep it improving over time, till like worn in shoes there is nothing like it for comfort!

When new it will no doubt be somewhat stiff and uncomfortable!

ATB from George

PS: May have sourced a genuine good old B17 - gratis! This will just as fine as a new one!

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:



ATB from George

George,

Are in Malvern now as the the background looks very familiar?

Jono

Dear Jono,

Only in Saint Johns, so about eight miles. I guess the fairly modern housing would be almost exactly the same in such close locations!

When it is finished, I'll cycle over! Only four weeks to go.

Well, what is finished on something like this?

ATB from George

[Saint Johns in on the west side of the River Severn and is a sort of village outside the main city of Worcester, which itself is really to the east of the river - not for Jono's information, obviously]

George,

It looks like some houses on St. Andrews Road in Malvern which are opposite where I work.

I would like to see the bike when she is finished.

I currently have one of these on my desk


An original Campagnolo Super Record rear derailleur.

ATB

Jono

I have an idea that gradually I'll fit the old girl with Campag running gear - pedals aside as I have a very strong personal preference for English rat-traps, and have some vintage ones to fit when I re-assemble it. Also I have firmed up getting a proper old Brooks racing saddle in the last five minutes, so the old girl will have a nice blend of Italian and Englsih running gear in time!

Is that deraillier spare? My Shimano one is slightly twisted from before I got the bike [as was the front brake calliper - now replaced with an old matching part], but it does not make adjustment impossible.

ATB from George

I would say yes BUT I am planning to build a classic in the future myself.

Jono

Good for you!

It is a great, simple, and harmless fun getting these old things fixed up!

I shall have to find such a derailleur for myself in time.

Best wishes from George

I have in my mind the following spec:

531/753 frameset
Campag Super Record with a single 48 chainring
Tubs
Stella SR saddle

Jono

Dear Jono,

Could you email me. I'll put my email in my profile.

Your bike spec sounds very nice indeed. I hope that you will share pictures of the finished [are they ever?] machine.

Thanks from George

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
Dear Mick,

I grew up on a farm where horses were a perfectly normal part of life and winter pass-times. The summer saw them out to grass, on a six mionth holiday!

I learned how a leather saddle - bike or horse - must be cared for, cleaned, and fed to keep it improving over time, till like worn in shoes there is nothing like it for comfort!

When new it will no doubt be somewhat stiff and uncomfortable!

ATB from George

PS: May have sourced a genuine good old B17 - gratis! This will just as fine as a new one!

George

Old B17s are have become collectors items, such is their longevity, so it will be good that an old saddle goes on an old bike.

Your reference to maintaining the Brooks saddle using Proofide is one of the oldest discussions that Brook owners indulge in. Some passionately swear by the stuff, others say it is unnecessary. I chose to use it about 4 times a year and the tin is now about half full even after 5 years of use so it is not that expensive over a period of time.

Here is the URL

http://www.evanscycles.com/pro...utm_campaign=froogle

Regards

Mick

Dear Mick,

The saddle is off an old derelict Houldsworth, and will sit nicely on another old English machine, though it will need immediate attention and feeding, so your link to Evans, which company I have already bought items from, is most helpful.

Thanks for the link.

ATB from George

George

Yes a brown saddle will really complement a green frame. Just a thought ... can you obtain matching colour handle bar tape. A brown saddle and brown grips would look rather cool. This may give you an idea of what I am rambling on about.

http://www.pashley.co.uk/products/guvnor-3-speed.html

Regards

Mick

Thanks for the link, dear Mick. I had never thought about colour co-ordination at all! I was going to put the old style French white cotton tapes on!

"I think, I better think it out agian!"

Thanks for the posting the old parts Frank. I can work on the proofing the saddle before fitting.

It is odd because when I got the old bike, roughed up though it was, I knew it was something special. I had a plan, and now it is happening. Of course you never quite know where a plan is going in fine detail, but the result is going to please me as much as anything I have done since I rebuilt my old 1940 Royal Enfield Model CO [350 cc single] - built up to its 1946 civilian reworked state. Enfields took them back from the War Department and refreshed them in a simple black livery to sell to the public as the company was banned from selling newly made machines in the UK. New production was entirely for export given the trade deficit at the time.



This photo was taken in 2001 very near the end of the work.

ATB from George

George,

My father had one of the original sell-off Royal Enfields. He described it as having such poor handling that got used to "stepping off" in corners!

I will send an email later.

Jono

Btw, just finished treating (is this proper english and did I spell it right? ) my new B-17 and the saddle bag for my Colnago, as the current Brooks is on loan from the other ride in my staple.

And of course the saddle and the handlebar tapes must be identical like there -> http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MjhK...arbers%2Bpole%2B.JPG or http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_MjhK...Q/s1600/IMG_1071.JPG

Btw, George I hope you do not mind if I also store your email address somewhere to contact perhaps later of these vintage bikes..

Dear Mika,

Between you and Mr. Parry, you are causing me to spend a few more £s on the odd bike! {:¬)

Of course the saddle and handlebar tape must match. Not a functional issue, but certainly the "aesthetic" is also important to a degree! Lucky that my favourite green for the frame is so easy to co-ordinate with!

Of course you are welcome to make off-forum contact by email. It would be pleasure for me indeed!

Currently I am already thinking of a something very nice for a finish for the original Carlton fork. [Given that the black replacement fork is not sensible to use in future because of a machining error in the manufacture. Machined to less than 4 mm on one drop out].

Think of a horse with two white front feet! I want to preserve the chrome on the bottom 100 or 130 mm [4 or 5 inches] of the fork and enamel down to this in the olden style! I cannot afford to have them completely re-chromed, and I am not very fond of chrome, but the little bit left will be nice looking and cost no more to do than preserving the chrome on the drop outs only.

ATB from George

Mika, George

Now those are two "real" bicycles. Beautiful. In the 1980's the area around San Diego, Ca. became quite a hotbed location for frame builders. Masi started an operation here and Dave Moulton emigrated from Great Britain. The intertwining of builders and firms during that period is too much for this posting but there is still a thriving "traditional bike" community in these parts. Do a Google search for Brian Baylis, CycleArt, Joe Bell, and the San Diego Custom Bicycle Show 2010 and prepare to have your mind boggled.

Nowadays, Vanilla Bicycles in Portland, Oregon and Richard Sachs in New England are examples of fine frame builders. Production examples of traditional bikes can be had through Rivendell and Surly.

Dear Clay,

I will only add that the refreshing of the enamel is being undertaken by Argos Cycles in Bristol, who build [and I saw their output on Saturday] traditional steel framed [lugged and more modern butt-welded types] as well. To my mind the continuation of a century long tradition and craft-based skill is very fine to see! Not to say that in competition these bikes will be at the front, but rather that they remain practical and enjoyable machines that with TLC can have a lifetime's serviceable pleasure to offer.

I chose to investigate Argos for the job, not least because Bristol is fairly easy to get to for me.

The guys at Argos were rather pleased to see a robust old frame in good functional condition [straight as an arrow, and not corroded at all, though in cosmetically rough condition], which would be refreshed and preserved for a good half century. They were very kind considering that the majority of the frames they had hanging round were much more exotic than my relatively plain example.

A nice harmless occupation!

ATB from George

George

Just took a quick look at the Argos website. I'll spend more time later. But it looks like you made a great choice. Their work is beautiful. A bicycle can be a beautiful thing. Lovely to look at, good for your physical health, and when working with your hands in maintaining one, good for your mental health as well.