Show us your bikes (Part whatever...)

My Cannondale System6 w/Campy gruppo

I bought this 'Carlton' new in 1988. I've had to replace the wheels recently but that's about all. It's a lovely bike and I could never part with it.



I've owned this 'Time' bike for three years now and it always has a feeling of wanting to 'go quickly' every time I ride it. I try my best but the biggest chain ring doesn't get bothered that often.

quote:

Originally posted by pt109:


My Cannondale System6 w/Campy gruppo

People who ride them, just love those Arione saddles. I just can't get past the fact that the pointy bit out the back doesn't do anything. Only if you had a tail, would any part of your anatomy touch it. The engineer in me finds it illogical and therefore a bit ugly. Are they comfortable? Well apparently so, but I wouldn't know 'cos I'd never buy one!

Nice bike btw. What stem is that? I have one of the Bontrager xXx carbon babies on my BMC. Bike porn. Totally overpriced, no lighter, no real extra function, but just gorgeous. I'm nothing if not hypocritical, eh?

two bike memories, back in 56 or so, we moved from Okinawa where dad thought this fold up bike with small wheels was wonderful and bought one. Took it to West Point where he taught, my older sister rode it. We must have been the odd ducks with rattan furniture and some japanese things. Mom is amazed I remember the furniture as I was 3-6 there.

Other was in college in Ft Collins Colorado a guy I knew bought a bike took it apart and sprayed the frame white and hung it behind the couch as a sculpture and rode it often, nifty storage idea. Couch had to be out a ways from the wall tho.

I don't dare ride a bike in LA. Tho the other day I saw a trendy young woman, black hair with pink parts, pink backpack and a black and pink beach cruiser riding down a major road. You go girl!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by winkyincanada:

People who ride them, just love those Arione saddles. Are they comfortable?

Nice bike btw. What stem is that?

The Arione's comfort is OK, I prefered my older
Aliante.
The stem is Cannondale's System6 that came with it. I think they supply the same with the Super6.

Thanks for the nice comment, I LOVE my bike, stiff,VERY comfortable, it behaves confidently in descents, and has the potential of beeing a very fast bike. If only the engine was not so fat and sluggish...

Calling GFFJ,

George, I'm keen to see the latest handlebars you've fitted to the Carlton. When you get a spare moment please post a snap. Thank you.

Regards


George.

Oh George,

The ride is bliss, so much so that I am exhausted by the mileage clocked up since Wednesday night! Like a crazy upgrade on the gramophone - One more Symphony before Morpheus!

Never have I a made a bigger step forward in comfort, controllability and speed all in one go! And your beautiful shot [which might as well have been of my identical Carlton] so made me want to post the photos that already exist of it from two evenings ago!

But I depend on being sent them. I will buy some film for my Canonette, take some good pictures, and get them developed otherwise, and this will be mid next week in that case

But it becomes something that I cannot but love now.

The flat-bar was a scandal on such a bike, and the Great North Road bar is so correct in the geometry of a great English bike. Even the gear levers fall to hand in about eight inches and the bar is so not prone to wobble that the shifting becomes utterly safe [if antique in style].

The downside is that one can crash the bar into the knee on a very sharp turn, but the reality is this is at less than walking speed, so not an issue when actually riding on the road! You might as well get off at less than walking pace ... Or splay the knees ...

My goodness this has surprised me.


Very best wishes from George

Mine in original state:



and yours:



All the razamataz in the world will not completely supercede these classic old machines!

Dear George,

Please can you contact me privately on

georgefredrik1961[at]hotmail[dot]co[dot]uk

about where you bought new wheels, please?

ATB from George

Will do George.

I've been running this Roubaix Pro for 3 or 4 years now without any problems. This picture isn't recent, the only change being a new chain and cassette fitted a couple of weeks back.



Peter

The tyres have also been changed a few times! and I have new handle bar tape and swisstop brake pads to fit in the next few days.

Peter

I apologise in advance to those who hate antiques!













Diiferent views of my Carlton Kermesse taken yesterday showing it with a 1930s style Great North Road bar in place of the original racing "drop-bar" which can be seen a couple of posts up!

It is great like this. Getting the Carlton was the biggest bike upgrade I ever made, though I saved it from going to the tip. Fitting the GNR bar has been as big a leap again.

The last picture shows my other bike - a Peugeot racer, also in Reynolds 501 tubing. I prefer the Carlton, but will keep the Pug original out of respect for its nigh mint condition. The Carlton is in the process of being made lovely again!

ATB from George

Very nice indeed George.

The North Road bar looks like a comfortable ride and really suits the Carlton.

The old bike manages not to look too shabby even though it is hardly in mint condition from the cosmetic angle. It goes so well, and yet this bar makes it so docile in traffic as well. When I can I'll buy some plain rat-trap pedals for it, as I can't deal with toe-clips in the commuting traffic.

And this bar makes applying a lot of quick power easy, both for traffic light starts and on hills.

I could not be more pleased!

ATB from George

New frame. Slightly more chuckable. Complete with silly seatpost.

For the others see the previous page!

This makes for a fascinating contrast with Dave's totally modern bike immediately above!



ATB from George

ah well, i cannot figure out how to post that picture of a certain heat shaped emblem on the front of my fave ride.

Dear Jab.

Richard Dane has posted how in the FAQs section.

http://forums.naim-audio.com/e...2929996/m/8042985037

ATB from George

Fredrik.


Have you tried to level your seat horisontaly?

Not mine, but I have the same.

Dear Christian,

It is a German made saddle and post assembly, which was fitted by the first owner, and it has always been like that - tipping down a little at the back. It looks as if it ought to be rather uncomfortable, but the reverse is true for me.

I lack any thickness of fat - my bottom bones sit nicely on the saddle as it is. After 15 months of daily use with it, I now find a saddle that is horizontal or even tipping forward to be very uncomfortable.

The Peugeot is not only unadjustably horizontal but actually "bowed" in the middle like a small horse saddle. If I had to use the bike for any length of time, rather than it being spare for emergencies, I would get another saddle like the one on the Carlton.

The Carlton is very comfortable now, though no one else who has ridden it reckons they could live with it!

Variously it has been called, "a bone shaker," " so much scrap," " and bloody old antique - get a proper new one!" [Etc.]. Well I doubt that I am ever going to get a new bike, though I am always looking out for a potential old wreck to rebuild again!

ATB from George Fredrik

PS: How's the weather in Norway for cycling. Is it getting warm yet? I was there once in early May and even at Moss, there was still snow in places by the road and in the shadows beside buildings!

Wheather first.

It snowed this morning here in north. Cold temperatures came from the Iceland-area. Happily the snow is gone now.

Some pics for you ( source ), mister.







But apart from this morning, it's nice and warm, just like any other spring.

_______________________


If the saddle works for you, nothing is better. Old, well used bikes are charming. I have a Myiata One Ten road bike thats been converted into a singlespeed. Nothing beat a hard, skinny tyres on pavement.

Dear Christian,

I have the bike set up very much as I want now. Not quite usual but very useful for getting to work [very nice and docile in traffic], and very enjoyable and potentially fast for fun times!

Next thing is to get it re-enamelled, and I am finalising the thoughts. Because chrome-plating [on the forks only] is so expensive, I have decided to have this plain colour [Mid Brunswick Green] on the forks and frame, with no further decoration or second colour at all:



It will look quite low-key, so only the line of the frame will draw the eye! I'll try to get "one" original transfer for the steering tube. Otherwise I think transfers are un-necessary and actually ugly!

I have to say that the weather in Norway looks horrible! Snow should be for the winter time!

ATB from George Fredrik

PS: This original fork looks horrible though it is safe and sound, and would enamel well enough to math the frame:

For anyone remotely interested, I have booked the re-enamel [to an MOD standard, which is recommended for bikes in rough work such as MTBs, so should see me out], and at a very nice price - less than fixing the engine management on the Volvo, which I use far less than my bike [!], so I am very happy. Be a couple of months till its done! And longish period using the Peugeot instead ...

Will defo put some "hires" photos up when it is finished!

ATB from George

The Italian alternative to a 555 PS: