Show us your bikes (Part whatever...)

5'11".... why?

The wheels are only 650c if that explains proportions. Although with the long head tube the frame is right where it should be.

Got to put my one next to Patrick's!

The stage of progress has advanced since Monday, and I have had a brainwave about the brake lever positioning, using the drop bar levers, in a horizontal sense, on the front curves of the ancient North Road bar, but the cables are differently terminated, so currently I have two sets of levers on the bar! Only the normal ones connected! Tape will be applied once I have tuned the position. This will make the levers very handy, but clear the useful range of grip on the bar of impediments - the hoods will not used in this arrangement ...

I also have got the gear levers working till replacements arrive. At least it is good enough to use the gearing with vigour!

Just been out and had a run in the cool evening air!

Your bike is a brilliant, Patrick.

ATB from George

That is so f-ing sexy George. Cheers!

You've just gotta love the steel frames.

Dear Patrick,

Shame that we live a big pond apart, isn't it?

These two would run well next, each other!

What range of meters developed per revoltion have you? The big chain ring looks massive on the front. Currently mine is from 3.4 to 7.4 metres per crank revolution, but I plan an arrangement with 3.0 to 7.6 mpcr.

Best wishes from George

George,

It is a shame. I would love to listen to some music with you and go for a ride to somewhere we can listen to something live and crush good ales all night.

I have no clue.... I will bust out my measuring tape (and the Google converter for inches to meters )

Cheers,
Patrick

Or Sheldon Brown's gear ratio calculator:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gears/

All you do is put the wheel/tyre sizes in and the cog teeth and it gives your spread of ratios. Best get the answer in metres developed as this is useful.

Best wishes from George

PS: Ale is a blessing isn't it!

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:
5'11".... why?

The wheels are only 650c if that explains proportions. Although with the long head tube the frame is right where it should be.

Ah. I assumed 700c.

Reginald.

It is a very interesting bike. The 650 wheels suggest Tri geometry although it isn't that aggressive. It certainly is not a track frame given the standard dropouts.

Someone told me once it looked like a slalom or sprint bike (not sure what either of those are).

In any case, it is quite comfortable for my body. It has lightening quick turnover and gets up to speed instantly. It is extremely nimble and handles like a dream. Not sketchy at all as it has a fairly standard wheelbase despite the smaller wheels.

I love it.
Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:
so currently I have two sets of levers on the bar! Only the normal ones connected!

Accident - waiting - happen!

No, seriously, nice looking bike, George. I still think the frame is a little large, though.

Dear winky,

Thanks for the comment. I am very very pleased with the way it is coming out.

The frame is still a little large - definitely verging on being too tall in the cross bar for me, and also too long from saddle to handle bar for me to reach modern drop bars without shoulder ache after a few weeks, but I have the Peugeot, which actually is the right size!

Clearly I would be rebuilding that one if it rode better for me!

There is still more to do. Changing the chain has shown that the freewheel is worn out on top cog! It hops over the teeth with only mild power.

I have fixed the braking arrangements up though. Only one set of levers now!

I reckon it will be a week or two yet before everything is tuned to perfection - or at least till it is tuned well enough to please me!

What would be nice, but will never happen would be to get Argos Cycles to make a tailored frame on the basis of measurements and fitting it out to suit my riding style ... but that is only a pipe-dream, and one which is set back significantly by spending money on rebuilding the old bike now.

Best wishes from George

quote:

Originally posted by GFFJ:

What would be nice, but will never happen would be to get Argos Cycles to make a tailored frame on the basis of measurements and fitting it out to suit my riding style ... but that is only a pipe-dream, and one which is set back significantly by spending money on rebuilding the old bike now.

Best wishes from George

Why don't you ask Argos to keep an eye out for a similarly classy used frame that is a little smaller, and do a swap? You now have the components you like, and you might be lucky.

Having said that, I wouldn't worry too much. Older bikes were ridden in larger sizes anyway and you have said that you love the way it rides. This is all that counts.

Oh, and I REALLY like the colour you chose.

Dear winky,

Watch my Carlton thread for photos of further refinements.

Though the cross-bar really is within half an inch of being impossible, it is not the tallest bike I ever had. That was the Eagle, and I simply had to hop off when I stopped with that one! I used that between 1995 and 2008. I loved the way it went, but not as much as this! I have ridden other good bikes, if rarely ...

I bound the bars this afternoon ...

More tomorrow ...

ATB from George

PS: Its length - sum of the long cross-bar and rather relaxed steering tube angle - of the bike is a somewhat greater than modern ones in the racing style in their wheel base. I suspect that this length, in combination with the relaxed steering geometry make for the significant confidence that the frame gives to go fast, even round bends and especially downhill, where its rock solid response soaks up rough roads with as much stability as something with suspension, though it helps to ride slightly off the saddle in the rough, because the frame certainly transmits the roughness to the nether regions!!

It does not turn very sharp with ease even at walking speed.