The Thirty Year Old Carlton.

The handle-bar experiment is a complete success. Thorn know a thing or two about making superb cycles. Their after-market fixtures work very well with modern and ancient cycles ...

I have a new cycle to make beautiful, though it is of course already beautiful, if slightly faded in its glory. A 1989 Raleigh Road Bike - model name Quadra - in Reynolds 531 and of exquisite finish. 

I planned that this would be a less extremely fined down partner for the Carlton, and bought the Thorn bar for it really. Just add a pair of Tiagra [flat bar diameter] brake levers [for traditional calliper brakes] and you have a very nice conjunction of the old and the new. In the case of the Raleigh the callipers are Shimano "105" rather than the Carlton's archaic Campagnolo [1960s] "Gran Sport" brakes. In fact the age of the Carlton brakes is no problem as the design carried on, unaltered through the New Record and Super Record series until the mid-1980s. But the Shimano "105" brakes are similar in performance and quality, if less posh in name. 

The Raleigh will also get a pair of ally mudguards, as a useful machine for when rain is pouring down!

ATB from George

The Raliegh with the last photo of the Carlton with the North Road bar in grandfather [upright] configuration:

Brooks saddles always look better with age. The converse of many modern products unfortunately.

Even the gash from the crash [when a car hit me from the side almost three years ago now] on the Brooks does not spoil the look of it.

Good leather shoes, and proper wool or cotton based clothes are not ruined by the signs of use.

Manufacturers do like to make things that only deteriorate in looks from day one these days, so the Brooks saddle is a refreshing blast from the past!

ATB from George

I remember your bike from a previous thread, George (around the time you were knocked off it). I drive through Carlton-in-Lindrick most days and always get a 'mental flash' of your bike as I pass the industrial estate that used to accommodate the factory.

Mick

Dear Mick,

I still have no great confidence on the road. fine if there is not much traffic about, but to this day I have dismounted for every round about since, and always for in town road junctions. 

However my enthusiasm for cycling is as strong as ever, and I am taking part in the Norwich Fifty this year. This will be the first time I have ever taken part in an organised cycling event! I never competed when young [or even had a suitable competition bike], but I have worn a good few pairs of tyres out! And pedals, bottom brackets, chains and cogs! The Carlton is my fourth bike, as I don't count two that I kept a very short while and never got on with. both great bikes, a Dawes and an Ambrosia, but I found neither comfortable for me. The Carlton seemed to be impossible to beat so far, but the new little Raleigh is the first bike that I have had since the Carlton that seems in many ways as good, if ultimately less responsive.

After a while now with the new Thorn bar, I have to say that I love the cycling position it gives. A sign that something is very right with the set-up is that there is absolutely no twitchiness to the bike. It keeps a line so effortlessly that one does not have to consider the line in any conscious way at all. 

When I set up the Raleigh, I shall fit the same handle bar type and also the Tiagra brake lever [suitable for callipers] though this one will have mudguards [fenders] so that when it is actually raining, I'll get less immediately wet. 

Thanks for your kindly reply.

ATB from George

Just finished the summer scheme on the Carlton.

Changing the back wheel - from Campagnolo Triomphe hub with Ambrosio rim with Marathon tyre - for Campag Super Record hub [1970s, but as good as new] also with Ambrosio rim and Michelin Lythion 2 tyre, involving swapping over the freewheel. The wheels match again since the photos above.

The cycle weighs a flat 10.0  kilos now, which is not bad for a steel framed machine, not even in the lightest tubing, and also carrying a Brooks B17 - a weight handicap! [I could get 9.8 Kilo with the Selle on it, but that saddle made me sweat on a hot day].

Not got anything spare on the bike except a bell and the legal reflectors now!

The Raleigh will have permanent mudguards and lights, and being white will also be generally more visible!

This will relieve the Calton of any need ever to go out at night again!

ATB from George

I took it to the local offie to get a beer and the one guy behind the counter asked me if I'd sell it. I said not. Asked what it is worth, I said that it might get £150 on eBay, but I would not sell it, so he asked for me to let him take it out - for ten minutes as it happened - and he asked me agin if I'd sell it. He then understood why not!

He sad that was easily the lightest, smoothest and most responsive cycle he had ever ridden, but so solid feeling!

It is on the top line though for set up!

ATB from George

Great to see the pics of the Carlton and the new Raleigh George.

There is something about steel frames.I have ridden Aluminium which my current top bike is made of.Its in my profile and made by Klein an American company,sadly no more.Its got carbon forks and is quite responsive.

I also have a Mercian 531 road bike and its so much more comfortable.The feel is like a golf club rather than the Klein which transmits road vibration more.

Recently I was watching a video on You tube by a guy who clocked up 10 000 miles a year on his commute and he was saying that although some of the new carbon bikes weighing 13 lbs are pushing the performance envelope.Unless you are being seriously competitive you dont need Super Record,Dura ace.

He also made some interesting points saying the public are being conned by bike prices.

He made comparisions with his Yamaha motorbike saying that although the Campagnolo super record chainset was a great bit of engineering,with carbon arms,immaculate chainrings etc.Its retail price of £400 compared to his motorbike engine and the tollarances in the pistons etc was laughable.

He also made the point on a long ride the lightened bike weight didnt make that much difearance unless you where racing.He also said that 105.Campagnolo Athena is all you need.

Great that your still getting much pleasure from your Twins on your other thread and you arent on that ever ending upgrade path.

ATB from Ian