Carlton 2016

A nice thread to which I thought I might contribute. This is a Condor Acciaio - a steel frame with mostly carbon components. In fact acciaio means steel in Italian - and to maintain that theme the components are Campag. So it's really a modern version of tradition. This will be out when the weather improves and in the interim I am on my Condor Fratello - an earlier relation of this frame. I used to have a Carlton years ago - bought second hand when I was about 15, but it was not anything like best quality Reynolds steel. I thought the five speed derailleur was amazing! I did a fair few miles on it over the years though before it disappeared.

Clive

Dear Debs,

You are a great adopter of good new ideas! I have never used anything but flat pedals.

If you look at the photo of the Carlton you will see some all steel 1960s Lyotard “pista” pedals that are not weighty, a bit small, and because they are narrow allow for a serious lean under power [turning right is the general question at a “T” junction] before the ends hit the road!

Best wishes from George

Cdb posted:

A nice thread to which I thought I might contribute. This is a Condor Acciaio - a steel frame with mostly carbon components. In fact acciaio means steel in Italian - and to maintain that theme the components are Campag. So it's really a modern version of tradition. This will be out when the weather improves and in the interim I am on my Condor Fratello - an earlier relation of this frame. I used to have a Carlton years ago - bought second hand when I was about 15, but it was not anything like best quality Reynolds steel. I thought the five speed derailleur was amazing! I did a fair few miles on it over the years though before it disappeared.

Clive

Dear Clive,

Great looking modern bike! Steel can be very satisfactory for a frame ...

My Carlton is not gas pipe, but not 531 either, but rather the plebeian 501, which is about ten per cent heavier, but certainly longer in service ... As a frame set.

Yet I have yet to find a 531 bike that is lighter. My Carlton is currently [even with the heavy Brooks B17] just under ten kilos. For steel that is lightweight.

I hope this thread does bring out pictures and stories of many types of great cycles!

Best wishes from George

Dear all,

Christopher (who's a very good photographer but has apparently no familiarity with things like photobucket) asked me to post this on his behalf; the saddle is now a couple of cm lower than in the pic.

Best

M

Cheers Max.

Best, C.

Definitely thanks Max!

What a lovely looking cycle Chris!

One thing we can all agree on; green is a wonderful colour for a bicycle : )

Debs

Thank you George. All 531, and with a long wheelbase, so comfy. Had some new bits in the summer including new brakes and hoods, and a longer stem. I had mistakenly replaced one this long when I bought the bike secondhand a few years ago, thinking no bike needs that much of a stem. How wrong I was because of the long reach forward of the front forks.

I think a cotton duck saddlebag and handlebar bag would look the part.

Best,

C.

Perhaps this should be renamed the green bicycle thread! 

Anyhow that's a very nice Pearson - a good trad English frame. Before I got my Fratello I thought of getting a Mercian but it was going to be too much - but my Fratello does have a Brooke's saddle!

Clive

Thanks Clive. I must tell you I always notice Condor and Mercian :-)   And have just googled your Fratello. Another ( to quote my approving Yorkshire grandma) 'right bobby-dazzler'!

Chris

Massimo Bertola posted:

Dear all,

Christopher (who's a very good photographer but has apparently no familiarity with things like photobucket) asked me to post this on his behalf; the saddle is now a couple of cm lower than in the pic.

Best

M

Max

That's quite a gearing setup. I'm guessing Chris does a lot hills with and without load. Lovely bike.

Massimo Bertola posted:

Dear all,

Christopher (who's a very good photographer but has apparently no familiarity with things like photobucket) asked me to post this on his behalf; the saddle is now a couple of cm lower than in the pic.

Best

M

Christopher, that is a lovely looking bike. It brings to mind my Pat Hanlon of many years ago (also green) which died of a cracked down tube after encountering a steep sided pothole in Suffolk. I currently have a little used Hetchins (green) which, sadly, I decided to design myself -  it is a very twitchy and uncomfortable machine.

More power to your legs!

Tim

Thanks Clay and Tim. Re: the  gearing. I'm a twiddler. But it's the legacy of camping trips with my then girlfriend when I was in my twenties.

When are you guys going to show us your bikes? I'm sure that's what George would like on his thread.

My shift starts at 11. inspired by the thread I will nip around the Common on the bike first.

Chris

Christopher_M posted:

Thanks Clive. I must tell you I always notice Condor and Mercian :-)   And have just googled your Fratello. Another ( to quote my approving Yorkshire grandma) 'right bobby-dazzler'!

Chris

Thanks, Chris. I hadn't noticed your gearing until the comments above. I must say that cycle touring with the bike loaded front and back with camping equipment never appealed to me. My camping has all been done by car - should I be ashamed of that?

I should be out on a ride today - with the local retirees - usually a ride of 40-50 miles with coffee stop, but the rain is torrential so I am staying in - a fair weather cyclist!

Is George's Naim cycle massive going to happen? (although I cannot find that message now...)

Anyhow, I second your appeal, Chris: more bike photos!!

Clive

Do I get extra points for a Claud Butler in green(ish)?

Regards,

Willy.

Green is good!

Best wishes from George

Post ride....

George,

The weather forecast next week is looking good for more single speed fun.

Joff

Now the Spring service is done. Nothing major - just new brake blocks, and a new cheapo pair of Welgo pedals to save the fifty year old track Lyotards from damage. These Lyotards are now extremely rare to find in good condition! Maybe I sell them towards the mono [valve] amplifier fund. They almost mint, spin wonderfully ... Pedals with adjustable bearings really are from another era!

I also ordered a pair of Michelin Pro 3 Race [service course] tyres as spares! £29 for two and two good tubes, gratis. Excellent value. I do not mind being a variant or two from the latest generation, and the Pro 3s are reliable concerning punctures compared to any decent road tyre I have had before. On the Raleigh I have Schwalbe Duranos, which seem more or less bullet proof!

ATB from George

George Fredrik Fiske posted:

... a new cheapo pair of Welgo pedals to save the fifty year old track Lyotards from damage......

ATB from George

Life's too short George. Just use the nice pedals. What are you "saving" them for?

To sell eventually when they are even rarer!

They are in remarkably fine condition. Too nice to use and risk wrecking on the commute!

In reality the Welgos are in functional not obviously different. I tried them out when adjusting the brakes. I also have them on the Raleigh, and they are quite smooth once run in.

ATB from George

George Fredrik Fiske posted:

To sell eventually when they are even rarer!

Quite the retirement bubble you have going on.

Oh yes, Joe,

I shall be rich! Haha! 

Anyway I spoke too soon. I had a puncture this morning. Always happens doesn’t it?

ATB from George

Who knew that old bike parts were investment-grade assets?

Dear Winki,

If I had the Carlton today in the rough, I definitely could not afford to fit her out in vintage Campagnolo parts! 

The sad thing is the parts are worth more off the bike by a silly margin!

I am not going to dismantle the machine though, but before I quit this mortal coil I certainly shall, assuming I know in advance something of the timing. 

Nobody is going to be interested in the old bike when I cannot use it anymore. It will pay for my funeral at least! I shall not have a fancy one, obviously.

The reason I took the pedals off is that they are so vulnerable. It would be a shame to spoil them for the sake of learning a bit too much at a road junction. As I suggested, I may well sell them for the benefit of my amplifier fund.

Best wishes from George