vintage bike upgrades

jonathonhayes

Hi all,

I'm new to road cycling...been a mountain biker for some time but I have just inherited a 1950's claud butler racer from my grandad.

First on my list is gears but I'm clueless as to solutions. It is currently I think 5 or 6 speed, I'm wanting unimproved that by adding a front derailer and chainset. But how?

The rear mech is controlled by a down tube shifter, how can I add a new shifter to control the front mech ?

Sorry for my complete stupidity on this.

Thanks,
Jon

Spikeoz

-Old bikes rock

-You can get new down tube shifters, nice shinny Dura-Ace ones still, they have the ability to be SIS (indexed) or friction shifted, Stay Friction shifted IMHO

-If the bike has a Boss (screwed hole) on both sides of the down tube then it's easy enough to add a front shifter, if not then you may need some mate who's handy with a welder, same will go for cable guides, but have alook at the new stuff guides for bottom bracket mounted cable are cheap plasticy things that will work.

-A front mech will probably have to be a band on style unit, but they are around just might need a spacer of some description.

-Rear meh may need some fiddiling to go with larger numbe rof rear gears or you can luck out and be able to adjust to friction shift through 10 speeds, but rear wheel spacing needs to be adjusted, see Sheldon "bike God' brown for how to do this

ugo.santalucia

Got the feeling your bike doesn't have the cable routing for a double chainset. Although you can botch one up, I think you should keep it as it is... if it was good in the 1950s, it is certainly good now that roads are easier and better surfaced. a 14-26 rear will get you pretty much anywhere it makes sense to cycle with a 46-48 at the front

Some might say; Man Up and ride it as it is, I belong to that school

Think about the possiblities... in Europe there is a circuit of great events for vintage cycles: L'Eroica, the Retroronde, L'Anjou Velo Vintage, la Canavesana d'Epoca and many others

cycleclinic

Do what ugo say or what I did for a cstomer who was in the same quandry with a 5 speed frame. He wanted it repainted so before I sent it of for paint I handed it over to my tame frame builder. Some say... he put a whole load of braze ons libe Down tube shifter bosses, bottle cage bosses, top tube cable guides, head tube ring, drilled a whole for a BB cable guide, chain stay cable stop for rear gear cable and a front mech braze on. All of these mean that no clamps had to fitted to a newly painted frame. It cost less than £40 as well.

team47b

we need to see photos, sounds really interesting

jonathonhayes

Some really interesting ideas, thanks for your responses it's giving me a lot to think about. Whatever I do it will be sympathetic toward the bike.

I do want to respray it to protect the frame for years to come and so may consider adding the downtube shifter mount and cable guides - that all sounded very good value for money at £40!

Part of me wants to ride it as it is, but for serious distances would it be suitable?

Again, thanks for your comments - I'll get a photo up asap.

Monty Dog

Worth asking on the Retrobike forum and getting opinions - they'll also tell you whether you should leave the Claud as is. Likely to be 5 speed given vintage. Photos will be a big help.

jonathonhayes

If I have done is correctly, here are a few pictures...





One further question, if I change the gear shift lever on the downtube to indexed (that's sis, right?), will I need a new rear mech or can I keep the original one on the bike?

Thanks.

Monty Dog

Suicide brake levers and braze-on cable stops suggest this is from the 1970s, not 1950s. The pressed steel drop-outs on the frame and steel rims also suggest the bike is fairly utilitarian and doesn't have any real intrinsic value. Finally, judging by the height of the saddle, it's too big anyway. Frankly if you want a modern bike with all the shifters etc, best to just buy something more recent rather than spend lots of money on parts.

jonathonhayes

My grandad was knocked off this bike in 1963 when a driver ran a red light. My grandma thinks he had it a few years before which is how I arrived at 1950's. Possible its very early 60's.

I realise it's hardly a racing machine but I dent currently have money to buy anything new as I have a baby on the way. I just want it to be functional and something to get out on whilst I build my fitness and interest in road cycling.

jonathonhayes

Not to mention its sentimental value!