who's got the oldest bike?

oblongomaculatus
oblongomaculatus Posts: 616
edited July 2013 in Road general
In working order, ie ridable, preferably. Don't think anyone will beat this though, the owner told me it was made in France in 1896. It weighs 23 kg, which leads me to suspect that the 'tubes' are in fact solid. The tyres certainly are.

9147894795

Comments

  • Sorry, no image, I can't seem to get it to appear. It's on flikr, I've been following the instructions in FAQ, but it's not working. Any suggestions please! I've been trying a while and it's getting quite annoying...
  • estampida
    estampida Posts: 1,008
    way better than mine

    1973 speedwell ti (made by lamborghini)...
  • Early 1940s Hobbs of Barbican steel frame
  • Still can't figure out how to get the photo on this forum, but here's a link to the flikr page.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/10343441@N08/9147894795/

    Anybody ridden a bike like this?
  • ed_j
    ed_j Posts: 335
    Still can't figure out how to get the photo on this forum, but here's a link to the flikr page.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/10343441@N08/9147894795/

    Anybody ridden a bike like this?

    9147894795
  • ed_j
    ed_j Posts: 335
    Edit: Yep, I'm stumped too...
  • Lassic
    Lassic Posts: 32
    Nice bike, looks in decent condition for its age too.

    Loving the front light/lantern. :P
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,273
    The period is surely correct, looks like a Victor, hence 1890s beautiful bike to totter around town or Norfolk... did you buy it?
    left the forum March 2023
  • Don't think it was for sale! Part of a display of vintage bikes. There were some nice 70's/80's road bikes there too, including a lovely bianchi.

    Here's a link to a close up of the lamp: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10343441@N08/9150995398/

    Also, the chain, and the brake: http://www.flickr.com/photos/10343441@N08/9148768471/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/10343441@N08/9150996532/
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    And there's me thinking you were in Halfords!

    Love the front brake block!
  • goonz
    goonz Posts: 3,106
    Looks great for such an old bike and agree, that front brake block takes some beating!
    Scott Speedster S20 Roadie for Speed
    Specialized Hardrock MTB for Lumps
    Specialized Langster SS for Ease
    Cinelli Mash Bolt Fixed for Pain
    n+1 is well and truly on track
    Strava http://app.strava.com/athletes/1608875
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    9147894795_38f8cfdfab_b.jpg

    There you go... :D
  • Thanks! How did you do it?
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    If you click on the flickr image so that it expands to proper size, then right click and select "inspect element", then select the http: link that is in the "img src" brackets.

    I probably explained that with completely wrong computer terminology, but hopefully you can figure it out from my explanation? :D

    in this case it is http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5544/9147 ... dfab_b.jpg
  • oblongomaculatus
    oblongomaculatus Posts: 616
    edited June 2013
    Ah, thanks. I'm using a Mac, no right or left clicking (only one button) but I think I can figure it out. I'll give it a go...

    9150995398_11ea415276_b.jpg

    Got it! Different method for a mac, but here's the lamp. Presumably the thing that looks like a ruby would glow red when the lamp was lit, giving a side light. (You can see reflections of the photographer, me. Never noticed that before)
  • Jim C
    Jim C Posts: 333
    Lovely :-) I like

    Can trump it on age though, Timberlake Ordinary (penny farthing) 1878. although I don't own it :-(
    Have raced it in anger, full bore 3times - Knutsford Great Race 2010, Pennies in the Park 2011 (Matlock) and IG Markets (Smithfield) Nocturne 2011. Usually the oldest bike in the race, and an absolute pleasure. It does break spokes :-), but is otherwise 99% original. I ll c if I can find a photo, although photos of those events will show it in action
    jc
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,273
    Jim C wrote:
    Lovely :-) I like

    Can trump it on age though, Timberlake Ordinary (penny farthing) 1878. although I don't own it :-(
    Have raced it in anger, full bore 3times - Knutsford Great Race 2010, Pennies in the Park 2011 (Matlock) and IG Markets (Smithfield) Nocturne 2011. Usually the oldest bike in the race, and an absolute pleasure. It does break spokes :-), but is otherwise 99% original. I ll c if I can find a photo, although photos of those events will show it in action

    Jim, I have been toying with the idea of getting an ordinary (penny farthing) for a while now... problem is living in London is not exactly the ideal place to learn to ride one of these... are they hard to ride?
    Then of course I'd have to check if it gets through the door, which I suspect not...
    left the forum March 2023
  • team47b
    team47b Posts: 6,425
    @ oblongomaculatus

    hold down the Ctrl - control key on your mac - this gives you the right click facility that the two button mouse (do we even still have these?) people tell the mac users they don't have and is a useful thing :D

    Love that front brake block :shock:
    my isetta is a 300cc bike
  • team47b wrote:
    @ oblongomaculatus

    hold down the Ctrl - control key on your mac

    I did that, but didn't get 'inspect element' or anything like it on the pop up menu.

    Instead, if you click on the icon on the far right of the window that looks like three dots, you get a pop up menu with a large number of choices. You click on view all sizes, select the image size you want, control-click on the image and choose 'copy image address', then paste into img quote marks.

    eg, here's a thumbnail of the brake block: 9150996532_2f6dd1a9f2_t.jpg

    It would be a lot simpler if you could paste a jpg file directly from your own computer into the forum, though, instead of going through all that, don't you think?
  • Trying to add some more photos but I can't make it happen today. Stand by...
    Ah, got it;

    More bikes from the Cambridgeshire Festival of Cycling, in Ely yesterday

    9182388550_4e5d5b328e_c.jpg
    1898 Wincycle

    9182387910_a5171bee1b_c.jpg
    1888 Premier

    9180171143_5a8ff7df0b_c.jpg
    Tiny child's bike, year unknown. You'd have to be about three to ride this

    9180170301_cb5383f50f_c.jpg
    1911 Lee Francis. Note the rod brake is routed inside the headset tube

    9180169471_2b8e0abed7_c.jpg
    1907 James tricycle. The lamp ran on something called carbide, a white rocklike mineral, which when water was dripped on it produced a gas that could then be lit. Some bikes of the time had a gas pipeline running to the rear of the frame into a red rear light.