Free Bike....

buddy_club · March 2014

Rolf F wrote:

Simon Masterson wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

I wouldn't mess with the crankset. The bike is what it is and I think it would spoil it if you start changing too much. I reckon a new freewheel is all you need subject to the rear mech being able to handle it. My Raleigh Record Ace has 42-28 as the lowest gear and it is fine on the Sussex hills. Harder than my modern bikes but still perfectly rideable.

There is new old stock out there and second hand freewheels will be cheap enough to take a chance on - I suspect most won't be worn out as they last so much longer than modern cassettes. You just might need to be patient until the right component turns up. Retrobike should be able to give some advice as to what there actually is (eg whether there are 28 tooth freewheels available in 5 speed - mine is a six).

28t is very easy to get in 5 speed. In fact, it's pretty much all you can get now new from Sunrace and Shimano. The issue is that with only 5 cogs the jumps are huge. 14 and 16 are great cogs to have, but having nothing between 16 and 20 is annoying, as is only having only 24 and 28 after that. You also don't get anywhere like as high a gear for any hard downhills, even with a 54t, than you do with the 11 or 12t sprockets that everyone else takes for granted. Just by upgrading to 6 speed you can have 14-24, which is a decent compromise.

Hmmmm, my Raleigh is 6 speed with a 14-28 cassette. Obviously one less gap to worry about but, low end aside, I can't say I notice any problems with it. 52-14 is a perfectly decent top for a bike like that so as long as you don't expect it to be that easy on steep hills it's not worth meddling with. Got up Steyning Bostal on the 42-28!

Still, if you prefer a narrower range at the expense of climbing ability 5 speed 14-24s aren't hard to find. Plenty on Ebay many for less than a tenner new!

I think if the gaps are a problem, it's just a case of getting used to a wider range of cadence! Adapt yourself rather than the bike!

Cheers guys! I'll take it out for a proper blast this weekend and see how it goes!

simon_masterson · March 2014

Rolf F wrote:

Simon Masterson wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

I wouldn't mess with the crankset. The bike is what it is and I think it would spoil it if you start changing too much. I reckon a new freewheel is all you need subject to the rear mech being able to handle it. My Raleigh Record Ace has 42-28 as the lowest gear and it is fine on the Sussex hills. Harder than my modern bikes but still perfectly rideable.

There is new old stock out there and second hand freewheels will be cheap enough to take a chance on - I suspect most won't be worn out as they last so much longer than modern cassettes. You just might need to be patient until the right component turns up. Retrobike should be able to give some advice as to what there actually is (eg whether there are 28 tooth freewheels available in 5 speed - mine is a six).

28t is very easy to get in 5 speed. In fact, it's pretty much all you can get now new from Sunrace and Shimano. The issue is that with only 5 cogs the jumps are huge. 14 and 16 are great cogs to have, but having nothing between 16 and 20 is annoying, as is only having only 24 and 28 after that. You also don't get anywhere like as high a gear for any hard downhills, even with a 54t, than you do with the 11 or 12t sprockets that everyone else takes for granted. Just by upgrading to 6 speed you can have 14-24, which is a decent compromise.

I think if the gaps are a problem, it's just a case of getting used to a wider range of cadence! Adapt yourself rather than the bike!

A great philosophy, and certainly something I've taken away from my 5 speed cycling, but there are limits! If I'd had a 21t or a 22t, I probably wouldn't be writing this. To maintain the same speed going from 52x20 to 52x24 requires a significant increase in cadence. Even one intermediate gear can make all the difference. Adding an 18 cog has improved my cycling immensely.

14,16,20,24,28
14,16,18,21,24,28

gt-arrowhead · March 2014

Just seen this in your sig link.

Nice bike man! I love the lugs and that stamp looks really retro and cool too.

Retro road bikes are always cool. I just repaired mine on Friday, after its been sitting in my garden for just under a year. Its nowhere near as good as this though.

smoggysteve · March 2014

What groupset is on it? If its Campagnolo it may be worth a few bob. Vintage bikes in decent condition with a decent heritage can be worth lots.

buddy_club · March 2014

GT-Arrowhead wrote:

Just seen this in your sig link.

Nice bike man! I love the lugs and that stamp looks really retro and cool too.

Retro road bikes are always cool. I just repaired mine on Friday, after its been sitting in my garden for just under a year. Its nowhere near as good as this though.

Aha cheers GT, indeed, always cool!

, yeah this rides like a dream, did about twenty miles on it this afternoon in the sun, it's amazing how quickly the miles roll by! Did quite a few hills Though, Jesus Christ! It's tough going, even in the lowest gear, I'm gonna keep at it though because it's all good preparation for the MTB :cool:

buddy_club · March 2014

SmoggySteve wrote:

What groupset is on it? If its Campagnolo it may be worth a few bob. Vintage bikes in decent condition with a decent heritage can be worth lots.

It is indeed Campagnolo, the LBS reckon it's worth a fair bit as well, an that if I ever wanted rid they'd make me an offer, but I'm gonna keep it as long as I can, seeing as it was my grandads for 65 years!

simon_masterson · March 2014

Keep it! If you look after it, it'll outlast you. Don't be afraid to respray it and fit new decals either - it's your bike. Good sympathetic restorations look terrific.

secretsam · March 2014

Only thing I would say is that the saddle isn't original!!!! Get yourself a Brooks Swallow or something on there for that pukka olde-worlde look

You might want to think about specialist insurance for it, don't think standard policies designed for Cannondales and Giants would know what to do with this sort of thing. No doubt there's a vintage policy out there somewhere - and a vintage bikes forum, probably?

buddy_club · March 2014

Yep, retro bike + idk, is it worth the insurance?

ktuludays · March 2014

nice bike. have a couple of old bikes myself and they ride lovely. as much as i enjoy my modern carbon bike i love hacking around on an old steelie in winter

check out:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/

they will be able to help you ident the frame and components

buddy_club · March 2014

ktuludays wrote:

nice bike. have a couple of old bikes myself and they ride lovely. as much as i enjoy my modern carbon bike i love hacking around on an old steelie in winter

check out:
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/

they will be able to help you ident the frame and components

Been there, done that

thanks though. It's lovely for rides on hot Sunday mornings

I mainly ride my mtb though, but this is definitely good training

.

buddy_club · April 2014

Right so a few updates.... (sorry its been so long)

No 1 is some new bartape, so i know everyones is going to go "argh look at that bartape" but i was quite proud of it, and you might also say its wayy to modern but by god it is comfy! I wrapped over the existing 'tape' (if you might call it that) and then scraped off the rest from the areas that weren't covered. This took an absolute age to do and was quite frankly a right PITA! It took me a few hours, lots of swearing and bizarrely enough some limescale remover until it was all gone. The bar underneath was a right state, and there was rather alot of rust on it, but i attacked it with varying grades of W+D paper until the rust was gone, the brake leavers got the same treatment. I didnt polish it completely and left it still a little bit messy to be in keeping with the rest of the bike.

No 2 is not really an update as such, just something i want to share...
Basically i found a really old saddle attached to a bike in a skip. It is similar to the Brooks saddles i have seen, with the springs at the back. Its in a bit of a state at the moment but i'm hoping with some more W+D paper on the rails, and olive oil in the leather i'll get it looking a bit nicer. No pics of it yet as its still attached to said bike but i'll post some in a few days.

Sorry about the bad light in some photos, but its getting dark and my camera is an iPhone :oops:

gt-arrowhead · April 2014

Looking good mate. I actually quite like that tape.

Its always satisfying to get a job done after hours working on it!

buddy_club · April 2014

GT-Arrowhead wrote:

Looking good mate. I actually quite like that tape.

Its always satisfying to get a job done after hours working on it!

Absolutely, it's nice looking at the bars now and thinking 'I did that' and the bar tape is comfy and I like the colour but the bike really deserves some more retro tape.

gt-arrowhead · April 2014

I bet they will be looking all dirty and retro in no time at all

buddy_club · April 2014

GT-Arrowhead wrote:

I bet they will be looking all dirty and retro in no time at all

Haha you're probably right

Free Bike....

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