Most recent activity
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A suggestion for those hubs:
Clean steel centres as well as you can, removing as much flakey chrome as possible.
Apply a coating of phosphoric acid primer
polish ali flanges as well as you can
paint centres matt black.Note: Painting a round object (as here) it's easier to get a good result than painting a flat panel (the imperfections are less visible)
Also note, matt finish makes imperfections less visible than they would be with a glossier finish. The thinner you use the paint the matter it will dry - adjust according to preference.
Avoid water based paint for this job (and most others!).
This should be a cheap solution - not restoring to original perfection, but getting a reasonably attractive result.
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I don't think there's any disagreement between us. My bikes are in your first category - I don't happen to have any that are 'ceremonial' only. I do have a wet weather bike - the rest I prefer to keep dry.
It's worth noting that very few old lightweights advertised for sale have their original components, just like your PBP bike they've been used and had replacements. Back in the day any sensible clubman would have chucked away that original Benelux and replaced it with a Campag as soon as he could afford it! Roadsters are a different proposition since the owners usually weren't enthusiasts
It's pleasing not to go too far away from the original kit, and so I would certainly prefer to use cottered cranks on an old frame like that Saxon. It's good to hear of these methods to overcome problems, but also it's just as well that potential buyers know what they are letting themselves in for.
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Look after it - somebody will want it!
Incidentally, the Chater part no. for a non gear case crank spindle (i.e. for single chainring) is 1007.
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It comes as a bit of a surprise that Alex Moulton sounds so posh. Not many members of the bike trade ever perfected the 'received pronunciation' which Mr. Moulton does so well.
In the attached photo, which was taken outside his stately home at Bradford on Avon, can be seen the member s of a Pedal Club outing dating from about the time of the film. Moulton was a member.
Whatever the benefits of small wheels might be, I think we can now accept that for speed and distance they are not a great idea. It's surprising to see Moulton demonstrating his front suspension without any thought to how much power that undamped system would absorb when the rider gets out of the saddle!
I do have anecdotes about the Moulton Bike attempts at racing, which I can retail here if anyone is interested.
There are several well known figures in this photo, including Dave Duffield, Stan Butler, Cyril Wren, Harry Ferris and Will Townsend. Again, I can identify them if anyone is interested.
P.S.
Sorry, the photo hasn't reproduced as well as I thought it would - the original is pretty good quality, so I could have another go, if anyone is interested in events half a century ago. -
Knowing how strong a rider you are and where you live, I'm wonder where your commute goes for you to need gears at all. I suppose there is Tite Hill (going up to Windsor Great Park from Egham), but it's possible to avoid that one with a simple detour!
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Chater Bottom Brackets
Those Phil Wood adapters look like the answer - as long as you want to use a modern sealed bearing, which I guess would exclude the use of cottered cranks. My bikes certainly have anachronisms, but not everyone else is so liberal about this and I think it's true to say that square taper cranks would be anachronistic on any frame with a Chater BB.
If you want to use cottered cranks, I think you will still need a Chater spindle as well as the cups and the 5/16th balls. In the photo below you will note that the Chater spindle (top) has narrower shoulders than the other one (TDC) which is the standard ancient British size and which, incidentally, is interchangeable with TA and Stronglight.
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Ali G is from West Staines - I doubt if he would feel comfortable leaving his 'hood -there's probably a beef with other bits of Staines.
I realise Staines is a long shot, but with the internet connection faltering, surely some kind of plan for physical meetings should be made?
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Real Life Meetings
Does the current difficulty make anyone else think that it's a bad thing to be so reliant on the internet?
Would it be possible to go back to meeting face to face occasionally, at least for those of us who are London based?
Many years ago I heard Beryl Burton speak at a club dinner - her message was (and she was passionate about it): 'Whatever you do, keep your clubroom going'. Sadly very few have managed to follow her advice, but I still think she was right.
It so happens that I may be able to offer a good base for a forum clubroom - It's near Staines, so a long way out, but there's a good rail line from Waterloo, and the premises do have a bar. Perhaps a monthly meeting would be possible.
I won't be surprised if this suggestion is thought to be absurdly olden days, but if a few people are interested I will pursue it.
Let me know.
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I'd like to help, but since using this forum is the high point of my tech achievement I doubt if I can do much beyond cotributing some money.
If there is a real life, face to face meeting in London I will try to come to it.
I hope to see you all on Saturday.
Possibly at the lunch stop, but I will have camera, tools, a few spares and the Trophy.
YAL will have my phone number in case I can help.
Chris.