Chater Lea Road/Path.

[bugloss]

More eye candy from; http://classiccycleus.com/home/repair/bikes/

Just incase its been shot blasted and powder coated by a "fixie Boy" a suitable paint scheme will be required…..

Anyone like this ?



Or if not, copper plate ?


Pretty impressive looking machines from the 20's and 30' I reckon.

 

[bagpuss]

Mine all mine :mrgreen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 4894138345

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 4894138345

And a monster chain set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 4894138345

 

[bugloss]

Mine all mine :mrgreen:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 4894138345

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 4894138345

And a monster chain set.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74418119@N ... 4894138345

I'm just wondering bagpuss, why these things aren't bolted to a bike ?
Or are you offering to donate them to a worthwhile project

 

[bagpuss]

Due to a back log of projects :facepalm:

The hubs are now laced up onto conloys & awaiting fitting to a Bates . The chainset is to go on a Baines flying gate track. I am talking two years at least . Other projects need finishing first.

 

[keithglos]

The Chater hubs had screw in dust caps containing a rubber oil seal.
The fixed/free shows how close the flanges were, in the days of the 4.5 inch rear end. The spokes on the gear side were nearly vertical, making a weak wheel, particularly with 27 x 1 1/4 wired on rims The lack of developement to the wider rear end was one reason why the British hubs were replaced by FB etc.
The American track bikes were advanced for the time but built for 6 day racing, by several imported builders.

Keith

 

[bugloss]

Ah! I can just about see the oiler at the end of the axel, is that what you mean Keith.

I'm looking at one on ebay that has an nipple in the centre of the hub. It's a small flange double sided rear.
I'm tempted, but I'm in two minds as to wether I want the Airlight hubs instead.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111214674876? ... 1423.l2648

 

[keithglos]

The dust caps over the cones on the Chater hubs I meant.
I think the airlites are more timeless, and look better, but I was more into making thing work, rather than appearance which is so important now.

 

[bugloss]

I think that the reason I want to start off with Airlites is one of economy, plus getting hold of a pair of good Chater hubs is going to take some doing.

I don't think I'll be doing too much blasting around on it, although I may take my chances at Herne Hill in the summer. That's if they have a middle age bloke on ancient bike class of course.

 

[bagpuss]

Agree with Keith about Chater hubs.
When I had them built up, the chap who did it was well aware of the thin edge and used the correct amount of tension in the spokes.Laced onto 26x 1 1/4 rims they have made a strong pair of wheels.I found the hubs in a job lot of old wheels i purchased a few years ago.
I have always liked Hardens myself,they have a timeless appeal to me . BW rear hubs from an engineering point stand out . If you look at some campag hubs you can see where they got some ideas from.
Having said all of this, give me a nice set of Hope any day.

 

[bugloss]

Thanks chaps for all the help as I try to figure things out. I'm swimming in deep water here.

I'm wondering if the forks have a Bastide crown as Claud Butler used the combination of Chater lugs and Bastide fork crown in the 30's.
A couple of examples.
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bi ... al-rb.html
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/dpclaudbutler.html

The first one looks similar in a way, or am imagining things ?

According to Classic lightweights both BSA and Macleans used a 'w' prefix for their frame numbers.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/fr ... ering.html

Also can I easily convert the headset to a clip as I want to use a particular stem that needs a clip ?