Martrac - Fillet Brazed Reynolds from Middlesbrough.

I picked this up a couple of weeks ago. I'll tell what i know, but there is very little info available about the builder so if you know anything else, please shout up.

Martrac were frame builders in Middlesbrough, run by a brother and sister called Martin & Tracy. They made mostly track bikes, including for the British team in the commonwealth games. They also made bikes for racing teams and Paul Curran rode Martrac made frames for three years. They were licenced to build Reynolds 753 and most of their frames used this.

Anyway, this bike was built up by Ken Stubbs bike shop in Middlesbrough, clearly with Campag Euclid, although it's been robbed of some parts. It's retained its f&r u-brakes, headset and bullet shifters.

Oh, and it's got the mother of all knackered seat tubes :shock:

So, I need to get this tube replaced, get it painted and replace the missing parts. Pretty daunting & not a cheap job. :? I feel I need to do it due to the rarity and local interest.

Internet searches throw up a handful of track frames but no mountain bikes.

As always, any thoughts or info very welcome.

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Martrac rang a bell with me. I think a pal of mine had one of their track bikes, back in the 80's. I think so, anyway.

Have you had the bike apart yet? I fear for the other tubes.

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Frankenorange":pay3zv76 said:

Have you had the bike apart yet? I fear for the other tubes.

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Hi, yes, the bike is apart and the frame has been stripped of paint.

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Awesome, glad you got this and it's ended up on here

I also spotted this on Ebay but couldn't see beyond the broken seat tube...hopefully you scored this for a good deal. The frame itself looks to be very nicely brazed. Certainly I can't imagine there being a tremendous amount built.

Is the plan to therefore continue with Campag or switch to something else? Will keep an eye on this one either way...

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Cheers Munch,

Yes, I deliberated for days, even after I'd been to see it. The seller was a great lad called Phil who gave me the bike for less than the value of the parts, knowing that was the only way it would be fixed.

Martrac were 2 or 3 miles from my house and I'd never heard of them, so for me it's a bit of rare local history that needs preserving. It's a bit frustrating though, with there being so little info around them.

I did consider switching to XT, but those Campag u-brakes are so in-yer-face I think they need to stay, so my plan is to pick up euclid chainset & deraileurs when I see them at reasonable prices. I've got some Mavic Oxygen wheels that will go well on it.

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I have a spare Campagnolo headset cable hanger to match that headset you can have gratis if you want to be completist!

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Rod_Saetan":28zlwu0m said:

I have a spare Campagnolo headset cable hanger to match that headset you can have gratis if you want to be completist!

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Thanks Rod, I really appreciated that. I'll leave it with you for now I think because I will probably use the 3ttt stem, and i wouldn't want to take it and not use it. I'll shout up if plans change. Thanks.

I like that.

So what are the plans regarding colour and where are you sending it for paint and repairs?

mk one":3u9av11z said:

I like that.

So what are the plans regarding colour and where are you sending it for paint and repairs?

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I want Kevin Winter to do the repair, but getting a price from him has been a bit difficult - I don't think he is keen on email etc. I'll pop over to his place this week I think.

Paint-wise, my plan atm is to get it the some colour and indulge myself with the Overbury's I've just bought.