I only started paying attention to 50’s bikes earlier this year and started to appreciate some of their qualities and well made components.
It’s fun balancing ‘original’ and deciding what upgrades would make a more enjoyably rideable machine.
Biggest problems are usually lack of low enough gears and strong enough brakes.
A friend found this on Gumtree and imagined it would be his size.
Fortunately not…
The forks are obviously not original but no apparent crash damage to the frame.
Clearly a classy machine, well worth spending some time on
The wheels weren’t original, and steel. so no dilemma about replacing.
The brakes were ‘cheap side-pulls’ so I thought about replacing with GB or Mafac centre-pulls.
Except that it turns out ‘50’s 730s had a whole different quality to the ones I remember from the 80’s - less sloppy and also chromed brass nuts rather than more easily damaged aluminium ones.
Gears, well only 5 and I’m not nostalgic about Benelux rear mechs (though I did like the P2 - bought one when they first came out).
As the frame only has one gear lever boss, i decided to go for Sachs 3x7 gearing with Campag barends.
Front wheel on temporary loan from a Hetchins until I build a match for the rear.
Bluemells Club Specials to be fitted shortly.
The original GB bars are too narrow for me. These came on another bike complete with (almost matching) bar tape!
This “Model” is 1957 - AX on the Williams chainset.
Viking offered several variations of spec on each model, and sold framesets, so it’s impossible to be sure about ‘original’.
I replaced the 48T with a 40.
Saddle is original Mansfield Ace. Comfortable but squeaky.
Really nice ride.
It will be my holiday transport in two weeks. (Leisurely 40 miles a day max.)
It’s fun balancing ‘original’ and deciding what upgrades would make a more enjoyably rideable machine.
Biggest problems are usually lack of low enough gears and strong enough brakes.
A friend found this on Gumtree and imagined it would be his size.
Fortunately not…
The forks are obviously not original but no apparent crash damage to the frame.
Clearly a classy machine, well worth spending some time on
The wheels weren’t original, and steel. so no dilemma about replacing.
The brakes were ‘cheap side-pulls’ so I thought about replacing with GB or Mafac centre-pulls.
Except that it turns out ‘50’s 730s had a whole different quality to the ones I remember from the 80’s - less sloppy and also chromed brass nuts rather than more easily damaged aluminium ones.
Gears, well only 5 and I’m not nostalgic about Benelux rear mechs (though I did like the P2 - bought one when they first came out).
As the frame only has one gear lever boss, i decided to go for Sachs 3x7 gearing with Campag barends.
Front wheel on temporary loan from a Hetchins until I build a match for the rear.
Bluemells Club Specials to be fitted shortly.
The original GB bars are too narrow for me. These came on another bike complete with (almost matching) bar tape!
This “Model” is 1957 - AX on the Williams chainset.
Viking offered several variations of spec on each model, and sold framesets, so it’s impossible to be sure about ‘original’.
I replaced the 48T with a 40.
Saddle is original Mansfield Ace. Comfortable but squeaky.
Really nice ride.
It will be my holiday transport in two weeks. (Leisurely 40 miles a day max.)
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