Major nicholls

[Dcs]

Hi, just found and registered for retrobike.
Wondered if anyone can point me in the right direction.
I've got a 1972/3 major nicholls that he eventually built for me, boy was he grumpy, I've got most of the original equipment still on it apart from wheels.
Originally it had campag nouvo record with mavic rims and used tubs,but I can't remember the sizes, It was built with close clearance forks and stays, although that may have been major 'teasing' me at the time.
Question is, how do I measure for wheels .?
Plus where do I get some suitable ones from?
And do I have to use tubs or can I go clinchers?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Old Ned]

Welcome to the forum, lots of free good advice to be had here!

Pretty positive they'll be 700c size, all 'sprint' wheels for tubulars were that size in those days. Plenty of suitable wheels around (on here in 'Sales' or at jumbles) but check the width of the rear dropouts, they've got wider over the years. Yours will probably be 120mm apart for 5/6 speed. When 7 speed arrived the distance went up to 126mm and now they are 130mm for 8/9/10 etc. (and 135mm for mountain bikes and some tourers.) You could use either type of wheel, for 'general' riding I would use 'clinchers' (horrid americanism) but 120mm hubs MIGHT be a problem to find on suitable rims. Also remember that modern wheels use 'cassettes' for the sprockets rather than screw-on blocks. Saying this though, I've got a pair of early Shimano 6-speed cassette wheels on clinchers that are 120mm wide and fit my early 70's bikes perfectly.

 

[Robbied196]

boy was he grumpy

I remember a friend getting a Major Nicholls built, I can't remember what colour he ordered, but when he picked it up it was something completely different. Major just said he thought it looked better

Are you going to upload some pics, we like pics

 

[Dcs]

Think I've just deleted my reply!
Great start!

I'll try again
Thank you both for your help/interest,
I'll try and get some photos up, it's stripped bare but I do have some before pictures.
I can't believe I threw the original wheels away, I kick myself ever time I go past the frame. I'll get the ruler out and start measuring.

Re major and his grumpiness, one of the reasons for my frame delay was that I wanted slopping front forks and he thought them 'too fancy' so refused, I kept insisting and all of a sudden , after months, it turned up.

I bought it through chas Mann in kings norton, Birminham. A local cycle 'Mecca' at the time.

Again thanks to you both.
Great site and a real memory trip.

 

[TGR]

Hi and welcome to the addictive world of RB.

A question - is/was Major Nichols a Major?

Pics would be great - upload them to Photobucket and use the image code on the right to the screen - paste it into your post here and it will work - easy peasy.

Richard

 

[Dcs]

Tgr

Your right it is addictive, I've spent two full evenings on retrobike and still only on page three, my eyesight it shot and I've handed my wallet to the neighbour to stop me spending the children's inheritance on parts.

I think major was his first name, as far as I'm aware.
Thanks for the advice re photos

 

[Old Ned]

Hi and welcome to the addictive world of RB.

A question - is/was Major Nichols a Major?

No, it was his forename. Read all about him here -

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bu ... chols.html