Four months ago i didn’t have one. Story here -
Now I have 2.
This is after I washed it, also swapped saddle as original needed ‘treatment’.
Friend who spends a lot of time on Gumtree noticed it, and knew I’d be interested!
I was.
Quite local, maybe a bit overpriced but worth a look.
Went to look. All seemed fine, quite nice really.
At this point it’s mixed emotions and calculations.
Do I need another bike? (No comment.)
Do I want another bike? Seems so. I’m aware of N+1.
Is it in ‘good enough’ condition? Pretty good really for 60+ years!
Has it got nice bits? Yes.
Original enough? Always a difficult one. (Almost) impossible to expect original tyres, cables etc (and you’d be unlikely to want them). Other (new) things can be accepted as ‘upgrades’ or replaced.
So, a bit of haggling and money changed hands.
Careful reinvention has begun.
I don’t mean I’ve never heard of them before, just I haven’t owned one before.
My ‘normal’ bikes are mostly 70s and 80s, almost all 531. A mix of road and MTB.
I also have a ‘64 Moulton Deluxe. It was my father’s.
I recently bought a ‘63 Carlton - because I liked the look of it.
It came with a bit of 531 (probably 2 bits) and a selection of parts by British manufacturers.
Made me think about something a bit older and somehow I ended up with this -
Almost all original except for the front wheel and rear mech.
Now appreciating parts made nearly 70 years ago by...
My ‘normal’ bikes are mostly 70s and 80s, almost all 531. A mix of road and MTB.
I also have a ‘64 Moulton Deluxe. It was my father’s.
I recently bought a ‘63 Carlton - because I liked the look of it.
It came with a bit of 531 (probably 2 bits) and a selection of parts by British manufacturers.
Made me think about something a bit older and somehow I ended up with this -
Almost all original except for the front wheel and rear mech.
Now appreciating parts made nearly 70 years ago by...
Now I have 2.
This is after I washed it, also swapped saddle as original needed ‘treatment’.
Friend who spends a lot of time on Gumtree noticed it, and knew I’d be interested!
I was.
Quite local, maybe a bit overpriced but worth a look.
Went to look. All seemed fine, quite nice really.
At this point it’s mixed emotions and calculations.
Do I need another bike? (No comment.)
Do I want another bike? Seems so. I’m aware of N+1.
Is it in ‘good enough’ condition? Pretty good really for 60+ years!
Has it got nice bits? Yes.
Original enough? Always a difficult one. (Almost) impossible to expect original tyres, cables etc (and you’d be unlikely to want them). Other (new) things can be accepted as ‘upgrades’ or replaced.
So, a bit of haggling and money changed hands.
Careful reinvention has begun.
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