Cool shop bike: 1958 Frejus track bike

I am going to start doing a series of profiles on some of the bikes in the shop's collection.

This is a 1958 Frejus track bike purchased at a swap meet a few years back. Some of the cool features include the first generation Campagnolo cranks with pedal backs. The pedal spindles are also shorter so they don't poke the pedal back caps out, quite rare. Inch pitch drive train is nice and immediately responsive to bursts of effort. Too bad it is not a block chain. Campagnolo "no record" pista hubs indicate age as well. Spokes are tied and soldered to stiffen the wheels, extra long spoke nipples help to stiffen the wheel as well. Early generation Campagnolo pista head set with super rare lock nut and steel "Campagnolo" stamped spacer. Steel Cinelli pista stem with old logo and nice Ambrosio alloy track bars. Cyclo saddle support and older Brooks swallow saddle. The chrome plating is "peppered" giving the frame a very nice patina.

   This bike was owned by Aurelio "Ernie" Gallegos who was coached by Avrey Burndage. The bike was raced in some Pan Am games and in the 1969 National championships in California in which Ernie won second place and received a water bottle as prize. Ernie says the race was on a grass track that was so muddy he was only able to ride about 50 feet before dismounting the bike and carrying it to 2nd place. Ernie also states that it originally had 40 hole wood rear rim because he used to pull spokes through the 36 hole drilled ones. The decals and head badge were removed by Ernie's coach because of team conflict invilving Schwinn I believe, But I am not sure about the details.

Keeping it in the family. Rory's chrome Rochet

We like to keep bikes in the family here at Via. You may recognize this one, maybe. This bike used to belong to our esteemed colleague and good friend Joel. He moved to the west coast not too long ago and sold his chrome Rochet to our colleague Rory, who does a great job working at the front end of the shop doing sales and repair diagnosis. Joel took some bits and bobs off the bike leaving Rory with a relatively blank canvas to build upon.

It is currently set up as a three speed with Sturmey Archer alloy shell AW hub (recently overhauled of course), Campy record high flange front road hub converted to bolt on version for security reasons, and Sugino cranks with chain ring . Velocity Aerohead rims are nice and durable for city riding. The bike retains the Honjo Le Paon fenders, Velo Orange porteur front rack, Velo Orange porteur bars, and Tektro inverse levers. A new Brooks B-17 saddle rounds out the build. The overall impression is a really well put together city bike capable of most any day to day task executed with style.

Reynolds decal timeline

Most cyclists know that square decal on the seat tube that says:guaranteed built with Reynolds 531 is an indication that the bike is of higher quality frame construction. I came across this link to the Reynolds decal timeline through a CR ( classic rendezvous) list member today and thought it was worth sharing. Might be a bit dry for some, but I find it interesting. Enjoy!
http://www.hlloydcycles.com/531%20history.pdf

Amazing shop bike! early 1960's Carlton with International lug set

We have some pretty cool bikes in the shop's collection.

This is one of my favorites. It is an early 1960's Carlton. There are a couple reasons why I like this bike. First of course is the international lug set. Extremely ornate and well filed / thinned. The seat cluster with the ornate wrap over seat stays are quite elegant. The paint scheme is really sharp and the decals are the nicest I have ever seen from Carlton (in my opinion). The fork crown echoes the ornate lugs nicely. Borrowing a bit from Hetchins treatment perhaps but still all their own.The only thing that's missing is an arching rear brake bridge. I would not call the stays "pencil" but they are nice and thin.

I compare this bike at first glance to a Saluki, not the Rivendell bike, the dog. Very elegant and svelte. The second thing I like is that all the components are from smaller  British parts maker at the time. The British Hub Co. Airlite hubs, Williams crank set,  Benelux derailleurs and shifters, Mansfield saddle, GB Coureur 66' brakes, GB Superhood brake levers with hoods, and GB Maes bars. This is before Raleigh bought everything and is a nice example of what was available at the time from smaller firms doing their thing. So the overall picture is the last gasp of sorts of smaller British frame building and components. Enjoy!

Awesome customer's bike: Peter Mooney Sport Touring

     One of our discerning repeat customers brought in this nice bike for us to assemble/tune. It a bike made by Peter Mooney, who is a New England builder. He was born in England in 1955 and came to the Boston area in 1964. His first job was fixing and selling English 3 speeds and cheap Italian ten speeds and has been in bike shops ever since.

     His love of bikes led him to competitive cycling and held a cat 1 license from 74-78'. He qualified for and raced in world championship events for road and or 25 mile time trial in 1974,1977, and 1982. While living in England from 74-76' he was a successful time trailer.

     Peter learned his trade in England during the mid 70's from a noted south London frame builder. The one man show shop built everything from kids trikes to custom world championship pursuit frames. The tiny store front offered it all. Peter and partners opened the first Wheelworks store in 1977 where Peter has been the resident frame builder ever since.

      This bike has serial number 114 on the fork steerer. The owner estimates it was built in the early 80's.  It is 56CM center to center seat tube and 56CM center to center top tube.

It is nicely set up with Phil Wood hubs with the stainless steel barrels and a Phil Wood BB. Avocet cartridge bearing headset. Campagnolo triple crank set and Rally rear derailleur with Bullseye cartridge bearing jockey pulleys. Blackburn racks with front low rider racks. The rest of the components are Campagnolo nuovo record with the exception of the ergonomic AME brake lever hoods and super record brake levers. The brazing and filing of the lugs are very clean and nicely done. It has a fully sloping Cinelli style fork crown. The blue paint really sparkles in the sun and the decals and head badge are very nicely done. The bike is a pleasure to ride. lively and responsive, yet quite comfortable. I wonder how it behaves when it is loaded with panniers? The owner will have to let us know!

Interesting article in the Econoomist. Preaching to the choir a bit, but enjoy!

 From INTELLIGENT LIFE magazine, January/February 2014-
"....cycling is a great equalizer."
http://moreintelligentlife.com/content/ideas/simon-willis/travelling-best-bicycle

Happy new years!