Tobias Rodriguez
Dirt Disciple
Both my mum and dads parents lived in Walthamstow until they passed.
New guy, old bike
- Thread starter Tobias Rodriguez
- Start date
Tobias Rodriguez
Dirt Disciple
Thanks, I’m trying to arrange the collection for Sunday morning. So hopefully I’ll have a bit more info and history on the bike.
chickendrumsticks
Senior Retro Guru
A nice bike and genealogy! I feel a hijack coming.
Guinessisgoodforyou
Retro Wizard
Easy tiger
Tobias Rodriguez
Dirt Disciple
The bike was collected this morning and she’s a beauty. The seller was a lovely bloke and very friendly. The bike was a clearance item from a contact he has, the only real additional info he could give me was that the shop whose dealer sticker is on the frame (May of London - Buckhurst Hill) stopped supplying and servicing bikes in 1962. He actually contacted them, they are still trading but deal in shotguns and associated equipment.
The seller pointed out the frame number pictured below. This seems about right for a 60’s bike from the few other ROB’s owners which have shared their frame numbers online. Do you guys have any thoughts on the true age of the bike?
I will update on a few other details soon.
The seller pointed out the frame number pictured below. This seems about right for a 60’s bike from the few other ROB’s owners which have shared their frame numbers online. Do you guys have any thoughts on the true age of the bike?
I will update on a few other details soon.
Attachments
Tobias Rodriguez
Dirt Disciple
I’ve taken off the mudguards, rack and dynamo set for better access whilst giving the bike a deeper clean. She’s quite grubby in the hard to reach places. The removed parts will all get a good clean before being fitted again. The brakes are the dirtiest parts and need to be stripped down and freshened up. There are some thick white paint splashes on the front rim that will need sorting too. Everything else needs a good wipe over and the rear tyre isn’t seated properly so that needs to be done. The brake cables could do with replacing at some point.
I have swapped the saddle out for a cleaner black Brooks B17, the B15 might be used on another project I have on the go. Feel free to ask if you’re curious
Here's the parts spec. . .
Lyotard pedals
Christophe toe clips
Alfredo Binda - Bianchi Dino straps
TA chainset
BB yet to check
Shimano 200cx rear derailleur
Shimano 105 shifter on Eibar band
Birmalux seat post 27.2
Brooks Champion B15 saddle in brown
Dura Ace headset (first gen)
GB bars
GB stem
Landar brakes
Quick release safety levers
Weinmann rims on Normandy high flange hubs
Hutchinson tyres (new)
German dynamo set and rear light with Lucas King of the Road front lamp
Bluemels mudguards
Bluemels pump
Small rear rack
I have swapped the saddle out for a cleaner black Brooks B17, the B15 might be used on another project I have on the go. Feel free to ask if you’re curious
Here's the parts spec. . .
Lyotard pedals
Christophe toe clips
Alfredo Binda - Bianchi Dino straps
TA chainset
BB yet to check
Shimano 200cx rear derailleur
Shimano 105 shifter on Eibar band
Birmalux seat post 27.2
Brooks Champion B15 saddle in brown
Dura Ace headset (first gen)
GB bars
GB stem
Landar brakes
Quick release safety levers
Weinmann rims on Normandy high flange hubs
Hutchinson tyres (new)
German dynamo set and rear light with Lucas King of the Road front lamp
Bluemels mudguards
Bluemels pump
Small rear rack
Guinessisgoodforyou
Retro Wizard
Look forward to seeing it.
I particularly like the use of what looks like fork lamp bosses as seat stay rack mounts, guessing that it's a custom built rack 
Tobias Rodriguez
Dirt Disciple
Seeing as the bike is quite road worthy, I might not get into the changes until the spring. So the new plan is just a clean then back on the road for a few gentle rides. I will try to get some pics if that is the case.
I did purchase a Shimano 600 Arabesque derailleur set with shifters at a very good price. So when the changes are made they will be used. On my budget they will look period enough, I know not everyone is a fan but I’ve read good things about the performance. Not sure if I’ll need a cable guide? The front derailleur is a bottom pull, I think, I’ll find out I guess.
An early 1x gravel bike is a nice thought but I think it’s where it ended up after some changes by the last owner. As for the bosses, yes, they are indeed the same as the boss on the forks for the light bracket, pretty cool. She is definitely a tourer without doubt. The rack fixing brackets could have been modified to suit the bosses. I don’t think I’ve seen any racks with the leather covering where they are on this one, maybe they are covering up an ugly weld? The leather is a nice feature though.
I did purchase a Shimano 600 Arabesque derailleur set with shifters at a very good price. So when the changes are made they will be used. On my budget they will look period enough, I know not everyone is a fan but I’ve read good things about the performance. Not sure if I’ll need a cable guide? The front derailleur is a bottom pull, I think, I’ll find out I guess.
An early 1x gravel bike is a nice thought but I think it’s where it ended up after some changes by the last owner. As for the bosses, yes, they are indeed the same as the boss on the forks for the light bracket, pretty cool. She is definitely a tourer without doubt. The rack fixing brackets could have been modified to suit the bosses. I don’t think I’ve seen any racks with the leather covering where they are on this one, maybe they are covering up an ugly weld? The leather is a nice feature though.
