Hercules Kestrel(?) Ladies Bike with 531 Frameset

[S1m0nR]

Hello all,

Picked this little gem up on eBay over the weekend. On first glimpse, it looks like a basket-case which is good for nothing but the local metal recyclers but, look again and you see the period 1950's Reynolds 531 sticker and nice lug work on the head tube and forks.

It's been 'fixied' at some point in its past but I'm guessing started out as 3-speed Sturmey Archer. Shame it's not still got the original hub with it if that's the case. To be honest, I'm not sure if any of the other parts are original as they seem to be of 70's/80's vintage instead. Maybe the stem and cottered crankset belong to the bike but bet I have some fun getting those cotter pins out!

I'm planning to strip it down, clean/polish the frame, replace the headset and then build it up as a nice little mile muncher for a lady friend of mine - she needs a bike to do a couple of sportives in the spring and wants something stylish and retro. I've got an 80's Suntour groupset and pair of modern-ish alloy 700c wheels to go on, I just hope that the dérailleur hanger that I've bought on eBay will fit those old-style dropouts.

 

[barry2017]

Nice old club bike!
They were very often sold with a 4 speed wheel and a fixed wheel for winter training. That's more original than you think.

 

[S1m0nR]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the reply! Since posting, I've had a closer look at the bike and spotted an Eileen Sheridan emblem on the rear mudguard, which lead me to do a bit of Googling and I've come up with this:

Hercules Catalogue 1953 Eileen Sheridan by Mike Gerrish, on Flickr

Looks like you're right, it does appear to be more original than I thought, even down to the rear wheel configuration. I think the brakes are the only things that have been swapped out.

Not sure what to do with it now - in some ways it would be a shame not to sympathetically restore it back to usable condition. The Hercules 3-speed hub option is of interest!

 

[keithglos]

A cynical attempt to cash in on their successful professional road records. Nothing like the actual bike Eileen used.
Perhaps best known for her end to end in 1951, 2 days 10 hours, I saw her pass at about 200 miles. Her car was not allowed to pass her on the road, but had to detour to overtake.

Keith

 

[Ralph_the_Rohan]

Hi,

Great buy! Living in Southend I was tempted when this was first listed, but for various reason never got round to it. I'm amazed it went through so many re-listings before somebody snapped it up.

If you do decide to go down the modernisation route please let me know if you want to get rid of the crankset and chainring as a friend of mine would love it to add to his Hercules Kestrel Super Club, which has previously been updated and he is in the process of returning to original.....

Steve.