Hello everyone,
I'm new to the list and to classic bikes in general so please be patient if I ask daft questions! Looking forward to getting to know you all.
I was out yesterday and I found an old Claud Butler at a car boot sale and I was wondering if there was an easy way of finding out what it was. The bike is not in very good condition, but it is very light (at a guess lighter than my road bike) and was obviously once someone's pride and joy, as well as being quite beautiful. It has very thin seat/chainstays and forks as well as wonderfully intricate lugs.
The parts I can make out are:
Double chainring "Sugino" chainset(very closely spaced and high ratios, I get the feeling this might be newer than the rest of the bike as it has no front mech and it looks newer than everything else) Weinmann centre pull brakes (does anyone know where I could get new straddle wire for these?) Weinmann "suicide lever" brake levers Weinmann aluminium 27x1 1/4 rim front, Raleigh aluminium rim rear (which of these are original?) Most of the markings have been scratched off but I think I can make out the letters "CR" on the top tube. The bike is a silver colour. The freewheel, by the way, has Sturmey-Archer written on it with a five speed cluster. Would a replacement be available, as it seems seized up, or is a repair possible? Frame looks to be about 22".
I'll try and get some pictures if I can get hold of a digital camera.
Thanks in advance.
Chris Davies
Reading UK
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Chris Davies
chris667@fastmail.fm