Hi John and Derek, Many thanks for your replies! (Derek I'm new here myself - first post!) It's good to know that this is possible in theory. If I go for the bike and win it I will definitely follow up with you. I am indeed based in the UK - London.
I'm also told that there's 120mm between the rear drop-outs. I'm guessing that if I wanted to fit a 7 or 8 speed cassette I would have to "cold-set" the frame, i.e. bend the rear stays apart? Is this common practice or should I really be looking for a different frame if I want to accomodate that number of gears? (Sorry if this is not in the spirit of maintaining the original vintage specs.)
Best wishes, Mike
On 23 April 2010 12:21, Derek Athey <devondirect@googlemail.com> wrote:
> Hello Mike
>
> As a new member of the CR family, your is the first response I have made to
> a CR quest.
>
> The short answer to your question is yes, a gear hanger can, and often is,
> used for such frames. Most frames before the sixties had drop-outs without
> integral hangers. Even those that did, in the 1950's, were cut off as they
> protruded beyond the width of the outside drop-out axle measurement and
> didn't allow a switch from the make of gear mech matched to the drop-out
> maker (Simplex, Cyclo etc).
>
> I have a number of spare gear hangers depending on the make of mech you
> would want to use if you purchased the Poyner a slsited on eBay. These are
> common acquisitions at any cycle jumble in the UK if that is where you
> reside.
>
> Let me know if and when I can help.
>
> Regards
> Derek Athey
>
> On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 11:59 AM, Mike Kelly <downlode@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>> I am on the hunt for a decent 531 or similar frame to build up into a
>> commuting road bike, and am inexperienced in bike building.
>> Looking at this fixie-fied Poyner bike -
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/
>> - the seller tells me that it can't be readapted into a geared bike
>> because
>> the derailleur hanger has been removed.
>> Would it be possible to get a new derailleur hanger ("adapter claw" in
>> Sheldon Brown-ese) that fitted into the axle slot?
>> Thanks,
>> Mike