Hi Guys, I'm an avid bike rider but only a newbie to bike restorations, much to my wife's horror. She seems to think owning 6 bikes is a bit excessive but little does she realise they are all different.
I currently own, 4 single speed bikes (one each in aluminium, steel, scandium and titanium) and geared road bike and a recently purchased beautiful old lugged steel 10 speed (2 * 5) bike which I am restoring.
The previous owner said this bike was 30 years old and made in England by a small producer he couldn't name. I have been searching the web for weeks trying to track down the lugs patterns and other unusual characteristics in order to determine the make/model, but I have had no luck so now I'm seeking help from the experts. The lugs look similar to some early Rotrax models - but that is the closest I could come and the serial number 68166 can be found on the steerer tube and BB lug - so I'm assuming it was built in 1968.
Pictures of the bike can be found at
http://www.flickr.com/
I have just had the frame glass bead blasted (so I can restore the paint work) and there are no other marking. This paint work is thought to be original.
Unusual characteristics of this bike are:
* The distinctive lugs. * The way the seat stay wraps the top tube. * Very thin seat stay tubes. * Battery light bracket mount (a nut) on the right fork leg. * Grease nipple on the BB * Cable roller wheel on the BB * The unusual cable guide on the chain stay
If anyone can help me identify the make/model or point me in the right direction to search I would be much appreciated.
Just out of interest it came with Campy gears, Sakae/SR controls, Brooke Saddle, Weinmann brakes and Weinmann rims on Suzue hubs all of which I am cleaning, polishing and putting back on - I want it to retain the old bike character and charm. I am missing a few bits like;
* Weinmann Centerpull brake shoes and pads. * Locking ring for a Suzue rear hub (5 speed). * The leather straps to attached the tool pouch to the saddle, and * A battery for the old bike lamps (with connectors on the front middle and top)
Can anybody suggest a good place to buy these (or at least start a search)
Regards
Paul Smith
Sydney, NSW, Australia