Cycling UK Forum

Just found this book review of a German language illustrated history of bicycle makers working in Vienna
Austria in the 50 years 1930 - 1980. Reviewer has linked to publishers website. Has anyone else heard of this
book?

Link to review is here:- http://grubb1937.blogspot.co.uk/

From photographs the frame looks to be 1930s or 1940s. MERLIN was the brand name of E.A. & A.L. Merlin, 219 Goswell Road, Clerkenwell, London. They were in business before Bob Jackson and were associated with the Polytechnic CC. Would explain why Bob Jackson didn't recognise the frame number.

Hmmm. Been reading about a NATIONAL Strategy. Surely the devolved assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should be lobbied as part of any National strategy as they have the final say in their respective areas??? Or does National now = regional, i.e. England only?

Original Claud Butler frames had the frame number usually stamped on the bottom bracket shell. There should be two numbers, one above the other. One is the date code and the second the consecutive frame number. It may be hard to read because of the paint. Use tracing paper and a soft pencil to go ov...

Take your hub gear to a bike shop which can service a S.A. hub gear. The Tiwanese who now own Sturmey Archer produce a specific grease which should last between services (and is capable of being converted to oil lubrication if necessary). It is advisable to clean and renew the grease when the hub is...

I see Peter Weigle, probably one of the best frame builders in the US doesn't have a website either. His best advert is his work......

How did people manage to buy, or research anything, or indeed make an informed decision, before the advent of the internet?

It is sad to see CTC members who have contributed a lot to the CTC Club over the years, like Freeman1901 above, being treated in such a fashion, but the CTC is now much improved by becoming a Charity. As such it will seek to maximize (SPIN) all the publicity it can. The rise in membership to £41 is ...

Just heard from a friend in Donegal at the weekend that the Road Safety Authority in the Republic of Ireland are proposing the introduction of compulsory cycle helmets. Cycling Ireland require all their licence holders to wear a helmet and failure to do so invalidates their cycle insurance cover. If...

Regions pages are very slow to load. It is now interesting to see how much relevant local information is posted on the respective regions pages. A bit of padding to take away from the lack of content. Good to see the CTC is still working hard in Northern Ireland and offering value for money on the s...

Just caught this thread. I have to agree with some of the earlier posts about the CTC from disillusioned members. Current 'Cycle' magazine does not compare well with club magazine when I joined and like other correspondents, I don't even bother to read it anymore. I will not be renewing my membershi...

531colin wrote: How can you "endorse" peoples experiences of "their local LBS"? Do you use all their LBSs?..... Because you "don't have to use any of the (the) LBS in my area"? 9&10 speed chains are liable to break if joined by re-using a rivet instead of the joini...

Have to endorse what hubgearfreak wrote: as for better frames, saddles, gears, brakes....that's subjective. you know nothing about what bikes the OP has, nor the budget he may have to replace them with. if he's got a Lenton, a Sunbeam, a PX10 and he's going to take your word for it and replace them ...

The company was E A Boult, spelled with a U. He was a London base builder and sold frames through agents throughout the country. The business was taken over by Ernie Witcomb in the late 1940s and became Witcomb Cycles.

Anyone experience of the Novatec hub? Thinking of building one into a front wheel for my winter bike.

Previous posts on Witcomb frame numbers are correct. Witcomb usually put their frame numbers on the bottom bracket shell. 613 would suggest that the frame number is a) either incomplete or b) it is a number put on the frame by a refinisher in the past. I have found frames with this in the past. If t...