Search found 828 matches

by 9494arnold
28 Oct 2021, 3:05pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Stolen bikes. Do they ever come back?
Replies: 43
Views: 3275

Re: Stolen bikes. Do they ever come back?

I had one stolen from inside Police Single Men's Quarters ( you would think it was secure enough but clearly not) and got it back myself seeing it parked outside local bike shop. Hand painted black in it's absence from me but recognised Lugs, equipment (an oldie but a goodie) and had a note of frame number. Juvenile got a caution for Burglary.
by 9494arnold
28 Oct 2021, 2:59pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Powder coating
Replies: 23
Views: 1529

Re: Powder coating

Yep that's roughly what I paid for a trike frame and forks at Leominster Powder Coating (think that's what they are called) nice job, I left bolts in the Canti bosses/ lamp brackets / seat pin clamp integral thread to save them getting coated . Simple lugged frame (Haden) reccomendation from local framebuilder who has his 'budget' jobs done by them . Lugs still visible .
by 9494arnold
27 Oct 2021, 8:08am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: 1920's bicycle factory Birmingham?
Replies: 14
Views: 1308

Re: 1920's bicycle factory Birmingham?

Fascinating stuff. I should have guessed there would have been more than one manufacturer of tube in Birmingham and surrounding area.

Thanks for posting the link .
by 9494arnold
24 Oct 2021, 7:07pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: 1920's bicycle factory Birmingham?
Replies: 14
Views: 1308

Re: 1920's bicycle factory Birmingham?

Technical name for the gold line painting on a frame is 'Box Lining' .
Up until the 30's (I think) the best tubing you could get was Accles and Pollocks Chromo Tubing.
Is this the neighbouring tube company?
Then Reynolds developed 531 which became the bespoke tube of choice. I think Reynolds came from Tube Investments, which I believe was at some stage linked to Raleigh ( Hence TI Raleigh branding) They may also have merged with Accles and Pollocks or taken them over ?
I don't know where Accles and Pollocks were based , or Tube Investments originally , I know they had some factory premises around Oldbury , now long gone and flattened. I think there were other links with Oldbury and Smethwick which are very close to Birmingham. ( In fact the area if Smethwuck I have in mind used to be in Birmingham I believe , area known as 'Black Patch'
Lots of other bike related producers in the area, Brooks Saddles in Smethwick (yards from the Birmingham border , they are still there but owned by Selle Italia ) and Williams who made quality chainsets were about 1/2 a mile from Brooks.
by 9494arnold
17 Oct 2021, 9:00am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tyres,tubes,sizes
Replies: 12
Views: 648

Re: Tyres,tubes,sizes

I think that hedge clippings actually satisfy the legal definition of "Litter" ... (retired Police Officer)
I had quite an animated discussion with a farmer once on this subject, narrow country lane, no way of avoiding the debris.
by 9494arnold
15 Oct 2021, 7:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Repairing threads on French steerer tube?
Replies: 8
Views: 610

Re: Repairing threads on French steerer tube?

Try putting the top race (adjustable cup I think you refer to? ) on and turn it down with a proper headset spanner or the biggest adjustable you can get your hands on. As you get towards the damaged bit,make sure there's plenty of oil or grease on the threaded bit (keep it away from the spanner! ) and just keep turning.
I did this on one of mine, (a vintage collectors frame) it worked a treat.
Make sure you start in the thread properly, I fear that your previous top race may have been cross threaded over the tab washer depression at the top of the Fork Column , and it has only "bitten' below the depression.
by 9494arnold
11 Oct 2021, 6:49pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Tandem bracket shell compatibility
Replies: 12
Views: 808

Re: Tandem bracket shell compatibility

I used to be in the Tandem Club, I am sure they used to have parts to sleeve down Chater Oversize Brackets . Mind you that was about 30 years ago, when I had a short wheelbase Claud Butler twicer .
I made my own cross over Drive chainset out of cottered chainsets and judicially filed cotter pins . What a faff.
You can buy cotterless bottom bracket assemblies intended for frames with damaged threads, they screw into themselves . One of those on it's own might help (not sure how wide the ends are) , failing that an enterprising machine shop ought to be able to do the business in filling the gap .
by 9494arnold
11 Oct 2021, 9:36am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: The perfect gloves
Replies: 13
Views: 880

Re: The perfect gloves

You used to be able to get silk or synthetic liners intended for skiers if you want a bit of heat too.
Not bought any recently so not up to date with suppliers
by 9494arnold
2 Oct 2021, 8:41pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Knocked off by a Police Women!!
Replies: 43
Views: 6167

Re: Knocked off by a Police Women!!

Retired Sgt here

As has already been mentioned, if there's injury owing to the prescence of a motor vehicle on a road then Police duty bound to compile report and consider a prosecution . (One of the background reasons for this is to make sure Insurance Companies re imburse Hospitals I believe)
As the potential defendant, another officer ,ideally a Supervisor should be involved in making the report. (In fact probably a Standing Order in the Force Concerned) On duty or off duty.

Police do not have carte Blanche to ignore the law. I had to report myself to a Senior Officer for an off duty speeding matter . And I have compiled a few Police RTC reports.

In my former life I would have looked pretty poorly in behaviour like this.

I would suggest that any insurance company would suggest no one admits liability post collision . Same rules for all .
by 9494arnold
2 Oct 2021, 5:43pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spokes and tyres for vintage rims
Replies: 12
Views: 719

Re: Spokes and tyres for vintage rims

My tame wheelbuilder has a threading tool :D . Plus the current wheel I am on has the smallest small Flange hub you can imagine . He's specified the spoke length . He calculated it then checked it on a computer programme. Not been wrong yet and I have posed him some good old school combinations , 32/40 Large/Small Flange etc .
by 9494arnold
2 Oct 2021, 1:13pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Spokes and tyres for vintage rims
Replies: 12
Views: 719

Re: Spokes and tyres for vintage rims

Just ordered some 306's off e bay at a good price ,Stainless Double Butted. Don't think they had 304's may have had 302's ??
I agree it was pretty standard practice to file protruding spoke ends off above the nipples, particularly on non box section rims.
Most 27" tyres are made for 'hook bead rims' these days , your rims aren't hook bead so the warning about pressure is well made.
I tend to use a rubber rim tape with a sticky canvas one over it (two if I am using Connoly Rims) on Weinman /Dunlop style rims.
by 9494arnold
1 Oct 2021, 7:34pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring in the 50's
Replies: 61
Views: 4476

Re: Touring in the 50's

If you have a look at the National Cycle Museum Webpage there's a photo of a 50's camping themed exhibit there.
Better still, come and see it for yourself.! :lol:
by 9494arnold
29 Sep 2021, 9:53am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Disc forks
Replies: 22
Views: 1111

Re: Disc forks

Mate of mine trashed a good quality 531 fork with a drum brake on a trike.
I actually have the replacement fork (531 Tandem spec curved blades custom made by a quality framebuilder and sometime trike maker , 24" frame so plenty of Steerer length) and the 700c drum braked wheel ' on the shelf' as I have taken the Trike in and didn't like the drum brake set up. Let me know if that would be if interest .
I agree a curved blade looks much nicer, however, if it does flex more than a straight blade are you not in danger of setting up competing forces with the brake now at the fork end if the fork wasn't made with Disc/drum in mind? (Like the blue ones above 😮) I always assumed that the spokes flexing slightly takes the sting out at the hub/ fork end on braking.
Another mate has an oldish trike with a Straight Surly Disc fork which he rates highly ( compared to other set ups he has tried) And most Trikes only have front brakes if you didn't realise that . (Apologies if this is a granny sucking eggs situation, no offence intended) .
by 9494arnold
29 Sep 2021, 9:46am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Disc forks
Replies: 22
Views: 1111

Re: Disc forks

Mate of mine trashed a good quality 531 fork with a drum brake on a trike.
I actually have the replacement fork (531 Tandem spec curved blades custom made by a quality framebuilder and sometime trike maker , 24" frame so plenty of Steerer length) and the 700c drum braked wheel ' on the shelf' as I have taken the Trike in and didn't like the drum brake set up. Let me know if that would be if interest .
I agree a curved blade looks much nicer, however, if it does flex more than a straight blade are you not in danger of setting up competing forces with the brake now at the fork end if the fork wasn't made with Disc/drum in mind? (Like the blue ones above 😮)
Another mate has an oldish trike with a Straight Surly Disc fork which he rates highly ( compared to other set ups he has tried)
by 9494arnold
29 Sep 2021, 9:29am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: best deal on inner tubes
Replies: 18
Views: 1039

Re: best deal on inner tubes

I won two club awards in a year, one for 6 punctures on one day ride ( bike hadn't been used for years and tyres were a lot worse than I thought, in the pre puncture proof era) and I one for the most unusual puncture ( carrying Trike over a narrow bridge, upside down over my head , caught a wheel in a hawthorn bush and punctured ! :( That was because the Ford (where trike Riders can often be found ! ) resembled Niagra falls on the day in question. :lol: