Cycling UK Forum

I have 1962 5 speed Merlin racing cycle which I want to upgrade to 10 gears. I have stripped out the bottom bracket, and the spindle is a Bayliss Wiley 23.

I have noticed that older bikes with more than 5 gears, have a frame indent on the bottom rear fork, so the inner chainring cog does not foul the frame - obviously, mine doesn't have this indent.

What spindle length/type would be required to upgrade my bike to 10 gears. It will also need a new chainring set, and deraileur?

Following on from my post yesterday, I would make some additional observations. The OP didn't give his/her gender, the reason I make this point is because at my local hospital, the orthopaedic ward had 3 rooms, 2 of which were for women, most of which were for knee or hip replacements after the menopause. Another condition which could affect the outcome of a TKR, is osteoporosis, again following the menopause.

The OP mentioned his/her age - I was 58 when first offered a TKR, but persevered with 'Diclofenac' for 5 years before the pain became unbearable - so I was 63 for the 1st. TKR, & 64 for the second. I am a bloke.

I had been experiencing problems with both my knees, and eventually had a left TKR in May 2010, and the right in July 2011. The pain was mainly when walking, but cycling was OK. After the 1st. TKR, I was on my bike after 4 weeks, cycling down to the physio. gym. at the hospital, and after the 2nd TKR, it was 3 weeks. The problem I found was that the tendons at the back of the knee had become 'shortened' through not being able to bend or straighten my knees properly, so now, when going out cycling, I apply Bells muscle rub, which warms up the tendons and helps with bending/straightening. The thing that got me through the ops. & physio, was a positive mental attitude - refusal to be cowed by the pain. I now get out on my 52 year old MERLIN racing bike every day, with a 40 mile ride at least once a week. I kept putting off the first op, thinking the strong painkillers would keep working - when I should have had them done straightaway, so don't put it off!

Trust my bike to be awkward, the block has 9 slots - is this multi slot? The comments regarding going to a good bike shop, are a joke in my area (Darlington)
- nobody wants to touch a 50 year old bike. I rang a bloke at Redcar (East Coast Cycles) explained my problem, was told to bring it down (25 miles) - when I went into the shop, he took one look at the wheel and said he couldn't do it. Ah well, I had a pleasant afternoon at the seaside! It feels like I am being forced into buying a new bike, by default.

The block does not have a name/type. I have a picture of it, but not sure how to upload.

I have a 1962 5 speed Merlin Racing cycle, and have bust a spoke on the cassette side of the rear wheel. I need to remove the cassette before I can fit a new spoke. Has anyone got any ideas how this can be removed/are special tools required.

FAO. GrahamNR17.
The link you left for 'oldbiketrader' went straight to the part in question, and I thought I would be able to go straight back to it this am - not so, and I didn't make any notes of the part name/number. Can you put the diorect link back on here so I can place an order. Cheers.

The photo' showing the part with the hole and milled grip, is the part which is broken.
Are replacements available?

I am trying to locate a part for my wife's Raleigh Caprice 3 speeder. Where the gear change chain passes through a plastic hub/bush, there is a small threaded
part which screws on to the spindle. This small threaded part has broken, and the gears will not work. Does anyone know where I might obtain this part??