Cycling UK Forum

What did you choose Allin x 5, Emperor Sport x 2, Cliff Shrub, Tandem, Evans, Tricycle
did you get what you wanted Most of the time
Did you know what you wanted Yes
Is it the best bike you've ever ridden Bianchi Infinito
What would you do differently next time nothing
Who made it see above
Have you since changed your mind and ordered something else N/A
how has it stood up to use They all did the job they were intended for, some better than others. some broke, mishap or hard use the others were sold on
Was it worth it Yes, but that was back in the day, when the choice of off the peg frames was limited
what was the process like Fairly painless except for convincing the builder that I was a client and he was to build what I wanted
Any advice Unless you need a particular shaped frame or want something unusual don't bother

Over the years I've owned 30+ solo bikes four trikes and five tandems plus a small collection of veteran bikes, this doesn't make me an expert just someone who likes bikes and likes to change them from time to time. There are about three machines I would like to still own, not because they ere super bikes but for sentimental reasons.

A Brief Note on BSA Cycle Frame Dating
Frame numbers are a notoriously poor guide to BSA dating. They were not
sequential and there are no known company records. However, in the V-CC
BSA file are the ledgers from Astleys of Oldham (1934 to 70) who were a
large volume seller (50 to 120 bikes a year). These provide a useful part of
the jigsaw but it is important to remember we are a long way from having a
complete chronological frame record.
The information from Astley ledgers can be summarised as follows:
-Tandems from 1935 to 1940 begin with AD, AE, AT followed by a four or five
digit number.
-For 1934 majority of numbers begin with the letter W then a 5-digit letter
begins with a 3 or 4.
-For the period 1935 to 39 the letter is WE or WD or H with a 5 or 6-digit
number
-For the period 1942 to 1950 there is no letter just a 5 or 6 digit number.
-Beginning in 1951 a letter prefix was re-introduced running A to E.
-Post 1959 the letter becomes a suffix usually 2 letters.
There is no correlation between models and frame number

The coaster hub should be an Eadie, owned by BSA, this may well have a date or date code.

It could be a BSA components bike, made up in a small workshop using bought in BSA parts.

I just love Easter Eggs, amusing little treats within apps. There was one in Quark Express where an alien would come on screen and use his ray gun to delete grouped elements.

I have done a search for Thompson bottom bracket parts and there are a few out there that would take cottered cranks, or you could just use the missing bits. I have recently picked up a bike fitted with a Shimano Thompson style double chainset.

Your lucky after 60+ years of cycling my body is worn out, and no chance of a new one.

Tony Colegrave is still advertising in the current V-CC yearbook

Thanks all

What do people consider the best/easiest to use? I will be building with vintage hubs and rims so data bases unless ancient are of little use.

We have chatted before on on3wheels there I use my given name iankm.... David will be in touch with pix of his Grubb, he will get your email from the V-CC Yearbook.

I've spoken to David and confirmed that his trike is a Grubb with the number on the top head lug facing forward. Perhaps some pix to the V-CC Grubb ME might confirm it. I have seen David's trike and it certainly looks similar.

Some here Review: Orbea Orca Aero M20 Team | road.cc

As in my previous post it is a Grubb as in Freddie. I have emailed David asking him about the position of the frame number. He is a long standing V-CC member so his details are in the yearbook. We have chatted before on on3wheels there I use my given name iank....

I am fairly sure my friend David Hibbard's Grubb trike has its number on the head lug

Thanks for your kind comments guys. It gets ridden regularly and is a very pleasant ride.

This is my 1965 Moulton Automatic with a duomatic 2 speed and coaster hub. £25 at a jumble plus a lot of time and some money.