Cycling UK Forum

These! ^^^

The rest of the components were 1940s (except the rear mech) and the frame from just before the war, so I doubt it’s later than the late 40s...
Thanks for the replies so far

Sigh... I’ll try to upload the pics again...

Nope, no joy yet...

This came off an old machine that I was fortunate enough to come by. The chainring ( and pedals) are both chater lea, so I assumed that the cranks were. On looking around they don’t seem to be the same as other Chater lea cranks, specifically the rounded CL cranks had all 3 arms visible rather than 1 hidden behind the crank arm.

Can anyone confirm what they are?

I usually follow mine...
But then, serendipity is my sat nav

+1 for the tools in a bottle. This lets me swap between all machines easily. The spa Audax has an extra bottle cage behind the seat post so that I can still carry 2 liquid filled bottles...

In the tool kit...
Separate Allen keys, small length of 8mm key for crank bolts, which fits into a simple spanner with 8/10/12 mm cut out.
Steel tyre levers (broken too many plastic ones...)
Cycle chain tool and a couple of spare links.
Tip top patch kit
CO2 inflates and 1 cartridge
3 large reusable zip ties, for helping with awkward tyres
Bit of gaffa tape (tyre boot)
Spare brake pads/shoe cleat bolt/ crank bolt/gear and brake cables ( all carried because I’ve needed them and not had them in the past )
Latex gloves
Small Swiss Army knife with bottle openers

Saddlebag carries 2 (or3) spare tubes a good pump and a can of Victoria pit stop for quick repairs in the pouring rain. Long distance machines carry a spare tyre too.

All adds to my mental well-being when I’m in far from home in the middle of the night

I’ve ridden through water that was over the hubs and kept my feet dry by unclipping one foot and using the other between the 10oclock and 2oclock positions. It’s important to be in the right gear to start with though... You also need to be aware of unseen potholes/sharks etc....
I was amazed that my (shimano) dynamo hub put up with it, but it’s still going strong five years later.

A few weeks ago a road on my commute flooded much deeper than at any time in living memory, I rode in, but quickly got off when the water was half way up the forks. As I was nearly home I decided to wade it with the bike on my shoulder, the water ended up at waist height, at which point I was beginning to doubt the sanity of my decision, before I started to come out of the other side. (I waded past a 4x4 that got stranded, and had a slightly surreal chat with the trapped driver. He clearly thought that I was nuts, ...but then he’d just written his car off by ignoring a road closed sign... 4 fire engines arrived to rescue him just as I’d remounted and was riding out of the water )

https://i.redd.it/s01ev4375gz31.jpg
I like the look of your Corrado Fossala. Was it originally a track frame? If so, how do you find the geometry for longer rides?
I have an old Steve goff track frame that Ive thought about using for long distance stuff, just not sure that I’d find it as comfy as the converted touring frame that I normally use, (and I do like to run mudguards too )

What a great thread! Thanks for starting it Skyhawk

Lots of interesting stuff on here, try current projects for people learning new skill sets. Much of it in London, but not all fixed stuff by any means..https://www.lfgss.com/

I think you may struggle with clearances for 700x40 in an old 27’’ frame, especially with guards too...

Surly cross check? https://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/frames-f ... gIQg_D_BwE
Not track ends, but horizontal dropouts, and and an explicit claim to run 40x700 tyres with guards.
Heavily built though I think.

Not sure how much clearance on a genesis day one https://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/4183/ ... ike-review, worth a look.

On a different tack.. https://www.charliethebikemonger.com/wh ... 1366-p.asp (I know it is sold out here) one of these built up and fitted to any frame with enough clearance. Verticladropouts make wheel removal with guards simpler too.

But more fun (and cost!) than any of these, go and chat with https://leecoopercycles.webs.com/, http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk/ , Mercian etal...

Arrivee is good http://www.aukweb.net/arrivee/ Although not pure touring it often has touring content. Written by members, the focus is on riding and mercifully free of ads, gear/ diet/ training stuff. Reminds me of the CTC I joined...

Meh, big deal

The brakes may be the other way round to what you are used to, ie front on the left lever.
This could catch you out when you're concentrating on the road etc

Or this http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRPXLONROD ... d-frameset same as the sonder apart from the colours, but £125 less (at the moment, planet x price fluctuations are legendary!)