Cyril Haearn wrote:My Gillott is from the 1950s I think (older than me)
B17 is a bit tired, that and the bars have not been changed since I bought the machine 1982
Who is using the oldest tyres?
i've got a pair of 27" Michelin tyres that are probably late 70s/early 80s, fitted to a pair of Weinmann hookless clinchers that are mated to some Sunshine hubs, they don't get many outings per year but they ride lovely and aren't cracking. Bike is always stored at room temperature and it's that frame that is the oldest bit of kit that I use, 1959 I'm fairly confident on.
I removed all the original kit and sold the Williams chainset and BB to a guy in Japan, the date of the Williams (which handily aren't in some random code like some frames) matched with the serial number dating that an expert in the marque had said it was, so that made me think the age was correct.
The rear triangle has been widened at some point and it's definitely been resprayed but I've no idea when, wrapover stays and nice lugs make it appealing but understated certainly compared to the very highest end model. The current build (it's the third since I bought it) is a varied mix age wise that suits the look I wanted but has great functionality such that I can ride it fairly hard (the brakes are shimano dual pivots), I just don't get to ride it as often as I'd like to but it has been to France for a weeks bimbling where it got a few compliments and some were intrigued with the use of a fairly modern Shimano groupset (1992) plus the huge GPS I had fitted on the bars. You can just make this out in the photo along with the 8 speed Dura Ace STIs in the bottom photo.