Cycling UK Forum

Hi All,

I've an entirely original Carlton Pro Am for about 1980.

It even has the original mudguards & wheels.

Since I've just about finished my other 'projects'. I'll soon be turning my attentions to the Carlton.

All it really needs, is a damn good clean - and then, to be used.

However, both front and rear wheels have broken spokes; should I (to keep it 'original') have the wheels re-built ?, or should I get some 'better' wheels second hand - such as ( for example ) Mavic Open Sport/Pro ?

The current wheels (700c) look nothing special; I'm not sure whether they are worth re-building - what would you do ?

Thing is, I've too many bikes; I just can't see myself riding it. In fact, I've never ridden it at all.

What are the Carlton Pro Ams like to use ? I've mentally classified it as a sort of poor man's Dawes Galaxy, rather more a tourer than a pure racer.

Perhaps I should just sell it. I guess that there are a few on this forum with bikes that are rarely used.

What would you do ?

it's a steel frame with horizontal dropouts. there's only one thing i'd do...look at the TCT thread for inspiration and lots of nonsense

hubgearfreak wrote:it's a steel frame with horizontal dropouts. there's only one thing i'd do...look at the TCT thread for inspiration and lots of nonsense

TCT thread ? - what/where is that ?

sorry, here you go

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=34542

hubgearfreak wrote:sorry, here you go

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=34542

Thing is, I've too many bikes;

I've never heard of that - I've heard of "not enough space" but not "too many bikes" - you must be getting confused

robc02 wrote:

Thing is, I've too many bikes;

I've never heard of that - I've heard of "not enough space" but not "too many bikes" - you must be getting confused

No, I've certainly too many bikes . . . . . . . well, that's what my missus keeps telling me.

robc02 wrote:

Thing is, I've too many bikes;

I've never heard of that - I've heard of "not enough space" but not "too many bikes" - you must be getting confused

I can see myself getting 'sucked in' to spending a modest amount of time & money on this bike.

IF I get the wheels rebuilt, what do you reckon it might cost ?

I've built up a few frames into decent, roadworthy bikes over the last few years. Too be honest, I probably enjoy hunting for parts & getting the bikes up & running, more than I do riding them. In fact, as soon as they become roadworthy, I seem to lose interest in them.

And so, I acquire yet another frame.

Anyone else find this to be true ?

Sort of, pubrunner.
As soon as I've managed to disprove a theory by building a prototype, I start to think about how to prove something else
All the interim prototypes have to be kept, in case I need to refer back to them later.

pubrunner wrote:I've an entirely original Carlton Pro Am for about 1980.

It even has the original mudguards & wheels.

However, both front and rear wheels have broken spokes; should I (to keep it 'original') have the wheels re-built ?, or should I get some 'better' wheels second hand - such as ( for example ) Mavic Open Sport/Pro ?

The current wheels (700c) look nothing special; I'm not sure whether they are worth re-building - what would you do ?

What are the Carlton Pro Ams like to use ? I've mentally classified it as a sort of poor man's Dawes Galaxy, rather more a tourer than a pure racer.

My possibly fallible recollection is that the Pro Am was a "racer" with 531 main tubes only, 74deg parallel frame, Weinmann rims somewhat fragile.

pubrunner wrote:I can see myself getting 'sucked in' to spending a modest amount of time & money on this bike....Anyone else find this to be true ?

oh yes. but assuming that you've got some time and some money, what else would you do with them....play golf? polish the car? attend a football match? go shopping for gadgets at meadowhell?

much better to curse a fixed cup that really is fixed whilst skinning your knuckles