In the early 70's John Shipman worked with my dad and he lived in Eglinton . John rode to Limavady to visit my dad on a number of occasions and I always liked looking at his bike as a ten year old boy and I am proud to have got the chance to own his 1959 London made Youngs in 2008.
1961 Hercules bought new in Belfast and put into storage and only got out this week as new.
1934 Raleigh
CARLRTON
This photo was taken a few weeks ago. I found this bike, minus its front wheel, in a pile of junk in a recycling firm. Frame is a bit rough but I decided to leave it as I couldn't re-create the metallic finish. Cost me £45 but came complete with Campag gear mech. This model was only made from 1958 to 1962.
Michael
1955 RALEIGH
standard Raleigh Roadster - bought in East Belfast in 1988 needed a fair bit of work done to it - my late father rebuilt the rear wheel (3 speed SA dynohub) with a new 28" Westwood rim that I bought from Hannah's Cycle shop in Lisburn also got a new front wheel at the same time. The Brooks three spring saddle was rescued from a dump in Killala Co Mayo in 1989. Nice bike to ride on short distances but very heavy. Probably around 40 miles is the most that I've cycled on it in one day. It's been all over the Scottish mainland and Islands with me on VCC Island raids starting in Orkney in 1993
William
1930's BSA Roadster
Spent a bit of time this week tidying up my pre-war BSA roadster. Chris Aspinwall tells me it's late 1930s. Mostly original but had to re-paint the frame some years ago as it was in a very rough state when I got it.
Michael
1987 Peuget PE10N 'Premier'
This bicycle was found in nearly original condition, except for the Huret rear mech which had been changed to a Shimano long cage clone and the fact the back wheel was badly buckled. Initial assessment of the bike was positive, the main areas being paint damage to the frame, need to source an original Huret mech, the need to address the badly corroded chrome steel rims, the buckled back wheel and to fit a San Marco Rolls saddle at the owner's request.
The bicycle was stripped down completely, the Stronglight headset and bottom bracket checked. Both were in good condition and after removing the hardened grease, were thoroughly cleaned and put to one side. The Huret gear levers were removed and cleaned along with the front mech. Stronglight chainset was cleaned and checked, original Lyotard pedals were stripped and overhauled. The Pivo handlebar stem and steel Peugeot bars were in good condition, were cleaned, following their removal from the bike. The saddle and seat post were then removed, along with the Simplex allen key seat bolt, cleaned, and put to one side. Once the frame and fork had been stripped down, the work could start on repairing the paint damage. Once this was done, the wheels were next to be addressed. The original Maillard 5 speed freewheel block was removed, cleaned and put to one side for later refitting. The Maillard hubs were stripped out from the heavy buckled steel rims. The Maillard small flange hubs were found to be in good condition, once dismantled and thoroughly cleaned. The main concern was the rear hub cones, but they were still perfectly serviceable. Once the hubs had been regreased, new ball bearings fitted, the cones properly adjusted, then the hubs could be laced back into a pair of alloy rims. Rigida alloy, non eyelet, Endrick pattern, rims were chosen, as they were nearly identical to the original steel rims, but would offer a lot less revolving weight, as well as, better braking. The new wheels were also built with stainless double butted spokes and were shod with Schwalbe 700 x 25 tyres, which are a good match for the original, but perished, Hutchinson tyres.
Once the wheels were finished, the rebuild could begin. Headset was refitted along with the bottom bracket. Down tube gear levers, chainset and front mech were next. Wheels, brakes, and handlbars were fitted, then the brakes re-cabled. A new Sachs-Huret, allen key fit, rear mech was sourced, to go back onto the Simplex rear dropout. Gear mechs were then cabled with stainless cables. The Sedis chain was then fitted and adjusted for length. The seatpost was then re-fitted and topped with a black, San Marco, Rolls saddle at the request of the owner. He wished to have the bike in the condition that local club cyclists, had used them in the late 1980s. This particular model was widely used to race on in the late 1980s, once the wheels had been changed to sprints. Sprints were usually either Campagnolo or Mavic hubs laced into Mavic GP4 rims.
The restored machine was posed beside an original 1970s Peugeot Cycles woollen trade jersey for the owner when he came to pick it up.
GORDON MIXTE
Photos of Gordon Mixte Frame is lugless, bronze welded. Frame size is 21 3/4", wheelbase 42", virtual top tube 21". Wheel size is 27" (630), although wheels which came with the bike are 700c. Arrangement of braze-ons would suggest an earlier build date than many of the components, which are 1980s. ( This is a Northern Ireland frame builder )
1952 GEORGES MARTIN
This 1952 French Georges Martin is unrestored and used by a section member as bought.
1950's JRJ TRACK BICYCLE
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| Leslie White Maryland Wheelers and myself with the JRJ Track bike that Leslie won lots of events on. He held Time Trial records in the 60's with this bike . I am proud to own this bicycle which has a good history in Irish cycling |
1962 1st grass 880yds All Ireland championship
1st grass 2 mile All Ireland championship
1963 1st grass 1mile Northern Ireland championship
2nd 4000 meters pursuit Northern Ireland championship
1964 1st 4000 meters pursuit Northern Ireland championship
3rd 25 mile Time Trial Northern Ireland championship
plus club time trial records
1935 Humber
I bought this Humber as seen last year at our section Cycle jumble. The bike has 28" wheels with a K5 hub gear fitted
and is in usable condition. I intend getting the hub gear serviced fitting new tyres and tubes so i can ride it on our events in 2013.
Members bike August 2012
Sun Cycles started production of their Manx TT about 1945/46. This one is from 1947, and is stamped with 'LL' on the rear drop-out. This apparently means that it was built in the top frame shop in Sun Cycles. This particular frame was originally black with chrome drop-outs front and rear and a white band on the seat tube. It hung for many years on a ceiling hook along with a few other frames in my father's cycle shop until his death in 1986. I took it down and repainted it and rode it as a fixed wheel for many years. A few years ago I decided to give her a further restoration to her present condition. I will at some point in the future repaint it properly back to original spec, if and when I can obtain the correct handlebars and stem. It is a nice bike to ride at present, but the stem is slightly longer than I would like. The design of the frame was to shorten the wheelbase, and they certainly achieved this, with a wheel base of 38.5" when most bikes of the period were around 41". I haven't had this bike out this year, but I intend to take it out on some
runs this year.
Menmbers bike for July 2012
This Royal Enfield was bought from a cycling friend in England last year . The bike is as i got it with the transfers in good condition and i intend using it as i got it. The bike has a long wheel base and rides more like a roadster that a small wheel bicycle. These were built in small numbers with the total mumber of bikes unknown but thought to be about 1100 and they were not sold in Ireland.
Members bike of the month May 2012
Barn Find Discovery (picture above my friend with his, now my Empire)
About a year and a half ago I made contact with an old friend who a hadn’t seen in 40 years, we grew up next door to each other in the small County Antrim village of “Dundrod” well known for being the location of the ”Ulster Grandprix” motorcycle race held each August.
We got to chat about old times and what we were doing now, the usual old pals chat; he told me that he had inherited his Grandmothers farm some years back. And now lives in a cottage on the property he built some time ago, however he retained all the old buildings and farm house that were in his family for 100’s of years, he told me he collected things like old cars motorbikes and the like. I asked if he had any bicycles and he said yes lots lying around. I arranged to go to the property later that week. On arrival he took me into outhouse after outhouse and right enough he had lots of bicycles, most unremarkable Raleigh roadsters and a few 70’s racing bicycles, I did buy a 1950 Rudge gents roadster from him, as I did not want to go home empty handed.
We had another chat about the old days for a while and I said “well if that’s it I’ll head on home now” “hold on a minute there is one more place to see yet” he said, and lead me to an old stone barn in a very poor state of repair with a set of very rotten wooden steps up the side of it to the loft, we made our way very carefully up the steps to the barn loft, their he showed me some 1930’s or 40’s Loup roadsters and some more racing bicycles, I was about to call it a day, then I spotted a set of handle bars sticking out of the straw at the back, we pulled out another roadster but this was different I could hardly contain myself, it was a “folding Roadster” original paint complete and in good condition for its age; The head transfer says “Empire” with “Made in England” at the bottom.
I never saw a machine like it or even heard of “Empire” but I knew I had to have it; however try as I might he would not part with it, he knew he had something special even if he didn’t know he had it till now.
I was very disappointed I had to go home without it, but I did not give-up on it yet; over the next 18 months or so I contacted him many times but still no joy, then last Saturday Dundrod held a vintage Raleigh so I drove over to the village as I knew he would be there, sure enough their he was and I could not believe it along with a few of his other bicycles motorbikes and a Cycle Master was the “Empire” folder.
I went in for the kill as it were no more messing about I had to have it, After a bit of, you’ll sell me it, no I won’t, yes you will, I had no choice I got the cash out and offered him what at the time I thought was twice what it was worth; he caved in and the “Empire” was mine, he said “it’s not the money, you’ve tortured me for over a year now I’ll sell you it to get peace, but promise me you won’t sell it” “no Problem” I said so we shook hands and I took the machine home that afternoon.
The next day was the Northern Ireland Sections last run of the season so I got stuck into the machine and by 11.30 that night I had done enough to get it out on the run, the most enjoyable run I have been on so far.
Can anyone help me with info on this machine? there is nothing out there on an “Empire” roadster, never mind a folder, what I have so far is it might be an “Empire” badged clone of the BSA WW1 trench bike made by “Phillips” for the civilian market in the 20’s, or maybe not, it has Phillips handlebars, black 26 X 1.1/2 wheels not sure if the back wheel is original or not has a Perry coaster. I have been unable to find a serial number.
Email me at keiththeduke@hotmail.com
Members bike of the month April 2012
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| 1926 Singer |
Here we have a 1926ish Singer ‘Special’ gents model number 1
(as far as I am aware) which was manufactured by Singer and co. ltd.
Coventry. Who started manufacturing bicycles some 50odd years before.
I acquired it in pretty much its present state apart from a new set of
wheels a front lamp and a carrier-which has been added in recent years.
this bike has changed my attitude to riding a roadsters of this era, as I
find it most enjoyable to ride, even on steep hills! I have owned this bike
for approximately 25 years, of which 20 of it has been moved from pillar
to post and unused. This bike would have originally sold for about £6-15-0
with the Singer gents royal number 3 at £7-15-0. But it would take a heck
of a lot more to prize this baby off me now as I have fallen very much in love
with riding it in recent years. Anybody with any variation on this model or
any other details would be much appreciated.
Yours, Andy
Members bike of the month March 2012
1953 Ellis-Briggs
This bicycle was purchased in 2005 at Lytham St Annes,
Lancashire from the son of a clubmate of my parents. My parents and uncles had
cycled with Cleveleys Road Club, Blackpool, in the 1950s and the frame was sold
to me as being made in 1948. The frame had unfortunately been damaged when it
came off a car roof rack returning from an event, and was bought in this
condition. It also came less wheels, mudguards and pedals.
The frame has now been repaired and re-enamelled the
same colours. The makers transfers were obtained from Ellis-Briggs in Yorkshire,
prior to repair and they were able to check records and confirm the frame as
being made in 1953 not 1948. The original owner had updated the frame in the
1970s by having the seat altered to allen key fitting when it was re-enamelled
in the original colours.
The equipment fitted to the frame dates from the 1970s
period and is mostly all Ron Kitchin stock lines. The wheels now fitted to the
frame are Campagnolo Tipo large flange 36H hubs, laced with Sapim stainless
steel spokes into Rigida alloy Endrick pattern rims and fiited with a Maeda
Suntour block. Pedals are Barelli Supreme fitted with Milremo toe clips, and
Bantel yellow mudguards. The alloy Tange-Seiki headset was refitted, along with
the Stronglight 49D cranks and bottom bracket, Maeda Suntour V-Luxe rear mech,
SR seatpost and Cinelli saddle, Cinelli bars and stem and Weinmann side pull
brakes.
The bike is not yet finished as I still have to find where I
stored the handlebars that came with the bike! I also intend to change to
freewheel block from the existing 16~20T to a 14~24T Maeda Suntour. The bicycle
is in typical clubman trim from the 1970s and was the original owners main bike.
He toured and time trialled on this machine.
Firstly, what I really like about the bike is, the
tangible link to my family's club cycling in the north west of England in the
1950s. My parents remember the bike and the marque attracted the epithet
'Nelly-Spriggs' amongst the local clubmen of the time. I also like the no
nonsense 5 speed derailleur gearing of it's final condition - no big chainring,
just a 5 speed block, from an era when 'the fellowship of the wheel' still
existed and big miles was the norm. The bike will be ridden at an event in
2012.
Chris
Members bicycle February 2012
1966 MOULTON DELUXE
This is a late series one, the change over
model a rare one with slim front forks and series two rear forks,but with the
original style rack ie not the plug in type. This model is possibly the best F
frame Moulton ever made. This bike has the moulton bottle dynamo lighting set
fitted. This is a very nice bike bought in this condition for me to use on our Veteran Cycle Club N.I. section small wheel rides .
Susan
Members bicycle January 2012
This is my 1937 Raleigh Ladies Sports Special which I bought complete two years ago and it is used in
most VCC Northern Ireland section rides. Still in its original finish with all the old transfers. Over the last 73 years of it life it has gained a patina that only age can give it. 26" x 1.1/4" Dunlop rimmed chrome steel endrick wheels. Raleigh front hub with a K7 (1937) Sturmey Archer 3 speed rear hub & both hubs have the Raliegh "R" logo quick release wing nuts. The frame is in it's original black enamel with gold transfers. Miller dynamo set, celliloid covered drop north road handle bars with Raleigh caliper brakes. Bluemels Gold label mudguards, Terrys Mattress saddle, Lucas bell , raleigh rubber pedals & fitted with a new pair of amber wall tyres some time ago. Being 73 years old, it is in remarkable condition. It does have an odd scratch here & there, but that has to be expected. But the whole bicycle has the typical styling of the 1930's period.
Chris
MEMBERS BICYCLE DECEMBER 2011
My 1971 Raleigh Twenty
My 1971 Raleigh Twenty
My Dublin built Raleigh Twenty was bought new in 1971 for my uncle to ride to school. It was passed on to various members of the family, before coming to my older sister. A few years later it was passed on to me. I quickly personalised it with a bright red paint job and lots of add on lights and reflectors. I rode it a lot at that time, both on and off the road across fields and farm tracks. My dad replaced the original 3-speed back wheel with another wheel with a single speed hub after the original got bent (I didn't abuse it, honest!). I still have the original wheel, although it's past redemption.
Other bikes came along but I continued to ride it until the mid 1990s when it was gracefully retired, mostly due to a very worn bottom backet. I bought a new mountain bike around 1995 and that should probably have been the end of the story. The Twenty was left totally forgotten in the back of the coal shed for the next 12 or 13 years.
After taking a renewed interest in cycling, I decided to fix up the Twenty for sentimental reasons and I pulled it out to have a look at it. What I saw wasn't too bad at all really. My nice red paint was flaking off in places, the brake cables were seized, the saddle collapsed and the chrome was a bit rusty. The biggest issue was with the wheels, both of which badly needed replace and also the bottom bracket bracket problem. I managed to buy a set of wheels from a 1977 Twenty from Ebay for very little money. They weren't absolutely perfect, but perfectly presentable once I had trued them, polished the chrome and re-greased the bearings. The bottom bracket was more of an issue. Raleigh bottom brackets are difficult to find as they differ from other British bikes. New ball bearings helped a little but it still had some play. It was another two years before I managed to find a good bottom bracket for a sensible price.
The frame was repainted blue, the chrome polished and cables and brake pads were replaced. I fitted a slightly larger ball bearing to the detent spring on the SA twist grip gear selector to make it less prone to un-intentional gear shifts. An 18 tooth sprockket was fitted to the replacement Sturmey hub to make the gear ratios more sensible for use in a hilly area. A period SA light set was added later and powered from an old Soubitez bottle dynamo.
I have been very happy with the finished bike. It's not 100% perfect but I built it to be used rather than as a museum piece. It is rode on the Northern Ireland VCC Small Wheel ride in Coleraine every year. I have completed a few rides in excess of 40 miles on it along the Causeway coast. I also often take it in the car if I am going away anywhere. It has travelled as far away as Peterhead, a few miles north of Aberdeen, when I visited family there last year.
This is one bike I would never consider selling as it means too much to me and I still enjoy riding it.
Bryan
MEMBERS BICYCLE NOVEMBER 2011
RALEIGH GRIFTER
Hello, I am Jack Fletcher from Northern Ireland and I am 12 years old. Last year I was given a Mk2 Raleigh Grifter “Stars and Stripes”.
It had originally been purchased by a man for his daughter. She had taken good care of it, but the forks were bent and it had been covered in so much oil to protect it that the top tube sticker had came off! The tyres were worn and perished. My Dad and I stripped it to a bare frame and rebuilt it with new Forks (£15), a NOS top tube decal (£40), NOS tyres (£60) and a mint speedometer bought from a friend (£1)
There has been no chrome work or repainting done to this bike and no reproduction parts anywhere. I just need to get a NOS or mint rear guard to finish it 100%.
If you have a Mk2 rear guard I would be interested to hear from you. I am also interested in 1980s BMX bikes/parts.
Jack
