On yer bike!

[Mike1973]

Cheers Paddy, I reckon this bike will go on forever! Looking forward to a ride out to where my uncle lives on the edge of the South Downs about 20 miles away when next I have a free weekend. Be good to show him how it looks now. Doesn't feel right just using it as a commuter ...

[J.W.]

Nice job on that bike, Mike! Looks really, really good and must be a pleasure to ride!

[esteban68]

Looks good Mike, if you want to keep it with the 70's 80's equipment you could do a lot worse than Suntour stuff, it's very reliable pretty lightweight and is far cheaper than the heavier and dearer Simano, Campagnolo,Simplex equivalents....go for the Vx range or the Cyclone...brake wise Mafac Centre pulls are fairly cheap and easily available...good job on the tape BTW, the GB stems I think were made by SR and are very good and fairly lightweight....if you can get them SR Royal groupset/bits are VERY good and seriously underated and cheap-ish.
Lugs look like EKLA?

[Mike1973]

Thanks guys. Yep, lovely bike to ride as well, goes as good as it looks.

Esteban, all the component parts of the machine work well so I'm just going to keep them. Campy chainset, Shim rear mech ... If they needed changing, then I might consider going back to a '50's spec machine, but for now, enjoying it as is.

As for the frame, I know very little. Cliff Peters used to race, and set up his own shop in Aston, Birmingham. I do not know if he made the frames, or he had other people make them for him. I do know it was built for my uncle though. Internet searches throw very little light on Cliff Peters Cycle Shop.

[mikepara]

Wow! I've just read this whole thread, it is awesome. There are some lovely bikes. My wife Cycles most days but she's a mass of backside pads and dayglo. I can't think a long ride on those gorgeous machines in that old clobber can be as much fun as it looks. So there's a vintage cycling club out and about in the Scottish Borders and I haven't managed to see them at least once, Gutted.
Don't ride anything very often and when I do it's certainly not vintage, but I can see myself looking in the junk shops for one to do up...

[dmar836]

I have a modern ride for the team-kit wanna be group rides but I really fancy older bikes. None earlier than the 60s though I'm afraid. Still, I have had no problem keeping up with the posers using downtube shifters and the like. It's a badge of honor to dust someone on a climb on a 40 yr old bike - they don't like that much either! Very little has changed in frame geometry in the last 100 yrs so take your pick!
Great bikes and a great thread!
Dave
http://retrobikerestorations.blogspot.com/

[PADDY]

Whilst browsing an old copy of THE CAPTAIN (a turn of the Century magazine for Boys), I took a few snaps of The Cycling Corner which was a part of the sporting section of the magazine. Thought you all might be interested in this for reference purposes. I'm particularly keen on the cycling jackets. Enjoy!!

(The Lady's Book is to interest 'any' ladies that might come into this thread, as I'm sure there are some keen vintage cyclists among the girls on TFL).

[PADDY]

And a few more - again for general interest and reference.

[PADDY]

Forgot to post this one - for touring!!

[botty]

I can't think a long ride on those gorgeous machines in that old clobber can be as much fun as it looks.

Oh yes it can. Just finished 200 miles+ through France to the velo Anjou vintage rally with everything 1930/40 original or repo, including clothes and camping gear (sadly on a Velorbis 'modern' vintage bike as my earlier posted bike had bottom bracket/gearing problems). Everything worked great.

Don't forget to check out Carradice stuff. I used their waxed cotton cape (made as per 1930 onward) and it worked a treat in the rain/