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On yer bike!

Doctor Damage

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,324
Location
Ontario
I live in a farming area, or what used to be a farming area, and today I saw a greenhouse worker cycling to work on what looked to my untrained eye to be an old bicycle with classic proportions and tires with huge whitewalls. It's probably worth something to someone as more than just cheap transportation.
 

MPicciotto

Practically Family
Messages
771
Location
Eastern Shore, MD
I'm very late to the party posting on this thread. I have several vintage bicycles in various states at home including a Rudge with dynamo hub and headlamp. A friend wrecked it and it needs a new handlebar and the headlamp repaired now. A while back this was my daily exercise bike, basically a poor man's English club bike.

222270_10150167378636229_7434680_n.jpg


Here's a more current picture, can't see the bike here, but that doesn't matter much it's a newer Japanese mountain bike. But my area to bicycle in is amazing, Mullah Omar's former compound outside Kandahar City. There is a large maneuvers and training range here. That's an old Soviet BMP behind me;

004+%285%29.JPG


One of my goals though is to ride a Century ride. My family is from New England so I want to do the Narragansett Bay Wheelman ride http://www.nbwclub.org/rides/tfce.html To that end I want to build up a customized vintage/vintage looking bicycle. Something along the lines of an English 3-Speed club bike but up a few notches. I'm looking at touring type components, both vintage and recent technology. One of my dream items is a Rohloff 14-speed Speedhub. Here's some of the other items I'm looking at. This is something of a dream list. I'm looking for the best value/quality. I included shoes on my list because they fit with the cleats on the pedals but I haven't even addressed the rest of proper attire including a decent looking helmet (I've heard tell of some tweed covered ones).

>Reynolds 531 frame
>26x1 3/8 tires/Aluminum wheels
>Rohloff 14-spd hub
>SON (Schmidt's Original Nabendynamo) Dynomo hub, not sure which one yet, one of the classic looking designs, not the ones that have the cross section of an M&M
>Brooks Flyer Special Saddle brown or honey
>Drop Handlebars
>Brown or honey leather bar wrap
>Busch & Müller Lumotec Classic headlamp

I'm still undecided on the particular Shimano clipless pedals. I also haven't chosen a brake system, but I'm leaning towards disc brakes. No ideas yet about wheels and tires. I'm thinking if I go with Carbon or Aluminum wheels that will cut down the weight a lot. Particularly if I'm using a classic steel frame and chrome steel handlebars, seat post, crank etc.

Thoughts, opinions, suggestions? I still dont' know if I'll actually do this or if it's just a dream list.

Matt
 
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MPicciotto

Practically Family
Messages
771
Location
Eastern Shore, MD
After more research I've realized that the bike I want is a Randonneur/Brevet/Sport Touring bicycle. I'm also thinking of going with 630mm/27 inch rim instead of the 26. Polished aluminum to evoke the appearance of the classic chrome rims. I'm also leaning towards traditional caliper brakes over discs. I doubt there is enough benefit to the discs to outweigh their rather ugly appearance. Obviously if I do any Brevet rides or Randonneuring then I'll need leather or canvas bags, no way I can do an extended ride with nylon flapping around.

Matt
 

MPicciotto

Practically Family
Messages
771
Location
Eastern Shore, MD
After more research I've realized that the bike I want is a Randonneur/Brevet/Sport Touring bicycle. I'm also thinking of going with 630mm/27 inch rim instead of the 26. Polished aluminum to evoke the appearance of the classic chrome rims. I'm also leaning towards traditional caliper brakes over discs. I doubt there is enough benefit to the discs to outweigh their rather ugly appearance. Obviously if I do any Brevet rides or Randonneuring then I'll need leather or canvas bags, no way I can do an extended ride with nylon flapping around.

Matt
 

Heeresbergführer

Familiar Face
Messages
90
Location
The Mountains of Life
Grüß Di' Giftmacher,

To the best of my knowledge...which isn't much, the Torpedo/Schweinfurt hub is original. "Made in Germany" was used pre-war through the end of the war. Why do you not think it's original?

Fahrrad vor!

Patrick
 
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Heeresbergführer

Familiar Face
Messages
90
Location
The Mountains of Life
Servus Giftmacher,

Thanks for the info! I did a little more research into the Torpedo Hubs and it looks like my hubs are post-war from the 1950's. My Truppenfahrrad frame is dated 1937, so I guess I'm now searching for hubs from the 1930-40's. If you know of any available, please let me know. Unfortunately, I don't live in Germany any more and it's tough to find this stuff in the USA.

Truppenfahrrad vor und Horrido!

Patrick
 

bond

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,535
Location
Third coast
That's a nice practical bike flute I like the upright posture of it and the brooks seat.Brings back memories of my old schwinn.
 

Giftmacher

One Too Many
Messages
1,405
Location
Hohenmauth CZ
Servus Giftmacher,

Thanks for the info! I did a little more research into the Torpedo Hubs and it looks like my hubs are post-war from the 1950's. My Truppenfahrrad frame is dated 1937, so I guess I'm now searching for hubs from the 1930-40's. If you know of any available, please let me know. Unfortunately, I don't live in Germany any more and it's tough to find this stuff in the USA.

Truppenfahrrad vor und Horrido!

Patrick
Well, I can try, although my guess is that you can use any old german nabe with blackening and lubricator.
 

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