1950 Macleans Featherweight Track or Path

[Ralph_the_Rohan]

Thought I'd share my latest build, a 1950 Macleans Featherweight Track or Path.

As anyone who is aware of my previous builds will know I am a big fan of leaving frames original and proudly displaying their hard earned patina.

I have tried to equip this one with parts from around the early '50s or just later, apart from consumables like the chain, tyres, brake cable and handlebar tape.

So here's the spec sheet followed by some pictures....

Frame: 1950 Macleans Featherweight Track or Path - Reynolds 531 - Frame No. KB 103

Fork: Macleans Featherweight

Headset: Unknown
Stem: GB Spearpoint drilled for Centre Pull Brake Cable Stop
Handlebar: GB Maes
Bar Tape: Cotton

Brake Levers/Brifters: GB Superhood
Brake Calipers: GB Coureur 66 Centre-Pull
Brake Pads: Weinmann
Brake Cables: Unknown Brand

Shifters: N/A
Front Derailleur: N/A
Rear Derailleur: N/A
Derailleur Cables: N/A
Freewheel: Sturmey Archer 17 Tooth Freewheel
Chain: Unknown
Cranks: Stronglight 49D (Depose)
Chainring: TA – 51 Teeth
Bottom Bracket: Stronglight
Pedals: Kyokuto Top Run - GB Professional stainless steel Toe-clips – Sturmey Archer Toe-Straps

Rims: Front – 32 Hole Dunlop “Special Lightweight.” Rear – 40 Hole Dunlop “Special Lightweight.”
Hubs: Airlite Large Flange Double Sided Track Hubs
Hub Nuts: Gripfast Wing Nuts
Nipples: Unknown
Spokes: Unknown
Tubs: N/A
Tubes: 27"x1"(630x25) White Wall

Saddle: Trimmed down Brooks Professional
Seatpost: Reynolds Hiduminium Dome Headed – 27.2mm – Brooks Seatpost Clamp
Seatpost Binder: Unknown

Bottle Cage: N/A
Extras:

Weight: Unknown

 

[Ralph_the_Rohan]

First lot....

 

[Ralph_the_Rohan]

Some more....

 

[Ralph_the_Rohan]

Finally a pic from my first commute to work, where it's parked up alongside my friend's similarly equipped 1957 Track framed Mercian. He's braver than me and runs Fixed...

 

[MartinB123]

He runs fixed with one brake and a pair of legs, however you run ss with only one brake! That's brave!

 

[Ralph_the_Rohan]

Re:

I'm not brave, just stupid!

Seriously though, if I had any intention to ride this more than one or twice a year I'd definitely fit a rear brake.

 

[Spokesmann]

Nie original look to it.

 

[Midlife]

Very smart

Just as a matter of? interest there is no left hand lever. Bitd we used to take the moving lever bit off the brake lever and attach the body to give something to rest the left hand on.

People who raced fixed used the drops and had just the one . Sometimes on the lower straight part if the bars!

Shaun

 

[Cefnbikie]

The Macleans looks great, and I particularly like the photo of the two bikes together.

When I used to ride fixed, I only had one brake lever, although as Midlife mentioned, others used a brake lever body on the other side, or a stub. I didn't ride on the hoods, but rode a lot on the tops (as if climbing) or holding the corner of my Maes bars.

I found that using ones legs to resist the rear wheel turning gave very effective braking in slippery conditions, particularly snow and ice.

 

[Peachy!]

Hello Ralph,
Thanks for the prod...great looking bike.
How is the frame looking now? Did you do anything further to inhibit the oxidisation?