1969 Geo. W. Stratton (Bill Gray) time trial

[kohl57@yahoo.com]

I recently completed restoration of a 1969 Bill Gray time trial frame, one of the many he built for Geo. W. Stratton (Wandsworth, London). This was bought from Hilary Stone from the original owner who raced it competively.

An unsually large (25" c-t) frame, this has many distinctive and beautiful rendered details including stiffening spearpoints extending from the bb shell, shot-in seat stays and elegantly thin "pencil" backstays. The simple and original Sky Blue finish compliments the superb workmanship and the condition of this frame was amazing requiring only replacement seat and headtube decals and some minor touch ups.

Built up in period correct style including a rather wonderfully drilled out 56t TA chainring, she tips the scales at just 20.6 lbs.

The ride is exceptional, dating from timetrial frame design that stressed stability and tracking over extremely short wheelbase etc and she does fly. A rare custom-built frame that truly fits me as if built for me from the start!

Full details and lots more photos are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/9157103@N0 ... 362338011/

Peter Kohler
Washington DC USA

 

[roadking]

Slightly intrigued...not about the bike, but you state your location as the US, yet that wall is English...

Roadking.

 

[scarrabri]

Hi thats hell of a good looking bike i like the colour ,may i ask how many gears does she have ,only i have a thing about gears at the moment and cant quite make out what you have ,very smart ,best wishes Brian.

 

[roadking]

Hi thats hell of a good looking bike i like the colour ,may i ask how many gears does she have ,only i have a thing about gears at the moment and cant quite make out what you have ,very smart ,best wishes Brian.

Quite obviously it is specc'd as a TT bike, shot-in stays (not back shot!), cranks/large chainring (Stronglight/TA), possibly NR rear mech athough could be a GS, my guess is a 5 speed block.

So five speeds.

Mind you, imagine it being a little whippy in that size.

Roadking.

 

[scarrabri]

Hi thats hell of a good looking bike i like the colour ,may i ask how many gears does she have ,only i have a thing about gears at the moment and cant quite make out what you have ,very smart ,best wishes Brian.

Quite obviously it is specc'd as a TT bike, shot-in stays (not back shot!), cranks/large chainring (Stronglight/TA), possibly NR rear mech athough could be a GS, my guess is a 5 speed block.

So five speeds.

Mind you, imagine it being a little whippy in that size.

Roadking.

Hi thanks for the information ,is this then a bike one would race with and if so is 5 gears enought? Brian

 

[roadking]

It is a specialist TT (Time Trail) bike, and as such, dependent on the course, would only run these big gears...with a 56 on the front and perhaps a"straight through"block: 13, 14, 15, 16 ,17 (for example).

These are a youngs man's gears, or gear for the slightly more mature fit man over a flatter course.

In other words, you'll need real fitness and stamina to turn these gears.

It is not what used to be called a"massed start"machine.

Let's see what Ned might add.

Roaking.

 

[Midlife]

Interesting frame.........had you not said it was a 1969 frame then I would have placed it 1973/4 given the fastback seat stay treatment, vertical dropout and lugs.

Shaun

 

[roadking]

Interesting frame.........had you not said it was a 1969 frame then I would have placed it 1973/4 given the fastback seat stay treatment, vertical dropout and lugs.

Shaun

I agree, I think it's later. Fastback stays are the type that meet just under the seat bolt, shot-in meet and incorporate the aforementioned bolt.

I must say (conscious that I'm sounding a little snooty), I do prefer a Vic Edwards Rondinella to a Vic Edwards built Rory O'B for example.

Roadking (ever mindful of the smallest detail).

P.S have warbirds flying over the house today...three Spitfires yesterday!
P.P.S whilst I love Classic Lightweights, RB does not need to become a mini-me CL.

 

[kohl57@yahoo.com]

It's definately 1969 as the serial nos. Gray used for his frames always had the date, this being 692 444. I've seen other tt frames from 1969 including a Philbrook with the same stay arrangement so it was surely around by then.

Five-speed straight block 13-17, 56t ring in front, 175mm cranks... sounds daunting but it all works rather well and even this 54-year-old can crank this one up to a pretty decent speed!

 

[bg2]

Slightly intrigued...not about the bike, but you state your location as the US, yet that wall is English...

Roadking.

english bond made it there then