1980’s 531 Carless (built in Crewe) - retro-mod build - more photos!

[velocipede]

@otherself - not going to repaint it. It’s got plenty of scratches but to be honest, considering it’s c 40 years old, it’s pretty good. The chrome is superb. So once all the components are on there it’ll be grand I’m sure.
The decals are worse on one side than the other and given they are so bold (and black) I might touch them in with some gloss black enamel at some point.

Also, having fitted some wheels to check the clearances, it’s nowhere near as tight as I thought it would be - it’ll be running 23’s to begin with but tbh I’ve had some 25’s sat in there with no trouble.

As for its original use and whether it was built for TT’s - it belonged to @colnagokid before me - he will know - my guess is that it was more of a all rounder race bike rather than TT specific? (Given the other Carlesses I’ve seen were all single ring out and out TT machines that is)

 

[velocipede]

OK, some more photos as it starts to take some shape - now ready to cable up so will probably get that done over the weekend - these Sram shifters are a bit of a pain for cable routing and the cables you see on there are just what's left from the old bike they came off - I'll need to thread some new shifter cables, which is a job I hate on these!

Pics are not great, but you get the idea!

 

[Frankenorange]

Those shifters are way easier to cable up with the shifter in your hand, than on the bar. Much easier to also check the spool is not cracked/burred/gunked up which can all cause problems threading the cable.

 

[velocipede]

Those shifters are way easier to cable up with the shifter in your hand, than on the bar. Much easier to also check the spool is not cracked/burred/gunked up which can all cause problems threading the cable.

As it turns out I only needed to recable the rear, the front was fine as it was - and the cable slotted in no problem!

 

[velocipede]

Ok she’s finished! Looks and rides lovely!!

 

[velocipede]

Some more photos…..

 

[velocipede]

After much thought - this is up for sale - I'm not going to ride it as I also have the Swinnerton and of the two, the Swinnerton is a better fit for me - so this one can go to someone who'll give it some use now I've got it set up spot on!

 

[Frankenorange]

ooh....how much?

 

[velocipede]

I’m looking for £450 - open to offers

 

[velocipede]

I ended up dropping in to see Dave Hinde and discussing this frame - and he set me straight on who built it.

I had always assumed, mistakenly it turns out, that Dave himslef built the frames at Carless but actually he didn't build a frame until he moved to Northwich and set up in his own shop. Much like the Swinnerton I recently built, Carless frames were also built by either George Longstaff or Paul Washington and Dave was pretty confident this was a George Longstaff.

So there you go, every day is a learning day!