Mickeyspinn
rBotM Winner
Later I'll get mine down off the wall and see if I can make a little video.....when you see the speed and positivty of gear change your gonna go nuts.
It's epic good.
It's epic good.
Early 50s La Gazelle - Eau-de-Nil 🛠️ The Merlot Aftermath 🍷
- Thread starter Woz
- Start date
Simplex - is that some sort of French humour us Brits don't quite get?
@vcballbat - that exploded diagram in English - do you know the date of it by any chance?
@Mickeyspinn - Right - now we are getting somewhere:
Rear spacing is 118.3 mm
Chain is indeed 3/32" or 1 ½ x 1/16" according to my vernier.
I've even gone to the trouble to rummage in the attic for an old Shimano 6 speed freewheel and IG40 chain - it all looks pretty much the same widths and would all mesh in. Measuring the mech travel is tricky and gave up. First, I've only just frigging noticed the whole contraption works the opposite way - push lever forward and you go into a low gear / big sprocket
Second, noticed the top pulley wheel as a lot of side to side slop Third, that's really messed up my idea of using this with a pair of 8 speed STIs and trying to modify the indexing (or two clicks = one sprocket).
So, next time I'm at the charity shop, I'm getting some (any) 700c wheels with a 5 speed freewheel and something with the right OLN just to try it. I'm leaving it all there, not dismantling any more just to see how / if all this funky business works as is.
I'm going to the Inn - I'm close to calling on @M_Chavez to send over wooden planks and end this madness.
@vcballbat - that exploded diagram in English - do you know the date of it by any chance?
@Mickeyspinn - Right - now we are getting somewhere:
Rear spacing is 118.3 mm
Chain is indeed 3/32" or 1 ½ x 1/16" according to my vernier.
I've even gone to the trouble to rummage in the attic for an old Shimano 6 speed freewheel and IG40 chain - it all looks pretty much the same widths and would all mesh in. Measuring the mech travel is tricky and gave up. First, I've only just frigging noticed the whole contraption works the opposite way - push lever forward and you go into a low gear / big sprocket
Second, noticed the top pulley wheel as a lot of side to side slop Third, that's really messed up my idea of using this with a pair of 8 speed STIs and trying to modify the indexing (or two clicks = one sprocket).So, next time I'm at the charity shop, I'm getting some (any) 700c wheels with a 5 speed freewheel and something with the right OLN just to try it. I'm leaving it all there, not dismantling any more just to see how / if all this funky business works as is.
I'm going to the Inn - I'm close to calling on @M_Chavez to send over wooden planks and end this madness.
Guinessisgoodforyou
rBotM Winner
118mm will spread to 120mm and do 5 speed if mech has the travel. 3/32" chain.
Mickeyspinn
rBotM Winner
Hehe...I thought I'd let you figure that one out.Simplex - is that some sort of French humour us Brits don't quite get?
@vcballbat - that exploded diagram in English - do you know the date of it by any chance?
@Mickeyspinn - Right - now we are getting somewhere:
Rear spacing is 118.3 mm
Chain is indeed 3/32" or 1 ½ x 1/16" according to my vernier.
I've even gone to the trouble to rummage in the attic for an old Shimano 6 speed freewheel and IG40 chain - it all looks pretty much the same widths and would all mesh in. Measuring the mech travel is tricky and gave up. First, I've only just frigging noticed the whole contraption works the opposite way - push lever forward and you go into a low gear / big sprocket
So, next time I'm at the charity shop, I'm getting some (any) 700c wheels with a 5 speed freewheel and something with the right OLN just to try it. I'm leaving it all there, not dismantling any more just to see how / if all this funky business works as is.
I'm going to the Inn - I'm close to calling on @M_Chavez to send over wooden planks and end this madness.
Luckily your chain is actually routed the right way around jockey wheels....that would of got you grumbling..
No chavezism on this one woz.....it's a bit too good for that! Patience is a virtue that will reward you with a gearshift you've probably never experienced.....have I told you how quick it is yet?
The Date - early 1950s 
Finally found somethings of similar spec to help work from / towards - eventually this got identified and dated as a 1948 / 1950s race bike.
This one here is dated 1950 - 1953 and includes interesting pictures of the racing back then and what the bike fashion was.
https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=21543
Mine appears similar spec and may have been called a "Demi-Course" - half a race bike
Declaring it official now - it's an early 50s bike and everything is original.
@Mickeyspinn may be on the nose with 1953 - he get's a drink coupon. In fact you all get drink coupons tonight
Finally found somethings of similar spec to help work from / towards - eventually this got identified and dated as a 1948 / 1950s race bike.
This one here is dated 1950 - 1953 and includes interesting pictures of the racing back then and what the bike fashion was.
https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=21543
Mine appears similar spec and may have been called a "Demi-Course" - half a race bike
Declaring it official now - it's an early 50s bike and everything is original.
@Mickeyspinn may be on the nose with 1953 - he get's a drink coupon. In fact you all get drink coupons tonight
