Falcon Black Diamond

[satkin55]

Here is my Falcon Black Diamond. I’ve had this from new when I was a teen in the late 1970s. It has been used from time to time over the years since I left school, but has been languishing in my bike shed for the last 10.
Feels like time to do it up.
It was red, not pink (that’s faded paint ). I’ve added a detail photo of the head tube for a colour check.
Apart from the rear wheel and bar tape all the parts are original.
It has Weinmann 610 centre-pull brakes and levers. Shimano 5-speed rear mech, .
The front wheel is a Rigida 27x1 1/4 with the dimpled braking rims.
So a few questions:
Who would you recommend to respray the frame?
Is it ok to remove the safety handles on the brakes and pou covers on the hoods? Or leave them on and stay original?
For bottle cages do you get mounts brazed on? Or stick with band-on cages?
Can you suggest replacement wheels for the Rigida? I’d like something that looks similar, but has better braking. Little stopping power in the wet was fun when I was 16, but 40 years later I’m less keen on that experience!
Any thoughts gratefully accepted.

 

[nammonk]

Re:

That takes me back, especially the "quilted" saddle I had the same on my Coventry Eagle of the same era. In fact, the bike was very similar in many regards (the two marques were linked.)

Lots of respray places; there are some threads on here with regional recommendations if you search. You should be able to get replacement decals at H Lloyd (https://h-lloyd-cycles.myshopify.com/).

I did take the "safety" handles off my Weinmann brake levers and fit rubber hoods ("honking rubbers"). I think you will need to replace the barrels that they're screwed to, as the bolts protrude, but I can't remember for sure and I don't have any to check. If so, it would be easier to get a new pair of levers. There are plenty around (I've got at least one pair I'm unlikely to use again.)

The wheels would be the best place to upgrade, for the reason you point out! Looks like you don't have much more reach on your brake calipers, so you might struggle with 700c rims. Keep an eye out for 27"x1 1/4" wheels on ebay, or ask in the Wanted section here. As an example, which would fit the style of the bike well, these have just been posted on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/vintage ... 7783824078. Nothing to do with me; I just saw them.

Good luck with it. It's nice to see it still being used.

Nick

 

[satkin55]

Toe clips now restored. Blog post about that is here https://falconrestorebike.wordpress.com ... toe-clips/

 

[satkin55]

And I’ve have some new wheels for the bike, very exciting and shiny : https://falconrestorebike.wordpress.com ... heels-day/

 

[Jonny69]

The wheels look great! Any idea what the single-wall rims are?

 

[satkin55]

Thanks.
Yes, I was told the rims are these ones: https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/rims-27-630/

 

[satkin55]

I’ve cleaned the old bell up now.
https://falconrestorebike.wordpress.com ... g-my-bell/

 

[satkin55]

I've acquired some old Falcon catalogues and added them to my website here https://falconrestorebike.wordpress.com/ephemera/

 

[satkin55]

Update, I’ve finished building it. See here https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...-diamond-finally-rebuilt.449669/#post-3280344