Senior Ryder
Retro Newbie
Hi folks,
I recently acquired a bike built by Bill Soens, a member of the Soens cycling family and one of the Merryside builders from Liverpool. Bill operated his shop under his father Eddie’s name because the senior Soens was a respected cycling trainer at the time. Beginning in 1957, Bill built about 800 frames over a 10 or 12 year period before closing the business and moving on to other ventures.
Bill has confirmed via serial number and design characteristics that the bike/frame is one of his and was built between ~1960 and 1964, but he does not remember the details of this particular bike. Most of the frames he built were for racing, track use or time trialing. The bike I have is unusual in that it has braze-ons for bar end shifters or, God forbid, stem shifters. Who produced barcons in the early 60s? Bill’s records have long since disappeared.
My question is, what would have been the component groups used by an English builder during this time period? Some of the Soens’ literature from this period indicates that Bill’s time trial and road bikes were built in a 1 X 5 configuration using early Compagnolo components and equipped with sew-ups. Although the paint is tatty, the frame is in good shape. Over the years, my bike has been changed and bastardized. Most of the drive train components have been replaced with low end Shimano units. The best parts are the wheels. They are decent Campag hubs laced to MA2 rims and run reasonably true.
I will be building this bike to ride (and it does ride efficiently and handles well). With this in mind, I’d like to get as close to period correct without breaking the bank.
Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and regards,
Van
I recently acquired a bike built by Bill Soens, a member of the Soens cycling family and one of the Merryside builders from Liverpool. Bill operated his shop under his father Eddie’s name because the senior Soens was a respected cycling trainer at the time. Beginning in 1957, Bill built about 800 frames over a 10 or 12 year period before closing the business and moving on to other ventures.
Bill has confirmed via serial number and design characteristics that the bike/frame is one of his and was built between ~1960 and 1964, but he does not remember the details of this particular bike. Most of the frames he built were for racing, track use or time trialing. The bike I have is unusual in that it has braze-ons for bar end shifters or, God forbid, stem shifters. Who produced barcons in the early 60s? Bill’s records have long since disappeared.
My question is, what would have been the component groups used by an English builder during this time period? Some of the Soens’ literature from this period indicates that Bill’s time trial and road bikes were built in a 1 X 5 configuration using early Compagnolo components and equipped with sew-ups. Although the paint is tatty, the frame is in good shape. Over the years, my bike has been changed and bastardized. Most of the drive train components have been replaced with low end Shimano units. The best parts are the wheels. They are decent Campag hubs laced to MA2 rims and run reasonably true.
I will be building this bike to ride (and it does ride efficiently and handles well). With this in mind, I’d like to get as close to period correct without breaking the bank.
Any and all information will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks and regards,
Van
In fact flicking back through the old Cycling Weeklys, it looks like many clubmen were riding & racing with bar end shifters until the late 60s.
