Show us what you did today, thread

[epicyclo]

On Sunday went on a run with the Highland Classic Bike group on old roadsters along the Cromarty Firth to Invergordon.

We spent some time peering through the windows of this derelict boarded up bike shop. Some of you may recognise something special in there amongst the dross...



Took my 1940s Rudge Roadster which is blessed with 4, count them yes 4, gears! I thought this would be a great help seeing as I have to climb nearly 500 feet in the first mile and a bit. I wasn't going to try to hike a 50lb singlespeed up there...

Bike prepped, chain oiled, rod brakes oiled. Gears carefully adjusted to the mark. Everything worked perfectly on a test run. About 50 yards into the hill it slipped out of gear and wouldn't stay in it. No problem, plenty more gears. Nup, repeat until I hit top gear which worked perfectly. Poor bike must have a few rounded off dogs in the hub and it must have been ridden like that for years for it to be so bad. At least now I have an excuse to strip the hub down.

Thus Sunday walkers were treated to the sight of an old man dressed like a 1940s workman struggling up hill in top gear muttering some choice 1940s profanities. Made it though and enjoyed the hurtle down the other side with minimal retardation from the rod brakes.

Otherwise the bike ran beautifully so it ended up as a great ride. I did of course have to ride up the back of the same hill on the way home, but by that time I was suitably fueled with cake and coffee so it was nae bother.

As a bonus I noticed a standing stone I hadn't spotted before, so I'll be back to investigate it*.





Not every ride has its very own banjoist.



He was playing as he was riding!

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*(NH 6810 6902) Clach a' Mhearlich (NAT)
OS 6" map, (1959)
Clach a' Mheirlich, or the "Thief's Stone" is a Class I (ie. probably 7th -9th century) symbol stone.
It is a sandstone pillar, 6ft x 1ft 6ins square, bearing on the front a 'step' symbol and on the left side what appears to be traces of a crescent symbol with, below, what could be either a pair of pincers or a 'tuning fork' symbol. Clach a' Mheirlich (ONB 1874).

 

[old_coyote_pedaller]

Re:

Brian, that bike looks like the first bike my brother had, in the '60s. He was given it by a neighbour along the road, an "older" guy, so it would probably be from the '40s too. Does yours have a lock in the fork crown?

Don't know if you are getting PM notifications but I sent you a PM last week about something but as yet unread.
Thought the info would be interesting to you. Let me know either way.

 

[epicyclo]

Re: Re:

Brian, that bike looks like the first bike my brother had, in the '60s. He was given it by a neighbour along the road, an "older" guy, so it would probably be from the '40s too. Does yours have a lock in the fork crown?

Don't know if you are getting PM notifications but I sent you a PM last week about something but as yet unread.
Thought the info would be interesting to you. Let me know either way.

Yes, it has the lock facility, but unfortunately the key is long lost.

Didn't notice the PM until you mentioned it. Thanks.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Looks a great day out mate. Sorry I couldn't make it down.
What am I looking at in the old bike shop? Is the red one a Scot?

Jamie

 

[The History Man]

Re:

Has Aubrey mentioned the stone? Was that his entry?

 

[ajm]

We spent some time peering through the windows of this derelict boarded up bike shop.

That must be Ken Ross Cycles? I had no idea the premises was still intact like that if so, I've forgotten which side street it's on... me and my brothers fixed our own bikes but any wheelbuilding was farmed out to Ken. My brother also bought a new bike there in the mid 90s - a really strange Raleigh MTB with a fairly decent lugged frame married to an utterly useless (no - worse than useless!) Activator fork.

It was a "real" bike shop of the most traditional mould though, a universe away from the modern Alpine Bikes etc... I feel really old just remembering the atmosphere in there!

 

[epicyclo]

Just a follow up on last week's ride.

I was puzzled why the gears weren't working. I'd spent a fair bit of time getting the adjustment spot on, and individually freeing up each link on the selector chain, lubing the cable and gear change etc.

So I put the Rudge up on the stand, and rechecked the adjustment. Way out! How on earth could that happen?

Ah, yes, the S-A aficionados among you have probably guessed.

I had the wheel out to put on a new tyre for last week's ride and didn't redo the adjustment because I had to go out. And then forgot completely about it, total blank.

A couple of minutes on the stand and all was well. Followed that up with a 25 mile ride with no problems, other than one slippage, but that's due to the selector chain still having some stiffness in it.

So now I have a 70 year old bike that runs smoothly and apart from the brakes and about 5lbs extra weight, feels every bit as good as its modern equivalent.

 

[velomaniac]

Re:

It does not have a modern equivalent, its like comparing a Sopwith Camel to a modern Typhoon fighter. What you have is a vintage bike that behaves as well as it did when it was new which in its self in no bad thing. Its a nice bike by the way but back in the day did manufacturers off any other colour than black as most vintage roadsters do seem to have been mainly black ?

 

[epicyclo]

Re: Re:

It does not have a modern equivalent, its like comparing a Sopwith Camel to a modern Typhoon fighter. What you have is a vintage bike that behaves as well as it did when it was new which in its self in no bad thing. Its a nice bike by the way but back in the day did manufacturers off any other colour than black as most vintage roadsters do seem to have been mainly black ?

My Sopwith Camel performs well with its equally ancient engine.

My Typhoon has the same engine,,,

 

[velofrog]

Re:

Decided to go for a proper ride today to try out some of the track that leads to the Eagle Observatory in Harris... didn't plan for it being the hottest day of the year though! :facepalm:

Here are a few pics of the route. Started off nice and easy, decent track to the hut and onwards, until it gets to an isolated fishing bothy. From there the track narrowed and got grassy and rutted, some places almost disappearing!

I carried on for a while, but it started turning into a hike-a-bike, and it was properly hot too!

I did two and half hours though (albeit with lots of photo stops ) and once by the Observatory I didn't see another soul... bliss!

Bike was incredibly comfy, obviously hit the sweet-spot of tyre pressures, and combined with the suppleness of titanium, I suffered no fatigue or wrist pain!

Unfortunately no sign of eagles, but a grouse flew out of the side of the track at one point and scared the bejesus out of me!

On the drive home the car registered 29 degrees, pretty decent for Harris/Lewis! :shock:

Cheers!