Youngs of Lewisham Project

[glpinxit]

The stem is listed on Velobase. Current from the 1950s to the early '80s so probably original: http://www.velobase.com/ViewComponent.a ... &AbsPos=99

 

[Martin Rattler]

Fork Crown by JuanM58, on Flickr


Fork by JuanM58, on Flickr


Cable Guide by JuanM58, on Flickr

I took a few more pics this morning of the fork crown and the BB cable guides. To me, this detail looks to be earlier than 1970s; although I guess it could have been constructed with older lugs. The lug work is particularly nice on the forks with the lugs thinned down to blend with the fork blades. The cable guides appear to be rather rudimentary and perhaps an add-on.

I am told that the transfers are definitely from the 70s/80s and the frame does appear to have been refinished, although not particularly well; there is some evidence of surface corrosion on one of the seat stays that has been painted over - it looks stable enough so perhaps has been treated but it certainly does look as if it has been repainted.

So, the plan is to continue building it up with parts from the late '50s/early '60s as I had originally intended, and if it is subsequently confirmed that it does date from later then I'll just have to buy another frame. And some more bits!

By the way, the stem came from stock but but looks to be from the right era for the build.

 

[Mr Panda]

Excellent - I love the whole thing about having a bike that was built close to your home or where you grew up

This is how it should be.

 

[Martin Rattler]

Re:

Meanwhile, back to the YoL project. The general consensus of the cognoscenti is that what we have here is a late '50s, early '60s track frame that has been converted for road use in the late '70s by the replacement of the track ends and the addition of cable guides and whatnot; I think really this is the only way the frame makes sense. Anyway, I have decided to go with it and build it up along the lines as perhaps was intended when it was converted with (as far as possible) late '60s and 70s components and making use of the added fittings. So it is currently running with a '60s Campag Record Chainset, Pat 76 N Record rear derailleur and 1960/70s record front.Pedals are Milremo rat-traps with Lapize clips and Christophe (colour coded) straps. Campag NT low flange hubs laced to Rigida Chrina rims with Sapim double-butted spokes. The SR stem and ITM bars will probably be replaced shortly with GB items; braking is by Weinmann 500s and GB Superhood levers; this is actually pretty good but I the the levers will be needed elsewhere and I may look out for some Universal callipers to replace the 500s as they look a little more interesting. I will need to do a bit of tweaking over the summer but it all feels pretty good so far.

Here are a couple of snaps from this morning's 25 mile shakedown run including the traditional 'bench shot'. More as things progress, if I don't get distracted by something else.


Youngs Bench by JuanM58, on Flickr


Youngs Bench2 by JuanM58, on Flickr

 

[Martin Rattler]

Youngs Bridge by JuanM58, on Flickr

Out today on a 35 miler continuing the shakedown of the Youngs, now fitted with Universal 68 calipers, random Weinmann levers, GB bars and a rather natty Condor Italia fluted seatpost picked up at a recent bike jumble. The brakes are a great improvement on the Weimann 500s previously fitted and the whole bike is beginning to feel comfortable and nicely sorted. I am currently running a 16-20 block and I think that a 14-24, while not being anywhere near as butch, would make the bike a little more tractable. I am very pleased with the way the Youngs is settling down; it has the makings of a very nice all-rounder.

 

[Martin Rattler]

Refinish2 by JuanM58, on Flickr

Refinish3 by JuanM58, on Flickr

Refinish6 by JuanM58, on Flickr

Refinish5 by JuanM58, on Flickr

Refinish 1 by JuanM58, on Flickr

So here's a blast from the past. This project has turned out to be the slowest of slow burns but after running the Youngs about as general sporting hack, as well as using it on the odd club run I thought that such a nice little machine deserved something of a makeover.

I decided to change the colour from the original primrose yellow but retain the tricolour reference on the wrapover seatstays. The paint is by Kent Lightweight Services near Canterbury, who managed to make a good colour match from the label of the wine bottle that I provided, using a Lada colour I believe as a starting point, and have given a rather tatty frame a beautiful finish and a new lease of life...although I never saw that bottle of wine again.

The current build is:

Campagnolo Record Pista cranks with 52/42 rings
Campagnolo front mech, Nuovo Record derailleur Pat. 76, 5 speed block, Campagnolo levers
Lyotard 45CA pedals with GB Pro stainless clips and Christophe straps
Universal Super 68 callipers with GB Superhood levers
GB stem and bars with Cinelli 'tennis raquet' tape, Genetic Cranium headset
Condor Italia fluted seatpost with Brooks Pro saddle, Carlton seatpost bolt(!)
Rigida Chrina 36 hole rims on Campagnolo Nuovo Tipo hubs, butted stainless spokes, Vittoria Rubino 700C 23.

Of course, these projects are never really finished and I have a nice pair of Record low flange hubs that would go very nicely with this once I get round to building them up. In the meantime I hope to put a few miles on it over the summer.

 

[fiveSixteenths]

And those Il Primo Giro di Sicilia bars. Oh my...

 

[Jingle Jangle]

Re:

Who are these 'Kent Lightweight Services' of which you speak?

Always on the look out for a good painter - but Google seems unaware of them.

 

[Martin Rattler]

Re:

Better known as paintboxmobile.com , who specialise in vehicle refinishing. If you take a look at the gallery on their website there are some pics of my Pat Hanlon frame that the painted a couple of years ago; a top quality job.

 

[elite504]

Looks like another nice Youngs "Marksman" frame. Wrap-over stays and ornately cut Nervex lugwork. Lovely!