The build nears completion

Obligatory chain line shot.

It turns out yesterday I was being an idiot. I had the left hand crank on the wrong way round/inside out whatever you want to call it. Anyway it turns out that the axle is millimetre
perfect.
So the cranks have been installed with a modified vice from my drill press to push in the cotter pins. I got the 27" wheels cheap off ebay for £40 the pair. Consequently they're really nothing special. Plain gauge spokes and non-machined alloy rims, they're raleigh branded NOS and seem fine. I've had to re-dish and respace the rear which was set up for a 5-7 speed screw-on freewheel. Given this, at the moment I've put on a singlespeed 16t freewheel to go with the 46t front. When finances allow I'll build a track hub on a 27" rim so that I can run it fixed. I don't subsribe to the loctite and bottom bracket lockring idea; been there got the scars.

The pedals are the original salvaged philips with new bearings, the cones were fine, and they look great for 65 years old!

I chopped three inches off the bars last night with the old pipecutter. unbelievably easier than a hacksaw! I've wrapped the bars with yellow tressostar cloth tape, which, once they're covered in shellac will match a Brooks honey leather saddle, again when finances allow.

I've had a quick test ride, it turns out that I obviously get a lot of power from SPDs, and 16t may have been a bit adventurous, although normally I'm on 48x16 and happy, hmmm. 18t cog coming I think. It's a nice relaxed feeling frame. Certainly not track geometry nippy, but comfortable for steady cruising. So far so good. I'm probably going to leave the bike like this for a while and see how I go. I'll be on the lookout for a leather saddle next payday.

Well First blog. I thought I'd start with a current project. This was sold to me as a Viking "Tour of Britain" approx 1955. Through no fault of the selling ebayer, I'm pretty sure that it's actually a Viking " The Hosteller Model" Probably meaningless to most, but from my point of view the first was the top of the range model, the one I actually have is the bottom of the range.

Still, a nice frame with okay lugwork, however it isn't getting the Argos cycle/Mercian full blown £250 respray. It's getting a £40 powdercoat from ESP powdercoaters in Glasgow, and is being built up with budget/scavanged/refurished components for a beater bike.

I pick up the frame today so I'm going to detail the rebuild, for my own interest more than anything. I wish I'd taken better shots, pre-coating, but these were for a polite enquiry into decal replacements from HLloyds. No reply from them whatsoever, and their published email address on their new website seems to reach an entirely different company. Weird.