Schwinny
I live for the CABE
As many times our old bikes do, they start out a pile of mess and it takes a few years to get them where they ought to be. Time and parts availability means they progress with placeholder parts and may go through a few iterations before we say; done.
I posted this one here when I first found it in Tucson. That thread showed a progression through a couple stages of its restoration.
But now, 3-4 years later...
Done.
I actually finished this one last summer and it's been hanging on the wall ever since. Problem is, I can't ride it, wish I could but I can't. My feet are too big for the pedal to mudguard overlap and the bars in their original position puts too much weight on my bad right arm. Flipping the North Roads up for tourist riding would be a blasphemy to its heritage. A true English Club Machine.
Everything on it now is original or period correct. Except maybe the front lamp. I've missed two OG Lucas battery lamps due to cost and desirability. Not easy to come by and quite expensive. This one looks the part and works but is from the late 50s.
I've grown to love this bike, but it will soon be time for a new home. I don't collect bikes, I bring them back and pass them on. The ones I do keep are in riding rotation. According to the Veteran Cycle Clubs Armstrong Marque Enthusiast, this is the only one he knows of.
Maybe I can get it to a museum or back home to England, that would be nice.
It had Aluminum mudguards and was a flip/flop fixed gear bike when brand new. The mudguards couldn't be saved and there's no hope of finding any nowadays but the rest has been put back to original, though the drive side has a single speed period correct Villiers 20t freewheel for modern comfortable riding.
I posted this one here when I first found it in Tucson. That thread showed a progression through a couple stages of its restoration.
But now, 3-4 years later...
Done.
I actually finished this one last summer and it's been hanging on the wall ever since. Problem is, I can't ride it, wish I could but I can't. My feet are too big for the pedal to mudguard overlap and the bars in their original position puts too much weight on my bad right arm. Flipping the North Roads up for tourist riding would be a blasphemy to its heritage. A true English Club Machine.
Everything on it now is original or period correct. Except maybe the front lamp. I've missed two OG Lucas battery lamps due to cost and desirability. Not easy to come by and quite expensive. This one looks the part and works but is from the late 50s.
I've grown to love this bike, but it will soon be time for a new home. I don't collect bikes, I bring them back and pass them on. The ones I do keep are in riding rotation. According to the Veteran Cycle Clubs Armstrong Marque Enthusiast, this is the only one he knows of.
Maybe I can get it to a museum or back home to England, that would be nice.
It had Aluminum mudguards and was a flip/flop fixed gear bike when brand new. The mudguards couldn't be saved and there's no hope of finding any nowadays but the rest has been put back to original, though the drive side has a single speed period correct Villiers 20t freewheel for modern comfortable riding.
- Original vintage Celluloid grips, air pump and mudguards.
- Fixed gear driveline and black striped chrome rims were fads of the day.
- Correct 1930s Lycette "Aero" saddle
- Celluloid covered handle bar is now powder coated.
- Original head and tail badges weren't available so I had them re-made.
- Leather faced brake pads and kid leather cable guides on the top bar.
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