Direct (shaft) Drive Bike

 Here's a direct shaft drive bike that was given to us. The main cranks and bottom bracket mechanism is missing.  However its a good paint job and and interesting frame design.  They are 26" wheels and full mudguards.  see ebay link http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180622252540#ht_500wt_1153  if you want to buy it.

The Shaft 

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The full Bike

The Model name is Trident

Rear Drive

Is this the makers name?

Key BB mech is missing

The Shaft

Travelling With a Marlow Tandem by Train

Whilst visiting family in Cumbria I realised I had an opportunity to return with a Marlow Tandem.  My Sister and her husband had bought the Marlow at a York Rally many years ago as part of their transport portfolio.  However after moving to Cumbria and the children growing up the Marlow had been unused in a Barn.  So I bought it off them and made plans to return with it back to Corsham on the train.

I knew that Great Western would not be a problem as their 125s can take a tandem, however the Virgin trains are slightly more restricted with only single bikes being permitted.  I decided to take a risk, take the racks, wheels and mudguards off and strap them to the frame and carry it, then reconstruct it when I got to Chippenham so that I can ride it home.  For this my Brother-in-Law lent me some basic tools and some cable ties for the journey.

The first leg of the journey down to Birmingham was very straight forward.  The bike could be carried with one hand (just) and it mounted on the hooks provided by Virgin trains.  The change of platform at Birmingham was OK with the ends of the bike catching on the stairs.  It was heavy but manageable.  I decided that I would start constructing the bike at Bristol but only had 15 minutes between trains.  By the time I got into the guards van there was only 8 minutes to play with.  I got the cable ties off with a knife I found at the bottom of my bag which was a bit of luck.  This released the wheels which I put in place first but did not tighten them up.  The lower part of the back rack was attached when the Guard boarded who said I had one minute to get in the passenger section, there was no possibility of staying in the guards van to finish the job.  I secured the bike as best as I could and found a seat.

Dark was just descending on Chippenham when we pulled in.  I raced to the guards van, balanced the mudguard and remaining front rack on the bike and started to roll it out.  Due to the slanting angle of the track the door shut on me before I got to it.  There then followed a comic situation where after opening the door with one hand and getting the bike half out the mudguard began to fall into the gap between the train and the platform.  Catching it pulled up the forks and the front wheel came out which also started for the gap.  Luckily all the bits  ended up on the platform and could I complete the construction.  After a while getting the rear rack on - it does not quite fit, tightening up the wheels, fitting the lights and securing the rest of the bits to the frame I was ready to go.

The ride back was slow due to the low position of the seat and the significant resistance in the bottom brackets.  The wheel rim also seemed to rub and all this provided a lesson in poorly configured bikes being hard work.  After nearly an hour I arrived home.

The Marlow at Spindles

Marlow Tandem

A view that highlights the beautiful stays

Marlow Tandem

Specification

The frame is undoubtedly 531 as its light and has probably been made to order.  I haven't measured it but it look about 22.5/18.  The slightly different colour of the forks suggests an update of some kind at a later date.  Overall the deep blue enamel works well and is in good condition.   I have not seen a design involving two sets of long narrow stays before as can be seen above.  There are custom made front and rear racks from tubular steel as well as a multitude of braze-ons.  Its a TA chainset for both front and rear.  The Deore V brakes were added by my Brother-in Law as were the alloy handle bars front and rear and the twist grip changers.  The wheels are the weak point and want rebuilding.  The rear wheel contains an out of condition hub brake that's not connected. 

This is a quality bespoke bike that would be ideal as a adult child combination Tandem and well worth the journey     

     

Its all about bikes

Donated Bikes
So far this year we have had 2 folding bikes, A Lenton Sport from the 1950's, a Raleigh Supreme, another Raleigh gents bike from the 1970s, a good BMX, a shaft drive bike, a Trek and a Bob Jackson.  Not to mention other assorted items and spares.  Unfortunately the Lenton Sport has a serious crack at the bottom of the seat tube which is a shame as its probably 531.  The Bob Jackson is in excellent condition frame and paint work and is 531c.  Here's a picture

This is a beauty but presents a problem, what do you do with it? Rebuilding as originally specified with 14 speed would not make a desirable bike.  Putting a triple speed chain ring at the front is OK but this frame begs for something special.  A single speed or fixie is possible but for a good job would cost around £150  to £200 in parts if the wheels are included.  This makes the final price £300+ and a limited market.

It may be better to sell the frame and with the money buy a new stand.  What a choice.

Service
It's heartening to have had a number of people through the door wanting  their bikes serviced.  The cold weather and snow takes its toll on chains and sprockets.  The dark morning means that there is little day light time for bike maintenance.  There have been one or two bikes with chains that can flex a full circle.  We are busy and I hope it will stay that way. 

The Meditation of Wheel Building

About a year ago I started building bicycle wheels seriously as part of the Spindles project.  I had built a wheel about 3 years ago for my own bike which was a very unsatisfactory process as I didn't have the correct length spokes and so had to cut my existing spokes to length.   Since last year I've probably build about 16 wheels and so become somewhat more than a novice.  I found that there are three very important aspects to wheel building: getting the right length spokes, gradually increasing the tension and awareness.

The right length spokes.

I have used a number of the web based spoke length calculators but the best one for me is Sapim as its very clear as to what should be measured and seems to give the right answer.  I don't like the calculators where there is a drop down list of hubs or rims as the one I want is usually not there.  I can use a vernier calliper (at least an electronic one) and have a steel 650mm rule to get the measurements required by the site.  I've used DT spokes but have also started using Alpina plain gauge stainless steel as they come in boxes of 144 for about £20.  I have a box of blue nipples that provides a single marker spoke for each wheel that I'm building this year.  This is a trick I picked up from reading 'Its all about the bike' by Robert Penn.

Increasing the Tension 

Many words have been written about the number of turns to apply when threading nipples onto spokes during the lacing process.  I have found that to start, just screw the nipple up with fingers so that it's edge is just hiding the end of the thread is sufficient.  When lacing the alternate direction spokes, if there is tension building in the wheel then slacken off the other spokes with a couple of turns.  The aim is to have almost no tension in the spokes after it has been laced but all the nipples are at the same number of turns (assuming the rim is new and round).  Hopefully this gets the radial position even and no 'judder' up or down as well as lateral evenness.  At this point start to evenly increase the tension on each of the spokes using the 'key' spoke as a guide.  The best spoke keys are produced by Park.

Awareness  

The most important aspect of wheel building is being focused on what is happening.  Don't try to lace too quickly as mistakes are time consuming to rectify.  Go at a pace that allows the mind's attention to easily follow.  Don't listen to music or get distracted, just stay with the building of the wheel.   Focusing the mind is the most difficult thing but can also be the most rewarding.  Building wheels is almost a meditation practice: as the tension in the spokes is slowly built in the wheels so the tensions in the mind are released.  Before you know it the wheel is built.

Spindles in 2011

Saturday the 8th Januay is our first open day at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham.  We have a number of new road and mountain bikes that are close to completion as well as the Cargo Carrier Bike that a friend in Biddeston is currently constructing.

On the agenda for 2011

We hope to do a newsletter for Katherine Park that will identify safe cycle routes into Corsham town.

Start a Wheel Building Service.

Promote the project in local magazines.

Find things to do with old tyres and inner tubes.

Cargo Bike

This Cargo bike was make locally and provides a very useful combination of bike and carrier.

The maker it currently designing a Cargo bike for Spindles that is capable of transporting bikes as well as   carrying advertising. 

wheelchair bike for community use

The wheelchair bike 

This wheelchair bike was locally made for a person with MS who is now too ill to use it.  It 's a clever design integrating bits from several mountain bike as well as a wheel chair.  If you know anybody who who have a use for it then get in touch using our email address.

Condor Display from Earls Court Cycle Expo

Condor have produced an exquisite display of bicycle pornography

The enamelling is superb.  Very nice aesthetic bar stems!

More from the Cycle Expo 2010 at Earls Court

Demon - Great paint job - It's a work of art

Peugeot - Very good display

CYCLE Expo 2010

Here are some pictures of bikes that we likes at the recent bike exhibition at Earls Court London

Pashley

Cooper Bikes

Carlton Single Speed

A town bike with a little style SOLD

see also bob jackson renovation

This bike started life as a frame that was obtained locally.  It's a standard 23" frame that probably dates from the 70s or may be the 60s but is nothing special.  The paintwork was poor and some touch up has been attempted in the past however there was little rust.  It hung around literally for about 6 months until I decided to turn it into a single speed.  It was painted with black hammerite and the lugs were highlighted in white.  This is primarily to preserve the frame but provides a pleasing effect.

Here's the finished bike on sale for £180

The bike provides a pleasing ride easy ride with the gearing big enough to provide real speed and acceleration. 

Specification

Carlton 23.5 frame

Wheels: New Mavic A119 700C rim on Mailard Large flange hubs built with new stainless steel spokes

New single speed 17 tooth freewheel sprocket

New Octalink splined Bottom Bracket

Shimano Ultegra Chainset with new alloy 47 tooth chain ring  

Weimann Cantilever brakes

New Tecktro brake levers and cables

Ribble branded Stem

New Tuvati Alloy bars

New Wellgo Alloy BMX pedals

New Bontrager Grips

New chain

Alloy seat pin with racing style saddle

All bearings have been re-greased 

Here are some more images

Single Speed - light 24" frame

A 24" frame Single Speed/Fixed speed. SOLD

This bike has an unknown origin as I originally came as a standard geared bike.  The frame is made of thin steel tubing - may be Reynolds - that has very neat fillet brazing.  The rear dropout is 120mm and the bottom bracket is threadless that suggests a track frame.  However there are braze-ons to support front and rear gears.  There is one small dent in the left seat stay.  The paintwork is scuffed in places.  The single speed configuration seems to work best and the whole bike weighs around 21lbs and is a joy to ride with the extra narrow 27x1x1/8 ulta sport tyres.


The buyer suggests that its a 1970s Viscount with Chromo moly tubing see sheldon brown's page on this


Price £180 - see Ebay Entry

Specification:
Classic 27" wheels -Mailard Large Flange Hubs - Alloy Wienman Rims (flip flop rear hub) that have been rebuilt with new stainless steel spokes
new Continental Ultra Sport 27x1x1/8
Specialized Saddle
new threadless sealed bottom bracket
Weinnman Calliper brakes
ATAX Stem
Alloy Chainset 46 tooth chainring
Fixed gear 19 tooth sprocket and single speed 18 tooth sprocket
Wellgo platform BMX pedals
new Tektro levers
Alloy bar

The following photo shows the slight dint in the rear chain stay

Great fillet brazing