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I’ve recently been messing around with methods of mounting a camera to the front of the Chiltern. One of the better ideas was simply to attach a Cullmann 0903 ball-and-socket adaptor (although Hama do a cheaper version) to the front rack. Unfortunately it doesn’t allow any degree of lateral movement in this orientation and I have subsequently changed to a taller handlebar stem so the rack now attaches differently and the adaptor won’t fit as I had originally planned anyway. However, this may inspire someone else…
I mounted the adaptor with a 1/4″ threaded eye bolt which also provided somewhere to securely attach the camera strap. Two “penny” washers parted from 32mm diameter acetyl rod and a gasket made of a slice of inner tube ensure the screwed assembly doesn’t fall apart through vibration.
R:B
So what’s new with the Chiltern? I bought some luggage-carrying capacity in the form of a Steco front rack from Het Zwarte Fietsenplan in Amsterdam – thanks Bart! – and finally fitted some new rubber (a pair of gum wall Schwalbe Delta Cruisers). I added a new, longer gear cable using the original outer skin and refitted the chain guard after re-painting it (badly) and then proceeded to scrape it all off again on this run through the forest…
I’ve changed the handlebars since this photo for a set of lovely swept-back raised bars I found on a scrapped ladies Emmelle and I’m currently awaiting delivery of a longer stem which should help with positioning the front rack.
I’ve also been toying with the idea of backdating the relatively plain crank to one of the older Raleigh style with the heron’s head. It was only while examining the examples I had on hand that I noticed that the later version is not only less well detailed – an eyeless heron and no additional bracing in the voids – but is also facing the other direction!
Sadly, the older version was intended for operation in an oil-bath chain case and they’ve skimped on the chrome plating. I don’t think it could stand up to the Scottish weather without it…a pity!
I’ve also begun to think about illumination…before long it’ll start getting dark just after lunch! This’ll be initially dynamo-powered with supercapacitor standing backup and (hopefully) ultimately a home-brew setup running from dynamo-recharged lithium-polymer batteries.
Like my mudguard badges? :c)
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Chiltern and Transit caught in a tryst!
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BEFORE
I’ve been intending to post some photographs of the £10 Chiltern for a while now and have finally decided not to wait until I refit the chainguard…
AFTER (almost!)
Since this bicycle is intended for daily riding around town, I’ve not invested too much time or money into it. Most of the components are reclaimed or recycled. The mudguards, rear rack and wheel reflectors (I managed to resist using the Unholy Spoke Reflectors) came from my project box. The brake calipers, front wheel and both tyres and tubes are reclaimed from the Traveller. I’ll be replacing the (ahem) 30-year-old Raleigh Record tyres with a pair of Schwalbe puncture-proof white-walls soon… The Zefal pump is new – with an adapter to suit the Woods valves – and cost a measly £3.49.
The dental white grips are actually a Shimano 333 3-speed shifter set I picked up as NOS on Ebuy for less than the price of a new cable. Unfortunately I still need a new cable as the Shimano part is a bit short for this frame. However, they shift nicely and adapting the Shimano 333 cable to fit the Sturmey Archer hub only involved snipping off the cable nipple and clamping on a late model SA adjusting barrel.
The saddle – previously on the Superbe – is actually a little low for comfort but I’ve been too lazy to adjust it yet. I’ve got two vintage leather saddles to choose from and haven’t yet decided which suits the bicycle best. The rear luggage is an ancient reclaimed Carradice Club bag. I need to get some white polish on the leather straps…
Total cost? Excluding paint and other workshop consumables? Probably around £30…
OK…£30 and a pair of jeans that I spilled paraffin over. Anyone really know how to get the smell of paraffin out of clothing? They’ve been machine-washed twice and left hanging out on the drying line for a week through two torrential downpours! They still stink…
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I should have some pictures to show tomorrow but I’ve finally started stripping the paintjob-from-hell from the Superbe. In case you can’t recall, when I acquired it, it looked as if it had been attacked by a maniac armed with a floor mop and a bucket of green household paint.
So far I’ve been concentrating on the small mechanical parts – handlebars, brake furniture, bottom bracket and crank – most of which required considerable care to remove, de-paint and polish up. I’ve now started rust-treating and priming the chainguard, the forks and front mudguard.
Normally I would avoid the use of chemicals but I’ve discovered that the cheap Baufix Paint Remover (Lidl, £3.99) seems to remove the unwanted paint but leaves what remains of the original enamel intact.
I’ve also found that the mudguards, which seemed initially quite friable through corrosion, respond well to treatment with Kurust – to the extent that they are now robust enough that I can strip the old paint and prime the top surface before I reinforce them internally with glassfibre tissue and epoxy.
I’ve not decided what colour to finish the Superbe. Apparently the best available colour match for the original Raleigh Green is Rover Brooklands Green, a British Racing Green clone. Since I’m aiming at a sympathetic “revival” rather than a faithful restoration, I can’t decide whether to re-green her or paint her a crisp white. I don’t want to go for black as the Chiltern is already sitting at that end of the spectrum .
Speaking of which, the Chiltern’s almost ready for the road. Pictures real soon now. I’ve just got to top-coat the chainguard and sort out the gears – although I think the problem is the cable sticking. I’ve ridden her ’round the square a number of times now and…ooooooooh what a comfortable ride!
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No, not really. I just happened to acquire a 1979 Raleigh Traveller as a donor bicycle for The Chiltern. To be honest the Traveller is a far better bicycle but it was smaller-framed and blue. No, not even a nice blue!
It did, however, offer up a pair of chrome-rimmed wheels in far better condition than the Chiltern’s much later (1992) originals and the brake calipers were domestic Raleighs rather than the Chiltern’s “Raleigh – Foreign” (actually rebadged Lee Chi) parts. The quality of the plating is astonishing on the older Raleighs and these polished up a treat.
This meant I could steal the clevis bolts from the old rusty calipers and drill them out to take the mudguard stays following my previous botched effort. Job done!
The Traveller also had a tidy pair of Weinmann quick-release brake levers for dropped-bars, a sound pair of mudguards and a chain guard – which have gone into the project box – and a pair of healthy looking rubber-blocked pedals which might fit the Superbe. I’ll also be able to recycle the retro ribbed brake cable sleeve for the Superbe’s 4-speed control cable.
All-in-all a good salvage! The Chiltern is just needing a quick tune of the SA 3-speed and it’ll be roadworthy. The chainguard needs a de-rust and respray but that can be fitted at any time.
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