The Gents. Model- Safety Bicycle (pic heavy)

[Unchained]

At last, 100% done with the exception of some chain tensioners that are in the mail and headed this way.

Thanks to all for the following:

Rescued civilian issue 1943 Murray/Elgin lightweight diamond frame from Boardtrack_fan. Canadian 28" rims from my neighbor Charlie, NOS orig. spokes from KZ1000, short half moon bars and struts from Walker, '30's Troxel from yeshoney, Bendix hub also from the forums (Sorry, can't remember who- clue me in if you sold me the hub shell!). Crank arm from SimpleMan. Thank you everyone!

Ebay parts:

Chainring, pedals, tensioners. Grips from MLC, tires from Amazon.

Drivetrain:

52 tooth rusted out Schwinn Chainring against a Pre RB Bendix hub with a 14 tooth driver. Wheels are Canadian 28x 1 5/8 ", which is also 700C. Tires are Kenda Kourier old style road tread clincher 700x40C. Wheels built up using NOS patina'd spokes with 72 matching patina'd spoke heads.

Stem, spoke heads, seatpost, bell, all from parts stash.

Accessories: Given the time period used for inspiration- brakes and a (Bevin) bell. :wink:

The build was inspired by both racers and ordinary safety frame bicycles of the 1890's through the early years of the 20th century. I tried to incorporate elements of both styles into the final bike. Wider tires from the regular 28"-ers, flipped bars from the racers and the regular 28"-ers, struts for a boardtrack feel, and a longspring seat to imitate those of the safety framed 1890's bikes. In an ideal world, she'd be a fixie with no brakes, but I decided brakes would be a good idea for the moment. Rides real fast and smooth, very comfortable too.

The Gents Model Safety Frame.

 

[sensor]

looks great :mrgreen:
ill race ya when i finish my camelback!

 

[Unchained]

looks great :mrgreen:
ill race ya when i finish my camelback!

Thanks! And if I am ever down in California, we've got a race. :wink:

 

[stretch]

nice! how bout some real color shots? :wink:

 

[Unchained]

nice! how bout some real color shots? :wink:

Sure thing. Hopefully tomorrow... If not, whenever my tensioners make there way here. Though you'll find that the color shots aren't much different as far as the bike goes... brown in sepia tone is still brown. :wink:

 

[rico]

i think that the photo shuting is spectacular the black and white photos realy do justice to verry detail bilt, the part's that when on is like it came that way something from back in the days it look's like you are putting toghether 12 bikes for a calendar :idea: ,how many bikes do you need now :?:
when you have the calender toghether let me know ill get one
nice job

 

[Unchained]

A few color shots.

It was almost 50 degrees here today, at the end of December, so I had to take a ride.

 

[stretch]

yeah it looks the same. :lol: lucky you got 50 degrees, its still snowin up here!

 

[KZ1000]

Wow Chris, you really put together some great bikes, The first few pics look like a typical "lawn ornament" bike resting against the wall for the past 50 years

 

[deorman]

2 words. Stove black. 8)

 

[deorman]

OK, 5. Frame and rims. :wink:

 

[Unchained]

Wow Chris, you really put together some great bikes, The first few pics look like a typical "lawn ornament" bike resting against the wall for the past 50 years

Thanks Rick :wink: I was trying to build the bike so everything matched to have that feel, I'm glad you guys think it does.

2 words. Stove black. 8)

If you mean I should paint the frame and rims black, I've considered it. I considered doing a 100% restoration too, with the parts it has- but then, nature worked 60 years to provide me with all that rust and I'm not so sure I can let go of it yet. There isn't a stitch of paint anywhere on the frame, except a miniscule amount on the dropout brazing, and the rims almost look like wood grain at some angles. I like it at the moment- I feel like it helps to give it the age I wanted it to have.

 

[Unchained]

I guess I need some opinions on this-

I'ved been considering rebuilding the rear wheel with a nicel rusted Bendix manual/lever shift two coaster brake hub. What do you guys think?

 

[stretch]

do it!

 

[Unchained]

1 for, 0 against...

I think I'd really like to, I'm just unsure about how much the gearing would change, and if it would be for the better. I was riding it around yesterday, and it is fast for sure, but cominh back up some hills was a challenge with the hard gear ratio it has now. It wouldn't be so bad to drop it down a touch and have a second gear, but I don't want to go too far. From past experience, a 52 tooth ring combined the lower gear of a Bendix two speed was really, really slow. Too much pedaling for my liking, and not much help on hills. I barely used it. I saw someone else use a Bendix two speed with a 38 tooth ring up front, and it was supposed to be a great combination. I have a rusty 1950's 36 tooth cog, and I think I'd be using that with the two speed. I just don't want to buy the hub and build the wheel before I know just how it will ride... or until I know the spoke length, to make sure I can get some patina'd original spokes to build the wheel with.

 

[deorman]

Wouldn't that mean you'd be pedaling more? :? Anyway, a small sprocket would look out of place to me. As for the other thing, I wasn't thinking of losing the rust and doing a real paint job, just brushing it on there and letting the rust come back through it. Maybe just the frame.

 

[Unchained]

That's kind of what I thought, but if the crank arm is long enough and the hub is geared highly enough, that's not supposed to be a problem. The small sprocket would look a bit odd. Some of the turn of the century bikes did have very small chainrings though... I don't know much about gearing, to be honest. I'm learning slowly.

Very interesting thought on the paint. I might try it.