August 11, 2013
Though seen use from Egyptian stone block moving with trunks and Leonardo da Vinci sketches for his helicopter air-screw rotation; it was the development and patent of a Welsh ironmaster Philip Vaughan that the modern ball race bearing was created. Its 1794 timing came at an ideal moment for the burgeoning Industrial Revolution. However it was Frenchman Jules Suriray who patented the first ball bearing. Used to great low resistance rolling effect by Englishman James Moore astride his velocipede in the first Paris-Rouen road race later that year.
Bearings are of course very important in ALL wheeled and powered contrivances: today I measured for and ordered the bearings for the Cub wheels (two for each) and the crank shaft and main gear shaft.
However a bearing is only as good as its lubrication and cleanliness… Spin Doctor
Posted in Bicycle, Restoration |
Leave a Comment »
June 1, 2013
You can take apart an old Raleigh 3 speed with this spanner multi-tool. From the pedals, bottom bracket lock ring, brake cable adjusters to the handlebar stem nut. It came in handy for my Cub fork dust cap. It needed the backbone c-spanner to fit a notch. A clout wi’ the hammer and jobs a good un.
It’s simple, elegant and serves its purpose with no fuss or breakable plastic bits.
Posted in Bicycle, Maintenance, Restoration |
Leave a Comment »
May 6, 2013
Nottingham England, a well known logo emblazoned on the head tube of the many bicycle models offered over the years by Raleigh. Named after the original street the first bikes were manufactured on they went to the far corners of the world as efficient transportation.
The ‘R’ is a very recognizable icon seen on Roadsters, Choppers, Grifters, racers, mountain bikes, folders, trikes and 3-speeds galore. I’ve done thousands of mikes on Raleigh’s from my first racer (see blog entry a few days ago) to a mountain bike I commuted in London on, and toured Ireland with. Good bikes!
Posted in Bicycle, Graphics |
Leave a Comment »
April 27, 2013
My first ‘real’ bike (well, not actually ‘it’ but what it looked like): A five-speed racer from Nottingham. Yes a Raleigh. Metallic sky blue, derailleur gears, dropped bars, thin saddle. The only way to go was low and fast! I racked up a fair few miles on this around the roads and country lanes of Wooler. Those were the days before helmets too.
Posted in Bicycle |
Leave a Comment »
April 14, 2013
“Noel I’d like to swap my dart board for a football”. I spent the day up at the swap meet held in the McHenry county fairground in Woodstock. Indeed the organizers Walneck held a 100th meet celebration at the nearby Harley, Triumph KTM dealer, so it was bikes all round old and new; rusty and polished.
There was engines galore cat Ed Zenders post, alas no Cub items. But I managed to pick up the much needed Haynes manual an a set of Whitworth spanners.
I’ve never seen a copper tank either- steam punk anyone?
There was other two-wheeled offerings too: this immaculate “Christmas Morning” fresh Schwinn Stingray chopper, the Lemon Peeler was propped against a pig stall, yours for $1,400. “What do you mean? Won’t ‘aggle?”
I’ll report other discoveries over the coming weeks blog entries. Plenty of moto fun!
Posted in Bicycle, Motorcycle Poster, Restoration |
Leave a Comment »
January 15, 2013
Keeping on the bicycle vein here is a magazine graphic from nigh-on a hundred years ago showing an army use of this two-wheeled transport. Nice fluffy clouds behind the pyramid tented camp.
Posted in Bicycle, Graphics, Military |
Leave a Comment »
January 14, 2013
A couple of examples of advertising for the fun lifestyle to be had as a Triumph cyclist. One an ideal couple sauntering through the idyllic English countryside without a care in the world. The storms of World War Two are barely a grey cloud on tomorrow’s horizon. “Fancy tea and scones honey pie?”
Here we are again, this time the other side of world altering hostilities and the weary elders want to evoke some idea of youthful jollity to the growing generation. Don’t worry folks Rock ‘n’ Roll will take care of that! Then punk, then New Wave, then grunge…
“Not that there is anything wrong with it!”
Posted in Bicycle, Motorcycle Poster |
Leave a Comment »
January 9, 2013
Head tube badge of a Triumph bicycle. Nottingham is the British center of unpowered cycle manufacture. Raleigh being the king.
The chainwheel is the other part where a name is evident: here’s Triumphs. Nice detail.
Posted in Bicycle |
Leave a Comment »
November 29, 2012
A perfect machine! Elegant in line, simple in function, pure in balance. The safety bicycle from over a century ago still looks unimprovable today. This Dutch example locked to a canal railing defines that design. The swooping frame line mirrors the wheels hoops. it’s ready to roll on the cobbled streets to work, on an errand or just cruising the back lanes.
Now If we can just find a way of attaching a motor…. There’s a thought!
Posted in Bicycle |
Leave a Comment »
geordiebiker.com 