Sheffield_Tiger
Guru
Just taken a bound-for-ebay bike for a test ride to the pub after a full strip-down service, including ripping out the 3-speed coaster hub and replacing with a straightforward singlespeed.
It rides lovely, a proper upright pootling bike but....chrome steel rims! It's got some of the shiniest rims I've seen for the age of the bike - albeit with some polishing and a rear wheel rebuild.
I forgot though, how bloody awful steel rims are in the wet. It rained heavily and although the brake calipers are half-decent (for single pivot) with modern Dia-Compe levers set close for optimal pull by the fingers, and old-school leather faced Sturmey blocks.....given that the pub is atop a hill I had a fright coming down it and realising how abysmal the stopping power was! In my youth, did I REALLY cycle 80+ miles on a weekend on steel rims with no effective brakes??
But the rims are shiny...
(Sorry crap photo..the pink one not the Trek)
It rides lovely, a proper upright pootling bike but....chrome steel rims! It's got some of the shiniest rims I've seen for the age of the bike - albeit with some polishing and a rear wheel rebuild.
I forgot though, how bloody awful steel rims are in the wet. It rained heavily and although the brake calipers are half-decent (for single pivot) with modern Dia-Compe levers set close for optimal pull by the fingers, and old-school leather faced Sturmey blocks.....given that the pub is atop a hill I had a fright coming down it and realising how abysmal the stopping power was! In my youth, did I REALLY cycle 80+ miles on a weekend on steel rims with no effective brakes??
But the rims are shiny...
(Sorry crap photo..the pink one not the Trek)