Johnsco
Old Fettler
- Location
- Leeds, West Yorkshire
Hi there --- It's nice to be back in the saddle after about 40 years away.
In the 1960s, (my teen years) I cycled everywhere.
I bought an old Carlton from a school-mate for £5.
A Carlton - I thought - Never heard of it.
I'd had a Raleigh ... my first bike when I was young.
The Carlton was cheap, although a bit scruffy.
I didn't realise it when I bought it - But - I soon found out that I had bought a diamond.
Y4423 is the frame number - Stamped on the rear left-hand drop-out.
Maybe, someone can tell me what model it was originally.
From the 1970s, I got into motor bikes and then cars.
The old Carlton got neglected while I indulged myself in some great cars (But that's for another Forum !).
My mate borrowed the bike ... A bad mistake.
He was an utter hooligan and trashed it.
It wasn't even ridable !
It sat in the garage for nearly 30 years - unloved and unridden.
It was caked in muck and needed a lot of work to get it going.
I gave it away to the guy next door, who fancied his chances at fettling it up.
Needless to say - He had other projects, and never did it.
About two years ago, my new partner, herself a cyclist with a very-neat Raleigh Pioneer Classic 10 sis, said:
"Why don't you get your old bike going ?"
So - I asked the neighbour for it back.
He must have realised how bad it was, and willingly agreed.
After a lot of work (and some head-scratching), it's now back on the road ...... and I'm loving it.
The things I have done are the stuff for other posts.
The things I have yet to do and the things I am finding out ... Again - There will be other posts.
I'm a reasonably competent engineer.
I've refitted every car job imaginable - From changing my oil to refitting Chevrolet V8 engines.
Vintage bicycle engineering is a bit different .... But ..... It's still not rocket science.
So - Onwards and upwards.
Hope to meet some more of you soon.
Shaun - Thanks for the welcome.
Have a good day.
Johnsco
In the 1960s, (my teen years) I cycled everywhere.
I bought an old Carlton from a school-mate for £5.
A Carlton - I thought - Never heard of it.
I'd had a Raleigh ... my first bike when I was young.
The Carlton was cheap, although a bit scruffy.
I didn't realise it when I bought it - But - I soon found out that I had bought a diamond.
Y4423 is the frame number - Stamped on the rear left-hand drop-out.
Maybe, someone can tell me what model it was originally.
From the 1970s, I got into motor bikes and then cars.
The old Carlton got neglected while I indulged myself in some great cars (But that's for another Forum !).
My mate borrowed the bike ... A bad mistake.
He was an utter hooligan and trashed it.
It wasn't even ridable !
It sat in the garage for nearly 30 years - unloved and unridden.
It was caked in muck and needed a lot of work to get it going.
I gave it away to the guy next door, who fancied his chances at fettling it up.
Needless to say - He had other projects, and never did it.
About two years ago, my new partner, herself a cyclist with a very-neat Raleigh Pioneer Classic 10 sis, said:
"Why don't you get your old bike going ?"
So - I asked the neighbour for it back.
He must have realised how bad it was, and willingly agreed.
After a lot of work (and some head-scratching), it's now back on the road ...... and I'm loving it.
The things I have done are the stuff for other posts.
The things I have yet to do and the things I am finding out ... Again - There will be other posts.
I'm a reasonably competent engineer.
I've refitted every car job imaginable - From changing my oil to refitting Chevrolet V8 engines.
Vintage bicycle engineering is a bit different .... But ..... It's still not rocket science.
So - Onwards and upwards.
Hope to meet some more of you soon.
Shaun - Thanks for the welcome.
Have a good day.
Johnsco