This bikes older than me and I ride it too

[Apollonius]

And this is how it looked when I got it back from Chris Hewitt.

 

[Apollonius]

As I mentioned above, this is, I believe, the last of the original distinctive Higgins 531 transfers.

 

[Illaveago]

It was an interesting story and the bike looks really good, congratulations.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Lovely looking bike. Bet it rides like a dream too!

 

[Gatters]

Love that bike, what a cracking resto job well done

 

[Apollonius]

I will confess that riding it has not been a big part of my recent past. I have other bikes, you see. Sadly (perhaps) I have never had the heart to get rid of a bike and as a result have a shed full of bikes from various eras. I am currently riding a 1965ish Viking Severn Valley as my Bianchi Sempre is in for Campagnisation of the bottom bracket. (No, BB30s don't last long.)
The difference between the Higgins and a modern bike like the Bianchi is huge. The carbon bike makes a big thing out of rigidity, while the Higgins goes to the opposite extreme. My father mainly raced criteriums on it, and he valued the flex of the frame as he felt it gave him acceleration. Being lugless, it flexes like an elastic band. It is also very, very narrow. The bars seem half the width of a modern bike, but again, I guess that is about racing in confined spaces.
The fixed gear seems quite hard to deal with. 50 years ago I rode fixed all the time (couldn't afford gears!) but the legs are not quite so flexible now. My father was a good 3 inches shorter than me, so the bike is a bit cramped for me. And as for the brakes! Pulling on the levers is no more than a suggestion. The only real braking is by resisting with the pedals.

 

[Smokin Joe]

As I mentioned above, this is, I believe, the last of the original distinctive Higgins 531 transfers.

View attachment 97593

Lovely job.

Long time since I've seen wing nuts on a wheel spindle. They were very common times past, especially on fixed wheels where a Q/R is not recommended.

 

[Apollonius]

Long time since I've seen wing nuts on a wheel spindle. They were very common times past, especially on fixed wheels where a Q/R is not recommended.

As seen on the picture of my father with the Higgins when it was new.

 

[User42423]

so I saw in another thread and it got me thinking

mythste said: ↑
You're only as old as the bike you ride, this weather is perfect for browsing for N+1
Click to expand...
Hmm i am a lot older than the bike i ride.



Never mind all that, who's riding a bike older than themselves then...cant be many takers here?

I have twenty cycles to use, and 3/4's are older than me. My everyday hack is 33 years old. But my oldest is only 119 years!

 

[User42423]

I have bike ranging from 1958-2014.

Oh very modern then.

 

[User42423]

Here are some images of my older machines. Sorry if you've seen them before.

1896 Singer De-lux trike

1904 Dursley Pedersen

1910 White Machine Co

1926 Sun

 

[Gatters]

sheesh who would have thought it, they're fantastic. however did they come to design that dursley Pederson...and who in their right mind bought it lol...I mean before thee of course

 

[User42423]

sheesh who would have thought it, they're fantastic. however did they come to design that dursley Pederson...and who in their right mind bought it lol...I mean before thee of course

The Dursley story is somewhat complicated. The man who designed it was a Dane called Mikael Pedersen. Apparently, he didn't like the faults of a traditional diamond frame, so set about improving.

 

[robsa]

My bikes are a 48 rudge sports and a late 50s early 60s sun. I was born in 68. Must dig the sun out and take some pics

 

[Gatters]

My bikes are a 48 rudge sports and a late 50s early 60s sun. I was born in 68. Must dig the sun out and take some pics

your sun is the same age as me but you're younger