Vintage Racer semi rebuild

[joebingo]

So, I was helping my mate move house yesterday and found this amongst the stuff, and he said I could take it.

1979 Carlton Pro-Am 12, seems to be in pretty good condition. Some surface rust on the chrome parts, but the deraillers and brakes move when the levers are pulled, and the bottom bracket and headset aren't siezed.

One thing you may notice from the photos, is that it has no wheels. I'm not too worried about having it period correct, and steel rims sound a bit dodgy, does anyone know if standard 700c wheels will fit on this bike? Also, from a bit of snooping on the web, apparently this is a 6 speed - will that be a freewheel or cassette? - the gears aren't indexed.

Reynolds 531 Tubing

 

[pubrunner]

So, I was helping my mate move house yesterday and found this amongst the stuff, and he said I could take it.

1979 Carlton Pro-Am 12, seems to be in pretty good condition. Some surface rust on the chrome parts, but the deraillers and brakes move when the levers are pulled, and the bottom bracket and headset aren't siezed.

One thing you may notice from the photos, is that it has no wheels. I'm not too worried about having it period correct, and steel rims sound a bit dodgy, does anyone know if standard 700c wheels will fit on this bike? Also, from a bit of snooping on the web, apparently this is a 6 speed - will that be a freewheel or cassette? - the gears aren't indexed.

Reynolds 531 Tubing

Hi Joe,

My brother is coming to visit me in the next week or so; he is going to give me his bike - a Carlton Pro-Am 12. From what I remember, it looks exactly like your one. I'm 99% certain that 700c wheels were
fitted as standard on this particular model - may need new (long-drop) calipers though (unlikely). There are others with far more knowledge, who I'm sure will respond shortly and provide more detailed info.

I'm also certain that this bike will use a 6-speed freewheel.

I'll be in touch when I get my Pro-Am.

Best wishes with yours.

 

[joebingo]

Cheers Pubrunner!

Just had a rather frustrating experience here, it seems that the rear dropouts are 120mm apart, and I got a wheel with a 126mm hub . I never even knew that you could have different rear dropout spacing.

So, do I search around for a wheel with a 120mm Hub, or can I get the dropouts respaced to acommodate the wheel which I have? Confusing!

 

[Panter]

Sorry matey, can't help with any of your questions, but that looks a lovely project

 

[pubrunner]

Cheers Pubrunner!

Just had a rather frustrating experience here, it seems that the rear dropouts are 120mm apart, and I got a wheel with a 126mm hub . I never even knew that you could have different rear dropout spacing.

So, do I search around for a wheel with a 120mm Hub, or can I get the dropouts respaced to acommodate the wheel which I have? Confusing!

You've no problem there. The difference is only 3mm on each side; that's no problem with a steel frame such as 531. (You couldn't do it with a 753 frame though). Just pull the rear dropouts apart and drop the wheel in.

*** Take a look at this site - tells you all you need to know. ***

http://www.sheldonbr...me-spacing.html

As mentioned on the site, you could 'couldset' the frame out to 130mm; this would allow you to fit wheels with cassettes more easily. Spa Cycles will build wheels that take cassettes, that are dished to fit 126mm. It all depends on how you anticipate using the bike and how much you want to spend.

However, if it were my bike, I'd leave it alone; just get some wheels on it and use it. The Suntour stuff on it is good quality - don't get rid of it !

You've got a good bike there ! It has a 531 frame and many people still maintain that they give the best ride quality of any frame. See:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071012082525AAVVlf1

Take a look at this : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CARLTON-PRO-AM-12-BICYCLE-/270617916599?pt=UK_Bikes_GL

Rather hopeful on the asking price

 

[joebingo]

Cheers for your help there pubrunner, sorry I haven't replied sooner - very full weekend!

Finally got round to sorting the bike out today, got my LBS to do the frame for me - I'll tinker with most things, but not something that could potentially damge the structure of a frame I'm hoping to get a few thousand miles out of! Only cost £6 . I still need to resit the saddle and de-rust the seatpost (that was a bugger to pull out!)

I decided against taking progress photos, as I thought that "this is me putting a tyre on a rim" would be pretty dull, but I have got a picture of the finished product:

Done about 5 miles on it today and it's niiiice . The ride is very different to what I'm used to, more twitchy responsive than my other road bike. You also seem to have to be far more careful with your gear selection on the rear derailer but I'll get used to that in no time.

I'm looking forward to seeing yours Pubrunner - we should start some sort of club!I noticed that ebay ad the other day, and it seems that he wasn't too far off. The guy in the bike shop (Bike Maintenence Co. Muswell Hill - absolutely brilliant service) said that he had a carlton frame which he'd just resprayed that he's asking £200 for, so I think we've both fallen firmly on our feet here my friend!

Some things that may be of interest to you - The Calipers are compatible with modern wheels, the original gearing was something called Ultra 6, which is basically 6 sprockets in the space of a 5 speed freewheel. I'm using a standard 6 speed freewheel, so the derailer isn't reaching the biggest cog. I've not actually looked at the limit screws though, so it'll probably be able to reach.

 

[pubrunner]

Cheers for your help there pubrunner, sorry I haven't replied sooner - very full weekend!

Finally got round to sorting the bike out today, got my LBS to do the frame for me - I'll tinker with most things, but not something that could potentially damage the structure of a frame I'm hoping to get a few thousand miles out of! Only cost £6 . I still need to resit the saddle and de-rust the seatpost (that was a bugger to pull out!)

I decided against taking progress photos, as I thought that "this is me putting a tyre on a rim" would be pretty dull, but I have got a picture of the finished product:

Done about 5 miles on it today and it's niiiice . The ride is very different to what I'm used to, more twitchy responsive than my other road bike. You also seem to have to be far more careful with your gear selection on the rear derailer but I'll get used to that in no time.

I'm looking forward to seeing yours Pubrunner - we should start some sort of club!I noticed that ebay ad the other day, and it seems that he wasn't too far off. The guy in the bike shop (Bike Maintenence Co. Muswell Hill - absolutely brilliant service) said that he had a carlton frame which he'd just resprayed that he's asking £200 for, so I think we've both fallen firmly on our feet here my friend!

Some things that may be of interest to you - The Calipers are compatible with modern wheels, the original gearing was something called Ultra 6, which is basically 6 sprockets in the space of a 5 speed freewheel. I'm using a standard 6 speed freewheel, so the derailer isn't reaching the biggest cog. I've not actually looked at the limit screws though, so it'll probably be able to reach.

I'm certainly familiar with the Ultra 6 freewheels - I've got one on another of my bikes; they are very hard to find now & mega expensive !

Check out the prices of these on Ebay . . . . . . .

http://shop.ebay.co....-All-Categories

What are wheels ? they look really cool. And what tyres ?

You bike is much smarter than the one that I'm getting. To be honest, my first intention was to see if there would be any parts worth taking off it, to go on my 753 frame. However, your enthusiasm for yours, now makes me think that I should do something similar to mine.

Yet another bike !!! SHE will go bonkers - and she doesn't even know about the 753 frame that I'm building up.

This Carlton will have to be my last bike . . . . . . .

 

[joebingo]

Having ridden it a bit more, I'll say it's definitely worth getting shouted at for! To be fair, I have zero experience when it comes to vintage road bikes, so I don't know what makes one a keeper and what makes one scrap. This Carlton feels like a damn good bike compared to anything I've ridden before though. And it looks really nice.

Decided to spruce it up a bit more, got a new nutcrusher brooks on there and some brown bar tape rather than the foam sweat magnet which was on there before, smells nicer in my hallway now. I've never done bar tape before, so it's a little scrappy. Not bad for a first attempt though, if I say so myself.

The wheels are actually just the cheap raliegh mach 1 builds, just over £80 for the pair. Definitely needed silver rims on this bike, and the tyres are Schwalbe Marathon Plus, that white bit is only the flash bouncing off the reflective strip.

Just off to scratch some rust off the seatpost, despite the fact that the colour matches my brooks!

 

[pubrunner]

Just off to scratch some rust off the seatpost, despite the fact that the colour matches my brooks!

Dip some silver foil in Coca Cola & rub it on the seatpost (yes, I'm serious !!!).

It may well improve the appearance of the seatpost.

 

[joebingo]

I've really got to stop drinking that stuff - far too many "it can clean this or that" stories. Found some steel wool in the garage, got the rust off but has kept it looking a bit dull, suits the frame nicely now. Also, finally got around to sorting out the rear mech, so it's a 12 speed again!

When are you gonna be getting yours man?

 

[pubrunner]

When are you gonna be getting yours man?

I hope my brother will bring it over by the end of next week - my missus will go bonkers.

It will be road bike no. 6. Why on earth do I need 6 road bikes ? I only go out once a week; running's my main sport, but I just have this compulsion to collect more frames/bikes.

Is it curable ?

I'll post some pics up here as soon as I get my Carlton; can't wait !

 

[4F]

I hope my brother will bring it over by the end of next week - my missus will go bonkers.

It will be road bike no. 6. Why on earth do I need 6 road bikes ? I only go out once a week; running's my main sport, but I just have this compulsion to collect more frames/bikes.

Is it curable ?

I'll post some pics up here as soon as I get my Carlton; can't wait !

No it's not, I am now on no 4 and looking for no 5

 

[joebingo]

Why on earth do I need 6 road bikes ?

Because road bikes, as well as being practical machines, are also stunning works of art.... Oh dear, I'm hooked as well .

This is only my second, though I am early in my cycling years!

 

[pubrunner]

No it's not, I am now on no 4 and looking for no 5

Yes, but if you have an 'other half', you might find that they draw the line at 5 bikes. It's a worry to me, spending money on the sly, on bike parts that I'll probably never get to fit.

I see at least two bikes that I could easily buy each week !

 

[pubrunner]

Because road bikes, as well as being practical machines, are also stunning works of art.... Oh dear, I'm hooked as well .

Works of art eh ?

That's one excuse that I've not yet used ! I'll let you know if it's effective.