Unique Jack Taylor!! I got questions Help!
 

Hey all,
I found this bicycle at the bike swap at Harper college (Palatine Illinois) a couple weeks ago. I called the owner up and purchased it a couple days ago.. I may not be looking hard enough but cant find one like it. However I have found models that have simular pinstripes and features.
What I know so far with very little investigation:
Its a 1980 verified by a code on the dropout.
Missing original racks
Unique features!!!
Two rear brakes!
Fillet Brazed Reynolds, not something you see everyday.
3 bottle mounts
Headtube shifters!! Never seen that in my lifetime.
Vertical Campy drops
The front fork looks like it came from a tandam
Oversized headtube/headset in 1980! not many of those?
48 spoke wheels

I am curious as to what model this is?
Is this totally custom. Haven't found a picture of any JT with two rear brakes!

If you know anything please share! Thankshttps://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4b9506ad66.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...09fea7fe3c.jpg

Headtube mounted shifters
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbfef72df4.jpg

Tandam fork with oversized steertube and headset
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a88ca1e636.jpg

Dual rear brakes!
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0060f6eef3.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1d7188be12.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...addea35c6c.jpg

Vertical Campy drops
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...86417c1d38.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dc8c6f5ea9.jpg

Got to be totally custom, crazy cool stuff! :thumb:

I think it needs a more proper crankset!!

I have never seen head tube mounted shift lever bosses before. Are these something JT did on other bikes, or is this another of this one's unique features? Looks like a really nice touring machine.

I wonder whether the rear brakes are supposed to be synchronized or have one engage before the other, to serve as a descent drag rear brake, such as one might see on a JT tandem. I wonder if the builder's intent was to put both rear brakes on the right or to put one on each side, with the front brake cable on the right lever.

That is awesome! Dual brakes?!? Mind blown!

You Buy It...?


I built around a 48 spoke freewheel hub for my touring bike, with a Phil Hub..

worked out perfectly, over a decade.. several long tours.. one spoke broke . 47 spares already in the wheel ..








....

i own it.

JJ

Whats the serial?

Have Micheal Thompson check the build book. I forget his email but he goes by Meauxthompson on instagram.

i mean, all JT's are custom built, but this looks like the customer wanted a cross between a Tourist single and a Super Tourer Tandem in terms of parts.

Phil hubs? The wheelset looks exactly like the wheelset on my tandem with those allen wrench locking QR's. The braze ons are a mix of whats on my tandem to whats on my tourist.

It's a shame it doesnt have the original racks,

I'd also pull the fork and on the steerer and see if the serial matches the rear dropout serial.

Is the headtube itself oversized?

Gotta love the JT box lining! Very cool!

The owner must have been expecting to be carrying quite a bit of weight, based on the heavy duty wheels, fork, and brakes. Might be the perfect bike for the potholes when spring arrives??

Steve in Peoria

I may get around to pulling the fork soon. Yes the headtube is oversized which tells me its the correct fork. Yes, this bike is different. Who knows what components were originally on there. The crankset doesnt look like an original spec. The tandem wheels are cool for sure. I think im going to find some TA cranks to go with the mafac brakes and Huret derailleurs

JJ

Agreed, and that kickstand needs to be deleted, unless there is a plate for it that we can't see. ;)

Heavy duty touring rig!

If you're planning to ride, heavily loaded, to Buenos Aires, I think you have the correct bike. Wow. I wonder what the odd fitting on the down tube is?

Very cool bike with some unusual features. A worthy addition to the fleet.

I would guess it's certainly a mount for a wheel stabilizer, like the one Velo Orange sells but no need for a clamp-on mount.

I think its a fake. Its really a Varsity with a fancy paint job. Fork looks bent too. Looks like it needs a complete rehab. Hope you didnt pay more than $75.

Just Kidding. Way over the top custom. Love it. Was seller the guy with the ponytail from Wisconsin. He always brings a cool bike to the swap.

:lol: ^^^^

Somehow I missed this post. That is one awesome bike!!!! Totally a custom build, presumably for loaded touring and a relatively large or heavy rider.

I've never seen head tube mounted "down tube" shifters either, but actually that's a great idea for a touring bike.

The tandem style double rear brake is certainly a unique feature.

you forgot " I am a nice guy so I will take it off your hands for free" :)

Another neato for your museum! Vintage fillet brazed frames are refreshing.

Those Mafac Criterium brakes were always excellent so its odd they would bother with that second set. Most effective braking on a road bike is biased front anyways.

I'm wondering if the second bosses were there to give one the option which side of the stay to install only one set of brakes, not two pairs. This would possibly allow less interference, say from panniers, rack, mud guards mounting, etc.. Just a thought...

Mafac tandem dual pull levers are out there.

My guess the frame hub width is wider too. Are those 27" tires?

(p.s. Bye-bye kick stand)

Cycle Smithy has, or had, a JT tandem with two Campy brakes fitted to rear. The Taylors were known for building most anything a customer requested.

I've seen a handful of bikes with head mounted shifters. One that I can remember is that 6 pound German carbon ultimate lightweight that has been going around. Aside from saving the weight of brifters, the reason is to get levers closer to rider w/o the sheer clunk of stem shifters.

Stronglight tandem headset.

I wonder if the thing on top of the crown was part of the stabilizer or there for a rack. It would be interesting to know when it was built. Since it seems to be tandem tubing, that may put it in the same era as the racks that are on it now

Thanks for the comments, Yes I believe that the original owner wanted the dual rear brakes. The frame does have to factory brazed cable stops and cable guides for the rear brakes. Obviously this guy intended on heavy touring with the 48 spoke wheels, oversized head and fork. Possibly having better stopping power in the rear is better totally loaded down a mountain rather than using the front brakes?

Yes 27 inch wheels

No, kickstand stays!! It has a kickstand plate brazed underneath it..How about those apples..lol

JJ