aceves 

I say you go for it @agustanz! Post pics once you get started, and definitely pics of the final build!

aceves

agustanz

This thread has got me thinking about the overall concept Tonight I am looking at bikes and working out what are the features that make a bike look old, modern or fitting a particular time frame.
These were the main pointers I noticed, in descending order of importance.

What makes a bike look old or modern......

Chain wheel design.
Type of brakes.
Seat.
Single or multiple gears visible on the rear hub, plus derailleurs.
Rims.

So I am going more modern than 1930's with the chain wheel (1970's) and brakes (2020) but the rest could be old. I want to fit new wooden rims, so I think they will look great against disc brakes.
Also metal finishes and other materials tell a story too... nickel for the early days, chrome, aluminium then carbon fibre..... (highly polished alloy for me)
Plus colours play a part....

So I have more of an "overall concept" coming together now I am more aware of these factors. Learning all the time!

crank_addict

Thank you, kindly. Bars are Origin 8 Tiki. Offered in silver, black and in aluminum or steel. I didn't like the modern finish so I scuffed them down.

The old pic is of Maurice Garin, winner of the inaugural TdF 1903.

Anyways, there were many shapes and bends of handlebar back when for racers. For ideas and looking back at early racing bikes, the Old Bikes site is outstanding.

repechage

I am thinking need to reference

italian city bikes

condorino

ThermionicScott 

Lookit that hipster with his fixie. Aero rims, no brakes, trendy mustache, and a devil-may-care cigarette. I bet he only rides it to the coffee shop where he works as a barista.

agustanz

Great link,.... that will keep from doing ANYTHING productive all night.

agustanz

Thanks for that idea. I did that and looked at a LOT of cool bikes and somehow ended up looking at the bikes made by Shinola in Detroit and their mens Bixby model. That is almost exactly the overall "look" I had in mind....

They look older overall but they have.....
They have disc brakes both ends.
They have a 1970's looking aluminium chainwheel...
Full guards.
Hidden cables.

The only thing on the Bixby that is modern that I was not planning on doing was the have the threadless stem. But they make it look good!
So that was a great find for the ll direction of my custom build.

noglider 

One idea I like that I don't see often at all is drum brakes with rods rather than cables. They exist but are uncommon. Drum brakes are heavy but very reliable and low maintenance. They also don't care about the weather. Most bike-share fleets have drum brakes. I'm very happy with them in that application, as I'm a member of Citi Bike in NYC.

repechage

I hope Shinola sells every one they make, the appearance is just off.

agustanz

I had even considered rods for disc activation for about a second, then figured it was "One step beyond" and I came to my senses a little.... not a lot, just a little.

Johno59

I got some 4mm leather cord for a few bucks a metre and wrapped the bars with it. A champagne cork is good for bar end stops.

noglider 

I'd like to see someone invent a rod-based shifting system for derailleurs where the rod rotates and there are universal joints for the places where the system needs to bend. It would be heavier but it could be made extremely reliable and low-maintenance.

OldsCOOL

You are right on the ragged edge of going full Pathracer.

I was thrown into this world of wood rimmed, skip-tooth, Bike Boom (1890’s) era just a few short months ago. I love what the 1898 Glenwood is turning out to be but wouldn’t mind finding something with clincher rims post 1933 just to help with tire choices. You can find your grips and seats, they are out there. Get a bike you can have or adapt modern chains to. Coaster brakes are a bit below us but they work. Welcome to real, genuine C&V!

crank_addict

On a similar thought, there was an Italian made aftermarket lever kit for 3 speed IGH that looked like a Campagnolo Paris-Roubaix shifter parallel to the seat stay.

Doubt many were sold but it was rather simple design. Allowed for 3 speed, likely had detents to hold gear selection.

------
Someday I want to make a retrodirect drive. There's a kit offered for that, as well.

noglider 

I haven't seen the system you describe. The Paris Roubaix is interesting, though I thought it was called Cambio Corsa (race changer). Watch it work here:


And what is retrodrive?

crank_addict

The P-R was single lever. Cambio Corsa had two.

The 3 speed IGH kit only needs one and really is nothing to do with slide action axle in dropouts.

crank_addict

https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/...rinting-30533/

1930's Hirondelle

agustanz

The Italians invented it on early Vespa scooters for the gear change. If you look up the Vespa "rod model" you will see how they did it and changed direction etc. I have a couple of those Douglas made rod model Vespa's back in the day.
Clever system of interlocking claw ends... sort of.

ThermionicScott 

You can put tubulars on single-tube rims, can't you?

agustanz

Pathracer's a very cool. I have a 1902 Pierce chainless cushion bike I will build like that.
I have already mostly built my 1930's version of a Pathracer from the mortal remains of a 1937 CCM Flyte... I call it the "Art Deco Racer."... here is what I started with and the mock up ready for chrome and paint and new wooden rims... I want to have a custom large chain wheel made up from 50 teeth to 60 or 63 to give the track racer look.... but in the same style with CCM on it.

OldsCOOL

That is the wildest thing I have ever seen!

OldsCOOL

Yes, same size all down through the 120+ years of bicycles. Trouble is, these bikes came with 1.5” and without paying a huge sum of cashola, you are left with cyclocross tubulars, mostly at 30mm with a few 33mm that Challenge Grifo Pro offers. This will be a Friday Nite downtown bike and an occasional parade rider.

ThermionicScott 

Ah, now I get it!

Y'know, if you're planning on using a coaster brake, something like the H+Son Hydra might come close to the look of those old dome-shaped rims. The logos would have to go, of course.

63rickert

CX tubulars are mostly 33. They can be had for lots less than supposed MSRP. I have a silk Grifo that was all of $30.

A friend has a large stock (thousands) of old singletube tires. He's a hoarder, has a hard time letting go of anything. The Glenwood is worthy enough he would consider it and he could also better direct you how to find them than I can. Send me a PM. I'd send one to you but am hopeless Luddite and can't navigate this site to speak of. Note I never post pics, completely beyond me. Not asking for helpful hints, they are wasted.

OldsCOOL

I’m going to go with the Grifo 33’s for now. It’s a budget thing but thank you for the offer!