David Newton

Beautiful bike, it looks like a joy to ride.

photogravity

LeicaLad, thanks for the vote of confidence. Any time I mess with something that is original and period correct, I worry about losing the original character. I'm especially enamored with that beautiful stem in combination with the red tape as it makes for a really rich look.

photogravity

Yeah, that stem is the bee's knees, for sure. I'm still sort of pinching myself that I actually have that thing because I kept seeing it and drooling every time I saw it, but just couldn't justify the cost. When it arrived in the mail, I knew puchfinnland was behind it because he was the person who alerted me to it in the first place. My intention is to give periodic updates on the "life" of the bicycle over time so at least some of its recent history is available into the future.

Chicago Al 

Beautiful bike and a great story. As noted above, this is C&V at its best.

photogravity

Yeah, that's a great idea!

BTW, I recently acquired another Norman Rapide from this same era and which almost is what you mentioned. It's going to be put back to a state more like that when it was original. I'm not entirely sure what form that will take, but it is highly unlikely it will retain the ill-conceived derailleur currently on it.

photogravity

It is a joy to ride. No matter what I throw at it, this bicycle just takes it on without any real effort. Because it is so comfortable, it makes a great long distance companion of sorts.

rhm

Now, what about that gorilla in the corner?

Specifically, Dallas has not mentioned that he now owns not just one Norman Rapide, but two. The pristine one this thread is about, and another that did not pass through time unscarred. We await photos! And The Plan. I'm thinking he should make it into an every day rider just like the first one, with the new wheels and aluminum mudguards, and put the precious original stuff back on the pristine one. Or maybe make a couple concessions to modernity, such as a new 5 speed hub and dual pivot brakes?

Anyway, first we need them photos, Photo gravity!

ThermionicScott 

Mmm, tasty (and prudent) updates, Dallas!

photogravity

Yes, indeed. We have one fine group of vintage bike geeks here, that's for sure!

photogravity

Actually, I did mention about the other Norman Rapide just two posts before yours! I have been busy enough of late that I've not gotten around to taking any pictures. Plan? I don't have anything specific planned at the moment, though I was considering a S3X IGH for one of my projects. At the rate I'm going, I'll not have an opportunity to take pictures until next year. I still have two Lentons (the Sport and the Tourist) sitting on the sidelines along with my unfinished Hercules Kestrel and numerous other projects waiting for me to get organized and find time to work on them. I've not even taken a holiday this year yet, but plan to take three weeks off before the end of the year for a west coast road trip, so that is time I'll not be able to get any bicycle work done. Anyway...

photogravity

Thanks Scott. I hadn't thought of tasty to define it but, yeah, it is quite tasty.

noglider 

I had the privilege of "meeting" this bike. The pictures still don't do it justice. It's a refined machine.

crank_addict

Another bump and from a newbie here. Wonderful read from the start. Thanks for sharing!

rhm

Since Photogravity has "my" Rapide, I have "his" Invader. This is one of the frames he wasn't going to get around to building up for a while, and I had a bunch of parts that needed a home, so I took possession.





I can't even remember if there's another thread on this bike, but I'm sure someone will remind me if there is!

sailorbenjamin

I have a bunch of parts that need a home

photogravity

I reckon eventually I might even get a chance to throw a leg over the bike. As far as this being in another thread, you are right; it is found here.

photogravity

Well, I have another Norman Rapide I'm working on, so please feel free to send them my way. I'm taking donations!

photogravity

Since this thread has been bumped a lot over the past few years, why not bump it again? I sort of figure this thread will become the chronicle of this bicycle after rhm got it in 2009 and its new life with me.

So, last week rhm and I were going back and forth about whether we would be going to the Trexlertown Spring swap. I finally committed to going either late Friday or early Saturday, confirmed with him and told him what time I expected to arrive Sunday morning. I didn't really have anything ready to sell, but rhm had some saddles he wanted to take to see if he could sell them. I figured that I'd at least have an opportunity to hang out and see some of the guys on the forum and some of the CR crew.

Once rhm came to pick me up at the gate and we went to his space, within a minute or two my eyes fell onto a saddle in front of me and just to my right a bit. I picked it up and started to open the bag only to realize that a very special saddle had been created with my Norman bicycles in mind. Mind you, I did not ask for anything to be made, nor did I expect anything like this to ever be put together with one of my bicycles in mind. Needless to say the saddle came home with me and I now have an even larger debt owed to rhm. Note that this particular saddle is expected to make its way onto an Invader at some point but, at least for now, it's residing on my beloved Rapide. I have a feeling that a commission for a saddle meant specifically for my Rapide will be in the works in the not too distant future.


rhm#82 Saddle - 1 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


rhm#82 Saddle - 2 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


rhm#82 Saddle - 4 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


rhm#82 Saddle - 5 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Rapide As Can Be - 1a by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Rapide As Can Be - 2a by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr


Rapide As Can Be - 3a by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

LeicaLad 

And what a fine reason for a bump. Amazing looking saddle.

A ride report will be expected.

Are you planning to bring both bike & new saddle to the Cirque this year?

photogravity

That saddle IS amazing. I've seen plenty of rhm's work, but the fact of the matter is that I've been making do with off the shelf Brooks saddles for a few years now. Given how much I like this one, I have a feeling I'll be getting some recycled ones from him in the future. Right now, I have an Imperial narrow that has sagged considerably which will probably serve as a platform for my next rhm saddle.

As far as taking the Rapide to Cirque, it pretty likely since it about the only bike that I really have that's even close to ready for the show. It's possible I may bring along the Alpine and other selected stuff, should my schedule get cleared a bit. I have a nice bike hauler now.

Chris W.

Wow!!! It doesn't get much better than that!!!

Cheers,
Chris

KonAaron Snake 

Rudi is an artist...and the Norman was as nice a saddle as I've seen. Looks great on there!

photogravity

Yeah, it really doesn't get much better, that's for sure. Well, if it said Rapide instead of Invader it would be perfect. Not to worry, I have an Invader.

Aaron, speaking of rhm saddles, I don't think I've seen the saddle he did for you. Can you send me a link to some pictures? I saw the leather before it was ever made into a saddle.

KonAaron Snake 

I can't believe you never saw mine!

photogravity

That is truly amazing! He managed to lay out that brand perfectly. Super cool, for sure. I think that we can definitely use the term unique to describe it.

BTW, any suggestions for what I do with this? Since I have two Rapides and one Invader, I'd guess it could go on any of them.


Norman Chainring by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr