holden west

This bike has remained in the family since it was ridden by Glen Robbins in the 1932 LA Olympics. But it's been repainted many times and the headbadge is long gone. There doesn't appear to be any serial number or any other form of identification. One book says he rode a BSA competitively but I don't know if this bike is a BSA. The crank, rims and tires are not original as you may have guessed. There are some amazing stories about the team. There was not enough room in the car for all the members of the team so they had to take turns drafting behind the car on the way to LA.

seboros

I’m sorry I can’t be of help, but I just want to say you have a very old and beautiful bike with a nice story. If it’s been repainted many times, maybe it’s worth trying to repaint it professionally. After stripping the paint off there could be markings on the tubes or on the lugs that may provide leads to identifying the maker. But wait for more educated advice from vintage connoisseurs before doing any work to it, though.

seboros

markk900

randyjawa 

I agree - a CCM Flyer or, perhaps, Road Racer. My 1939? Road Racer which I could not afford to restore..

clubman 

Looks like an early Road Flyer to me. The drilled rear brake bridge and track ends are a little diffferent, I found this 1930 Flyer online that has the same seat cluster. Later Flyers had open ended seatstays.

holden west

I agree it would be beautiful repainted as the photos above show. But the owner tells me the blue paint was applied by Glen Robbins himself so there is some sentimental and historical value there. Under the chips it looks like grey or cream paint was the original.

Talking with the owner yesterday that's exactly his wish.

^That is a nice bike; I'd be inclined just to give it a good cleaning and enjoy it as is. Thank you both, yes it looks like a CCM. The fact the crankset is a CCM but not original to the bike may have been a false clue. Apparently there is a box of cranks so the original may exist but I imagine in those days bikes were ridden hard and worn and damaged parts changed out frequently. Not like today where pro bikes are practically disposable.

I'll have a closer look at the head tube. If it shows possible evidence of a diamond-shaped head badge was once there that would be a clincher, no pun intended.

clubman 

Loog for the serial number around the seat lugs, That would clinch it.

markk900

markk900

clubman 

I agree that it's a Flyer, mainly because of the birdsmouth lugs. In later years, the 'pencil' seat stays were thinner as well, so a measurement of their diameter would help. My catalogue scans are incomplete but by the mid 30's CCM offered a Road Flyer and a Professional Flyer that was custom built, maybe by Doc Morton. An Olympic bike would likely be custom made and of better quality than the retail offerings. Perhaps there's no serial number on these builds.

markk900

holden west

Came across this pic of Torchy Peden's restored CCM; I didn't realize the crankset with the integrated CCM letters were used on pro bikes, Peden was the LA 32 coach. He later sold sporting goods specializing in CCM so yes, the connection is solid. Although I am a little confused to the difference between what the catalog calls the transfer and the nameplate. Thanks, the catalog page is gold.

clubman 

Pretty sure Transfer is the decalling. Usually CCM Flyer on the top of the downtube and a circular CCM badge on either downtube or seatube.

holden west

Here's a photo of the drivetrain. The crankarm says CCM in very small letters. The pedals are marked Phillips Made in England.:

T-Mar

Agreed, this is a CCM product. Besides the racing version of the CCM Triplex crankset, it has a CCM headset. However, the logo chainring is a later addition and would be incorrect for 1932. Everything I can see is pointing towards a CCM Flyer. The definitive test for a Flyer is to measure the diameter of the seat post. Due to the thinner tubing used on a Flyer, it requires a larger diameter seat post, typically 1-1/16" versus the 7/8" used on the Road Racer. My only concern is the apparent lack of rivet holes for the head badge, when the extant photo of the 1932 Olympic team shows what appears to be a head badge.

holden west

Thank you all again. The family is very grateful for this information.

That fits with the owner's belief that the crank was not original although that pushed him to think it was not a CCM because of that. But the truth seems to be it was simply a crank from another year. He still has a few of Glen's cranks--what specifically should he be looking for in case the original is still there?

I went back and we examined it closely for exactly that purpose. Under the thick paint I detected a small hole on one side of the head tube and a very tiny nub of sharp metal like the shank of a sheared rivet. They are located exactly where the horizontal ends of the diamond shaped badge would be in photos.

My only concern is noting the team photo of Robbins shows a CCM that is smaller than the one shown in my photos if you examine the space between the top tube and down tube. Also interesting to note how unusually far his handlebars are tilted up.

T-Mar

The crankarms are correct, it is only the chainring that is not. The correct chainrings are as pictured, though these appear to be chrome plated, as opposed to the correct nickel plating that would have been used in 1932.





Regarding the frame size, I notice that Robbins competed in three events at the 1932 Olympics, one being the individual road race. It was not unknown for riders to use a larger frame size for road events and though it was fairly rare at the time, I'm wondering if he may have used two different bicycles? Depending on his preferred rear brake, that might explain the orientation of what appears to be a drilled hole in the seat stay bridge.