1976 Bruce Gordon
09-23-17, 02:33 PM
#1
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1976 Bruce Gordon
Well it really helps that your bike club riders know you like classic bikes.
I now own a 1976 Bruce Gordon. Just dropped into my lap. SN is G041176. For very little. All original (I think) components.
Also bought a 71 Lygie from same gentleman.
Plus I am finishing up a pristine 85 Club Fuji for my sons wife.
The Gordon and Lygie will take some time just to get to them.
I now own a 1976 Bruce Gordon. Just dropped into my lap. SN is G041176. For very little. All original (I think) components.
Also bought a 71 Lygie from same gentleman.
Plus I am finishing up a pristine 85 Club Fuji for my sons wife.
The Gordon and Lygie will take some time just to get to them.
09-23-17, 02:37 PM
#2
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Lygie and club Fuji quick pic
Quick photos.
09-23-17, 03:06 PM
#3
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Congratulations! It looks great!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
09-23-17, 03:44 PM
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Very nice! Bruce always did great work and I know I'd be happy to have one in my stable.
Steve in Peoria
Steve in Peoria
09-23-17, 04:32 PM
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Love that lug detail. Really good looking bike!
09-23-17, 04:48 PM
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Need to figure out how to settle the rust spots and paint chips. May get a quote from a local frame builder paint shop if the do retouch projects. Instead of my usual.
09-23-17, 07:52 PM
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Very nice Gordon! I haven't seen the offset hole design on the lugs with quite so many holes before. I like it. I think you will find that it rides very nicely. Bruce certainly knows the ins and outs of frame geometry.
Brent
Brent
09-23-17, 08:55 PM
#9
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If I read the serial number correctly I think this is the fourth frame built in November 1976 and from what I can find he started building frames under his own name in 1976 so it could be a very very very early BG.
09-25-17, 02:09 PM
#10
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Question re brake cables to fit the small braze-ons
Normal 5mm cable will not pass thru theBG's top tube braze-ons. I seaeched and found some one mentioned Clarks or dia compe? Found some infrequent sellers of Clark, none for dia compe. Any suggestions??
4.5 will fit.n
4.5 will fit.n
09-25-17, 07:09 PM
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My Gordon, which is 2 years newer than yours, accommodates 5mm nominal housing.(actual measurement 4.94mm) It's tight, but it works. Perhaps one or more of your guides are slightly squashed? One of mine was slightly out of round. I used the butt end of a drill bit ( 3/16" I think) to gently bring it back.
Brent
Brent
09-26-17, 05:05 AM
#12
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Thanks and yes you are right. I have a machinist drill that measures 5.1 mm and it did pass thru the first braze on but not the others so I will look at them. There is some rust on them and I was testing with old used cable housing.
Saw photos of your BG-it looks pristine.
Saw photos of your BG-it looks pristine.
11-18-17, 08:33 PM
#13
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This is my shop in the aftermath of a completed build on the Bruce Gordon. What a mess! I was it getting ready for our Saturday morning club ride.
11-18-17, 08:35 PM
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Sweet bike, I'll keep my jealousy meter toned down : )
11-18-17, 09:08 PM
#15
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This is a beauty shot right before the ride Saturday morning —it was a terribly windy day so hard to make any real judgments on the bike but it did ride very nice.
I had my tubular wheelset from my Raleigh International on it. Still have some work to do on the original clinchers.
The basic steps for my refurbishment were soaking the frame in evaporust and then touching up the paint and cleaning everything up down to the last nut and bolt.
Had to buy new chain last minute as I discovered about six or seven cracks in the outer plates by the pins which I did not expect because it looked good otherwise.
During post-ride adjustments I changed out the five speed 13-21 freewheel. With moving the rear wheel back in the dropouts and being careful with chain length I was able to fit in a 13-26 SIX speed freewheel which was great for the lower and added gear.
Since the photo I have also removed the red shift lever covers as the color seemed to clash with the other darker red on the frame and I did not like the feel of them at all on a down tube setup.
I had my tubular wheelset from my Raleigh International on it. Still have some work to do on the original clinchers.
The basic steps for my refurbishment were soaking the frame in evaporust and then touching up the paint and cleaning everything up down to the last nut and bolt.
Had to buy new chain last minute as I discovered about six or seven cracks in the outer plates by the pins which I did not expect because it looked good otherwise.
During post-ride adjustments I changed out the five speed 13-21 freewheel. With moving the rear wheel back in the dropouts and being careful with chain length I was able to fit in a 13-26 SIX speed freewheel which was great for the lower and added gear.
Since the photo I have also removed the red shift lever covers as the color seemed to clash with the other darker red on the frame and I did not like the feel of them at all on a down tube setup.
11-18-17, 10:32 PM
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What a gorgeous, early Bruce Gordon.
I agree with your removal of the shift levers. It's a little much/jarring. I think the subtly of the red paint in the seat post and lugs is enough to tie the red downtube decals together.
Nice to see you putting her to good use!
I agree with your removal of the shift levers. It's a little much/jarring. I think the subtly of the red paint in the seat post and lugs is enough to tie the red downtube decals together.
Nice to see you putting her to good use!
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11-19-17, 01:25 AM
#17
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Nice. Very, very nice.
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11-19-17, 10:09 AM
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Love it.
Also love the hubs/wheels! My eyes go right to those high flange hubs!
Also love the hubs/wheels! My eyes go right to those high flange hubs!
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Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
01-18-19, 11:22 AM
#21
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Bruce gets a Silca pump
Courtesy of my Lygie,I mounted its nicely patina’d Impero frame pump on the Gordon. I think it looks grand and goes well with the tire sidewalls. Cleaned it up with mineral oil. Works great. 
Going for style points here. But not sure this type of bike would have carried a frame pump?
Going for style points here. But not sure this type of bike would have carried a frame pump?
01-18-19, 01:39 PM
#23
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Courtesy of my Lygie,I mounted its nicely patina’d Impero frame pump on the Gordon. I think it looks grand and goes well with the tire sidewalls. Cleaned it up with mineral oil. Works great.
Going for style points here. But not sure this type of bike would have carried a frame pump?
Going for style points here. But not sure this type of bike would have carried a frame pump?
Anyway, very very cool bike, and the pump looks just right on it to me.
01-18-19, 02:23 PM
#24
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Congratulations! I hope you ride and enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed mine (made in '77).
01-18-19, 02:24 PM
#25
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That's a beauty
Love the custom lugwork he must have done. Do you have any more pics of the seat tube/seat stays lug. It looks really unique.