Claud Butler for my daughter
04-19-22, 10:23 AM
#1
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Claud Butler for my daughter
My 14 year old needed a new bike so we went to our local collective (www.commonwheel.org.uk or check out their unofficial page full of judgement! https://uncommonwheel.weebly.com/)
Without any of my influence she picked out this nice Claud Butler frame with an unmatched chromed Fourreaux fork
They powdercoated the frame in this lovely sunshine yellow (she liked a similar coloured Fuji track frame!)
Kept the original headbadge
and built it up with some good quality parts of various ages
She loves it!
I then did bit of research and identlfied the original bike as this... A 1977 Claud Butler Competitor.
Result!
Without any of my influence she picked out this nice Claud Butler frame with an unmatched chromed Fourreaux fork
They powdercoated the frame in this lovely sunshine yellow (she liked a similar coloured Fuji track frame!)
Kept the original headbadge
and built it up with some good quality parts of various ages
She loves it!
I then did bit of research and identlfied the original bike as this... A 1977 Claud Butler Competitor.
Result!
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04-19-22, 10:33 AM
#2
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That turned out beautifully. I hope my kids turn out to be as receptive to my tastes when it's time for me to build them grown-up bikes. I bet you were pleased that she picked safety yellow, too. Nice job, parent!
04-19-22, 10:35 AM
#3
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ooops - no it should have been this one. A year earlier without the bottle cage mount!
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04-19-22, 02:11 PM
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My 14 year old needed a new bike so we went to our local collective (www.commonwheel.org.uk or check out their unofficial page full of judgement! https://uncommonwheel.weebly.com/)
Without any of my influence she picked out this nice Claud Butler frame with an unmatched chromed Fourreaux fork
They powdercoated the frame in this lovely sunshine yellow (she liked a similar coloured Fuji track frame!)
Kept the original headbadge
and built it up with some good quality parts of various ages
She loves it!
I then did bit of research and identlfied the original bike as this... A 1977 Claud Butler Competitor.
Result!
Without any of my influence she picked out this nice Claud Butler frame with an unmatched chromed Fourreaux fork
They powdercoated the frame in this lovely sunshine yellow (she liked a similar coloured Fuji track frame!)
Kept the original headbadge
and built it up with some good quality parts of various ages
She loves it!
I then did bit of research and identlfied the original bike as this... A 1977 Claud Butler Competitor.
Result!
Mine had a Raleigh SC that he was sick when he let it get stolen, we had done a complete with framesaver rebuild on together.
Her next bike needs to be the nicest one you can find for her, to the top!
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04-19-22, 02:19 PM
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I love my sons, and they are awesome people… But I wish that they shared my love of bicycles.
They don’t have the same mechanical acumen or desire (maybe not “acumen”)...
They don’t have the same mechanical acumen or desire (maybe not “acumen”)...
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1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super
04-19-22, 03:16 PM
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He was with several friends in HS when their check engine, coolant, oil, etc light came on and told them to stop and quit driving, call me. None did, none survived.
We made him buy his own bikes from the jump and didn't buy him any car either that he couldn't afford.
Always told him we would help if he saved up enough for insurance, that never happened so he didn't get a car until last year at 27yr old, still can't afford it but oh well.
Of course he quit riding his bike completely when he got the car but it is not going to go much further so he may get back on the bike, we'll see.
04-19-22, 03:25 PM
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Well done!
04-19-22, 07:06 PM
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Congrats on helping your daughter discover the joy of vintage road bikes and what you can do with them! She must be very pleased and having chosen the color, it doesn’t get any better! There is something special about finding beauty in time worn things, especially road bikes!
Your story reminded me when I bought an early 79s Gitane Super Corsa at a garage sale for my youngest daughter last year. It had a beautiful Champion Blue metallic patina, cleaned up nicely and as luck would have it, this 60cm bike fit the 6 foot daughter perfectly. On the inaugural ride in Newport, RI, she started riding “no handed” for the first time ever and exclaimed “This bike was built for me!”
You can imagine how wonderful it felt to hear those words!
Your story reminded me when I bought an early 79s Gitane Super Corsa at a garage sale for my youngest daughter last year. It had a beautiful Champion Blue metallic patina, cleaned up nicely and as luck would have it, this 60cm bike fit the 6 foot daughter perfectly. On the inaugural ride in Newport, RI, she started riding “no handed” for the first time ever and exclaimed “This bike was built for me!”
You can imagine how wonderful it felt to hear those words!
04-19-22, 07:07 PM
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1970s
04-19-22, 10:03 PM
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Very nice to see a Gen -Z joining the ranks of the CV crowd...in this case, the adage that the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree is on point! 
Best, Ben
Best, Ben
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04-20-22, 06:12 AM
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Very nice. You would not find one of those in Cambodia.
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04-20-22, 07:06 AM
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Great story and great bike. Your daughter has good taste.
I wonder about the 1970s dating, though. Those rear dropouts look more 1950s than 1970s to my eye, as do the head lugs. Also, the font of the the downtube graphics on your daughter's bike did not match the font in the 1970s catalog pics.
That's just to my eye. I do not pretend to have any answers, just questions. I leave further discussion, if any, to folks who know more about this than I do; there are a bunch here in C&V who fit that description.
Mainly, though, nice score for your daughter. I hope she enjoys the heck out of it and you get to tag along sometimes when she rides it.,
I wonder about the 1970s dating, though. Those rear dropouts look more 1950s than 1970s to my eye, as do the head lugs. Also, the font of the the downtube graphics on your daughter's bike did not match the font in the 1970s catalog pics.
That's just to my eye. I do not pretend to have any answers, just questions. I leave further discussion, if any, to folks who know more about this than I do; there are a bunch here in C&V who fit that description.
Mainly, though, nice score for your daughter. I hope she enjoys the heck out of it and you get to tag along sometimes when she rides it.,
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04-21-22, 03:47 AM
#14
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04-21-22, 03:57 AM
#15
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Great story and great bike. Your daughter has good taste.
I wonder about the 1970s dating, though. Those rear dropouts look more 1950s than 1970s to my eye, as do the head lugs. Also, the font of the the downtube graphics on your daughter's bike did not match the font in the 1970s catalog pics.
That's just to my eye. I do not pretend to have any answers, just questions. I leave further discussion, if any, to folks who know more about this than I do; there are a bunch here in C&V who fit that description.
Mainly, though, nice score for your daughter. I hope she enjoys the heck out of it and you get to tag along sometimes when she rides it.,
I wonder about the 1970s dating, though. Those rear dropouts look more 1950s than 1970s to my eye, as do the head lugs. Also, the font of the the downtube graphics on your daughter's bike did not match the font in the 1970s catalog pics.
That's just to my eye. I do not pretend to have any answers, just questions. I leave further discussion, if any, to folks who know more about this than I do; there are a bunch here in C&V who fit that description.
Mainly, though, nice score for your daughter. I hope she enjoys the heck out of it and you get to tag along sometimes when she rides it.,
Interesting - I'm not clear on the rear dropouts but the frame number (003598) matches the dating guide I found below so I am fairly confident of it's age.
04-21-22, 12:21 PM
#16
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In the end, it does not matter beyond one geezer's curiosity (I'm the geezer, not you). The main thing is that your daughter got a great bike and you have helped pass the C&V torch.
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04-21-22, 12:31 PM
#17
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Can't argue with the facts; 1977 it is. But it sure does not look like a typical 1977 frame to me. Who knows what the full story is?
In the end, it does not matter beyond one geezer's curiosity (I'm the geezer, not you). The main thing is that your daughter got a great bike and you have helped pass the C&V torch.
In the end, it does not matter beyond one geezer's curiosity (I'm the geezer, not you). The main thing is that your daughter got a great bike and you have helped pass the C&V torch.
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