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Hello
Jan 19, 2015 16:42:16 GMT
Post by pauls on Jan 19, 2015 16:42:16 GMT
Just saying Hello from Northants, UK. I've recently rescued an old bike of mine from 30 years ago. Turns out it is something special. So, there I was sorting out some firewood on my Father-in-law's allotment and to my amazement/horror I found one of my old bikes on his scrap heap! I bought this bike from Peacocks of Bedford in the mid 80s for just a few quid. I had ridden road bikes before but this was nothing like them. This was light and fast although a bit big for me. I remember that I could cycle the 20 miles in under an hour in those days (lighter and fitter back then!) I used it for a couple of years and then upgraded to a smaller Reynolds 653 framed Falcon with Shimano 600 groupset, did a couple of triathlons and then retired from road cycling. The Falcon got traded in for a Saracen mountain bike, which I have just rebuilt and this bike was passed on to my Father-in-law. Now, when I bought this bike, it was just an old bike and I don't think that I ever took much notice of what is was. The new Falcon never quite matched the speed and although was supposed to be the right size, felt too cramped. A bit of research on the 'net reveals that this bike is a bit special. Turns out it is a Viscount built by Trusty of England from aerospace tubing. Not all the original components remain and I have an awful feeling that I may have binned the original wheels and deraileurs back in the 80s Can anyone identify which model it is. It has the Trusty sticker, the usual badge on the seat-tube with a chrome effect background and a small union jack on the down-tube. These days I ride a Di2 equipped carbon thing, but would love a retro style bike so I plan on restoring it with some minor upgrades like SIS gears but try to keep it looking classic.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Hello
Jan 19, 2015 18:58:26 GMT
Post by Jem on Jan 19, 2015 18:58:26 GMT
Hello Paul! Welcome to the forum. Thanks for posting up. That is such a sad photo..a neglected Viscount. But I suppose the silver lining is you recall what a great bike it was and might restore it. In terms of the model, the simplest thing to narrow it down (I can't see much at all from the photo), is to check if it's lugged at joints or brazed. If it is smooth , therefore brazed, it will be on of the Aerospace range, and certainly worth doing up. Some things that would be running through my mind would be, what to do about those half chromed forks, and whether the wheels can be rebuilt or if you're going to need to find something of the period to look right. Looks like it's missing front derailleur? What components does it have on it?
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Hello
Jan 19, 2015 19:23:18 GMT
Post by pauls on Jan 19, 2015 19:23:18 GMT
The joints are definitely brazed, so Aerospace as identified by the sticker. The forks are half chromed steel as you point out, so not a Death Fork The drop shoulder shape looks like they are original. I'm happy to get them re-chromed if they are original. But they do pose a bit of a dilemma in that the spacing between the drop outs is about 90mm - was this standard on the Viscount? Or did I or another previous owner do some adjustment? No front dérailleur, I think Father-in-Law took that off. The rest of the components are as follows: Brakes - Weinmann 610 centre-pull Brake levers are unbranded with the suicide extensions Pedals - Olimpic 64 Cranks - SR Apex with 52/42 chainrings Stem - SR Bars - Unbranded chrome steel The wheels are 700c Rigida Superchromix with Maillard hubs - I remember buying those from Halfods mid eighties. I was thinking of getting some Halo Retro rims built onto some decent hubs but the front fork spacing has me puzzled.
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Hello
Jan 19, 2015 21:38:40 GMT
Post by Stella on Jan 19, 2015 21:38:40 GMT
The joints are definitely brazed, so Aerospace as identified by the sticker. The forks are half chromed steel as you point out, so not a Death Fork The drop shoulder shape looks like they are original. I'm happy to get them re-chromed if they are original. But they do pose a bit of a dilemma in that the spacing between the drop outs is about 90mm - was this standard on the Viscount? Or did I or another previous owner do some adjustment? No front dérailleur, I think Father-in-Law took that off. The rest of the components are as follows: Brakes - Weinmann 610 centre-pull Brake levers are unbranded with the suicide extensions Pedals - Olimpic 64 Cranks - SR Apex with 52/42 chainrings Stem - SR Bars - Unbranded chrome steel The wheels are 700c Rigida Superchromix with Maillard hubs - I remember buying those from Halfods mid eighties. I was thinking of getting some Halo Retro rims built onto some decent hubs but the front fork spacing has me puzzled. Hi, Paul, welcome to the forum. This bike, to me, looks like a Pro. Some Pros came with those half-chromed forks (should be 100mm, not 90), and the SR Apex crank set. The seat tube sticker is the best give away for me, although they'd come in silver/black, not white. My first thought was a G.P. but I doubt it with that crankset. Pedals seem original, too. Stem definitely is; I doubt the handlebar is as they were alloy with the Aerospace bikes. On second thoughts you may have a very late version of the Pro or GP where parts were fitted as they were just knocking about. Hope you will restore it; I promise you you won't regret it.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Hello
Jan 19, 2015 22:06:12 GMT
Post by Jem on Jan 19, 2015 22:06:12 GMT
That 42/52 SR Apex is what is on my '81 ish Indy 500 and the Grand Prix (late era)
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Hello
Jan 19, 2015 23:53:56 GMT
Post by Stella on Jan 19, 2015 23:53:56 GMT
That Apex is on my Pro and my red flash (Sport).
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Hello
Jan 20, 2015 9:29:22 GMT
Post by pauls on Jan 20, 2015 9:29:22 GMT
Thanks for the guidance. The closest match that I have found, component wise, is a Grand Sport: Photo lifted from the CTC 176 page thread! : Obviously not the wheels and brakes, but the rest of it looks right. When I acquired the bike in 1985 it already had the appearance of an old bike. The white paintwork had been flatted back and the stickers removed. Memories of what I did back then are resurfacing after 30 years. I'm fairly certain that I put the original bars and brake levers from the Viscount on the Falcon and then just fitted some cheap steel bars on the Viscount for the F-i-L. I can also vaguely remember adjusting the forks to fit the narrow Maillard front hub. The main reason that I gave it to the F-i-L was that the BB bearings were a little notchy and I could not get the BB apart to fix it. There are a few issues to deal with first such as straightening the RD hanger, nerfing the front forks back to 100mm, replacing the BB bearings and removing the seat post. If I can get through those jobs OK, then I will do a full restoration.
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Hello
Jan 20, 2015 10:40:19 GMT
Post by Stella on Jan 20, 2015 10:40:19 GMT
Hi, Paul. You will be fine. One of the first jobs I ever did on a bike was replacing a bottom bracket on an Aerospace Sport, with no proper tools, knowledge, or bike stand. (Lots of guidance, via email, though.) If I can do it, then you can. Cold setting the forks ain't a biggie either. The RD hanger might be tricky if it breaks, but replacements are available.
Good luck.
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Hello
Jan 20, 2015 14:55:55 GMT
Post by stoatie on Jan 20, 2015 14:55:55 GMT
Hi Paul and welcome from to the forum.
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Hello
Jan 20, 2015 18:11:19 GMT
Post by whippet on Jan 20, 2015 18:11:19 GMT
Welcome Paul, looking forward to seeing your old bike restored.
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Hello
Jan 24, 2015 15:11:36 GMT
Post by pauls on Jan 24, 2015 15:11:36 GMT
Well, I've had a productive day in the workshop The BB spindle and bearings are now out. The chain-set was running out of true because of a slight bend to the spindle. I think that is why the bike was running without a front dérailleur. Found an old spindle that I can sleeve and machine to the correct dimensions but without the circlip grooves The RD hanger straightened with a bit of heat and gentle persuasion. Now nicely aligned. The seat post was a pig. Heat and release oil didn't work so I set about it with a die grinder and a long triangular file, eventually cutting it in two lengthways in the seat tube and out it came. Still need to decide what to do about the front forks. They are too pitted to re-chrome so I will either paint them or get a replacement. Anyway, the good news is that the frame is now in a state to be restored Onwards and upwards.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Hello
Jan 24, 2015 17:34:53 GMT
Post by Jem on Jan 24, 2015 17:34:53 GMT
Well, hats off to you! That sounds like a very productive day indeed. I (as have a few others), spent longer that that just on a stuck seat post, and certainly much longer than that just getting a spindle out!! So you can be pleased with that progress.
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Hello
Feb 21, 2015 16:51:39 GMT
Post by pauls on Feb 21, 2015 16:51:39 GMT
I've just found a serial number on the BB tube: C70414
Can anyone point me to a chart or something to tell me a little more about the bike?
I'm fairly certain that it is a Grand Sport as one with an identical paint job, but with all the decals, recently sold on eBay.
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Hello
Feb 21, 2015 18:00:14 GMT
Post by Jem on Feb 21, 2015 18:00:14 GMT
Hi, Very much more knowledgeable people than me have looked at serial numbers and even processed them through the Enigma machine ... but still can't fathom out a pattern in them. But, who knows- the ex-employee might spot this thread and have some thoughts on it? I'd say you were fairly safe in saying Grand Sport. I guess you know, or have read, that in the factory they quite often put any available parts on if they had run out of the stock components - so a line of models may have a range of parts, making identifying models a bit harder.
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Hello
Mar 20, 2015 7:51:56 GMT
Post by 54roadie on Mar 20, 2015 7:51:56 GMT
Welcome from another newcomer.
Frank
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