robt
Viscount
Posts: 562 
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Post by robt on Jul 12, 2015 15:25:19 GMT
Is anyone bidding on this Town bike on ebay (no derailleur)? Is it a Victor? Jem, I know you want one, but remember 24" is too big for you! |
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,418
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Post by Jem on Jul 12, 2015 16:34:47 GMT
Is anyone bidding on this Town bike on ebay (no derailleur)? Is it a Victor? Jem, I know you want one, but remember 24" is too big for you! Rob, good job you reminded me as I haven't yet had that tattoo on the back on my right hand, and might have stupidly clicked 'buy' on this.  Alas, it's too big and too far away. I know for sure that this is a Victor. Same lug work as the one I have seen in my town centre. Looks very nice. Make him an offer he can't refuse!? |
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Post by Stella on Jul 12, 2015 18:14:20 GMT
That's one for Stoatie, then. He was moaning never to find a large frame. :-)
23.5 is too small for him. But quite all right for me. Need to slap my hand, too.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 12, 2015 19:48:51 GMT
Is anyone bidding on this Town bike on ebay (no derailleur)? Is it a Victor? Jem, I know you want one, but remember 24" is too big for you! Rob, good job you reminded me as I haven't yet had that tattoo on the back on my right hand, and might have stupidly clicked 'buy' on this. Alas, it's too big and too far away. I know for sure that this is a Victor. Same lug work as the one I have seen in my town centre. Looks very nice. Make him an offer he can't refuse!? I'll give the rest of the forum another day to put their hand up. (PM me if anyone wants to keep it discreet.) I just need to arrange a meeting in Carlisle... |
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Jem
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Posts: 3,418
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Post by Jem on Jul 12, 2015 20:05:21 GMT
Go for it Rob!
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Post by Stella on Jul 12, 2015 21:10:09 GMT
Yep, I'd second Jemm's post. Go and grab it!
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 12, 2015 21:31:07 GMT
Whoops! My tattoo needs to say 'don't go back to eBay after you've had your evening nightcap'! It arrives by courier on Friday. This Viscount collecting thing can be habit forming.
It should provide a good home for the long cage Tourney dérailleur and skip tooth block I have in the shed. Now where can I find some 52t/42t chainrings to fit the crank arm that Rod gave me yesterday?
What's the current wisdom on 27" alloy rims to lace up to those high flange hubs, or is 700c an acceptable solution?
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 12, 2015 21:34:17 GMT
P.S. Jem, is this Metro any use to you? |
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,418
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Post by Jem on Jul 12, 2015 21:51:52 GMT
P.S. Jem, is this Metro any use to you? Thanks for the tip off Rob. I need to shift some things to make room in the shed before I even think about buying anything else. I must say it looks a little big to be 21" though...? Based on very rough rule of thumb of head tube length/scale. I also think that if I go for the 'Metro' it's got to be 'London bus red'. Kev might be interested? Dorset is nearer him than me. |
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Jul 13, 2015 7:02:10 GMT
Whoops! My tattoo needs to say 'don't go back to eBay after you've had your evening nightcap'! It arrives by courier on Friday. This Viscount collecting thing can be habit forming. It should provide a good home for the long cage Tourney dérailleur and skip tooth block I have in the shed. Now where can I find some 52t/42t chainrings to fit the crank arm that Rod gave me yesterday? What's the current wisdom on 27" alloy rims to lace up to those high flange hubs, or is 700c an acceptable solution? Congrats! As a Victor owner I say, "pictures or it didn't happen"! 700c vs 27" is a bit like Beatles vs Rolling Stones: good reasons for liking either, but each camp sometimes has less-than-rational reasons for their position. I'm firmly in the 27" camp and highly recommend lacing CR18s to those hubs, esp if they are Viscount sealed-bearing luvvies. Then you put a pair of folding Panaracer Pasela 27 x 1&1/8" tyres and you're good to go. I recommend 700c tubes, something good and reliable like Schwalbe, 700 x 25 or 28. The Paselas will sit nice and low on the rim, but not too low. b |
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Jul 13, 2015 7:19:17 GMT
Just had a look at the listing and the pics: what a beauty! Interesting crankset. I'd keep that. Victors were 5 speed originally. Definitely relace those wheels, currently those rims are steel, which apart from being heavy don't really stop in the wet. This is a true Aerospace frame and deserves to be set free! Apart from the lack of a rear mech, your Victor looks very, very original. I've got four years of posts of Victor mine for you to compare and contrast. Ignore the poor formatting and just keep scrolling. feelofsteel.blogspot.com.au/search/label/VA%20Victorb |
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 13, 2015 8:33:58 GMT
Bendo, thanks for the support and advice. I'll take a good look at the frame next weekend. If the paint's in good shape, I'll be looking for some advice on suitable replacement decals for the top and down tubes. Anyone fancy joining me on a wheel building course in Birmingham a week on Saturday (25/7/15)? £60 for the day, plus any parts used. I can meet at or pick up from nearby train stations (Chiltern or West Coast main lines or B'hm New St). |
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Post by Stella on Jul 13, 2015 9:44:53 GMT
Rob, congratulations! Wonderful to know it goes to a good home. I'm a firm believer in 27" forks need 27" wheels. The Victor is a 27" so I'd go for that as you don't need to faff with long-reach brakes, etc.
Those rims Bendo recommends aren't available over here, or only with huge difficulty. If you need 27" rims (alloy, mirror polished) get in touch with me, as I have a few at home. Lace them up with double butted spokes, 3-cross, and you're winning. A wheel building course is fantastic, it's a skill you will always be able to put to good use. Have fun.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 17, 2015 22:03:12 GMT
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Post by whippet on Jul 18, 2015 22:38:38 GMT
Looking pretty good I'd say.
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Post by Stella on Jul 19, 2015 19:20:12 GMT
Gorgeous little one. A good clean, some new lube, new saddle and pedals and you have the perfect pub bike.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 22, 2015 8:10:04 GMT
There isn't a great deal to do to make this a grin-a-minute ride. I've borrowed the Birmalux-rimmed wheels from my Sport to replace the chromed steel originals, fitted them with Conti 27x1x11/8 tyres, and put a new chain on to allow the Tourney GS dérailleur to be fitted. I found an old Huret single-lever downttube shifter in my box of bits, but I don't seem to be able to get the friction-adjusting screw to stay in place. Is there a respectable 5-speed gripshift option for bikes such as this? I need to decide on gear changing options before exploring saddle, bar grip and cable choices (stay white or go black?). Decisions, decisions...
Also, does anyone have any tips or tools for swapping the original rear blocks between wheels? I'd like to put my skip tooth block on the Victor, but neither of my sprocket block removal tools will fit. There are a couple of dimples on the block but they are too shallow to get my peg spanner to engage properly in them.
All comments & suggestions most welcome, thank you.
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Jul 22, 2015 11:27:52 GMT
My Victor came with the original twin-cable Positron derailleur, which had its own thumb lever. At the moment I'm using a ratcheting Suntour XC thumbshifter on the handlebar. It's bloody great. Paid a bit for it but well worth it. b  |
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Post by cusqueno on Jul 22, 2015 14:45:31 GMT
Might have the old style Shimano splined block? This is smaller than the later version, but you can still buy the tools online. The pain is that, being so small, you have to remove the lock nuts before using it.
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Post by cusqueno on Jul 22, 2015 14:49:03 GMT
The plate with the dimples unscrews to reveal the gory inner workings of the freewheel. A left hand thread if I recall correctly. Need the right tool or a nail and a hammer.
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 22, 2015 16:28:15 GMT
Bendo, Cusqueno, thanks for the pointers. I'll do some googling for the old shimano block tool and a Suntour XC thumb shifter.
I'll leave the dimples alone for now. Undoing them sounds like a recipe for springs and pawls all over the floor!
I need to persuade the longer SR stem off my Sebring too. The one fitted is only about 60mm, so the bars feel a bit close in. Yours looks longer than that, bendo.
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Post by 54roadie on Jul 22, 2015 16:53:44 GMT
I've had little problem finding, or at least ordering, obscure freewheel removers through my LBS. They have invariably been Park Tools, not too pricey over here. Robt, like you, I would not remove the face plate of any old freewheel, for the same reasons, and it doesn't get you to where you want to be. Park ToolsGood luck, Frank |
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 22, 2015 17:51:27 GMT
Thanks Frank, Cusqueno (again). I have found a 20mm/12spline tool on eBay, in an LBS not far from me as it happens. Reasonable price for the tool and postage, so it's on its way to me now. I hope that fits.
Now for some shifters...
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Jul 23, 2015 3:12:52 GMT
The stem on my Victor currently is a standard Viscount one which is, what, 90mm? The SR stem it came with was ridiculously short, more like 20mm. b
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robt
Viscount
Posts: 562
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Post by robt on Jul 24, 2015 18:14:09 GMT
Bendo I've had the ruler out and, despite appearances, the two stems I have are only 20mm different in length. The 'standard' Victor one is 60mm from the centre of the stem bolt to the centre line of the bar clamp:  and the Sebring one is 80mm.  Same design, angle and SR branding, though. Robt |
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bendo
Viscount
Posts: 538
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Post by bendo on Jul 25, 2015 15:01:31 GMT
That's bizarre. I'll have to go an measure mine to believe it! b
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