NYC Journal

[Phil_F_NM]

Cal, Im not going to be doing a full restoration since I want to ride the bike and not put $1000 into the wheels alone. The issue with the wheels for a UK spec restoration is that the old steel/alloy hubs fell out of fashion during the 70s bike boom and most were simply junked and are now the razor blades we shave with or rusting in landfills. This attrition made the remaining samples very valuable even though when they were new, they weren’t really anything special.
The interesting thing about the Clubman line is that they had variations of initial delivery spec:
The lowest cost version was a single speed upright with flip flop hub, 16t fixed, 18t freewheel. Then there was the drop bar “track” version. After that, the variations were myriad, especially in the UK. They delivered these with 3 and 4 speed alloy hubs, one top end version had the ASC 3 speed fixed gear hub which now can sell for $1000 if it’s included with its correct shifter.
Add to those variants the accessories which included Bluemels or Brittania celluloid mudguards, Sturmey dynohub with front and rear lights, and an optional tool bag. All of that went on a 22” Reynolds 531 frame with an aggressive 73 degree head angle and 71 degree seat tube. Everything was alloy or had an alloy option.
My restoration is going to allow me to honor the initial build spec with my own take on it, using period correct or manufacturer era correct components.
I can not wait.

Phil

 

[Particular]

The plot thickens regarding the "new" Rudge Clubman bike. This bike has a pair of wingnut axle nuts securing the front hub to the fork. Does not have the rear wingnuts but it's also from the production period where Sturmey Archer was still working to deliver the most reliable hubs at a decent cost. That said, these bicycles weren't imported to the US with the axle wingnuts, so the front wheel is probably a past attempt to restore the bike to its 1951 UK sale spec. There are other possibilities though:
This bike is coming from the Bay area, right across Suisun Bay from Alameda, formerly the largest naval station on the west coast. Could have been brought back by a sailor. It could have also been purchased at the Naval exchange, duty free as they used to be able to get literally everything.
It could also be a regular UK import that had its rear wheel replaced. Just looking at photos suggests to me that the rear wheel has newer bits than the front, pointing to replacement or at least a new rim sometime in the past 50 years. The other forensic bit is that the handlebar would not have been on a UK spec bike, but the hollow bottom bracket spindle and fluted crankset would have.
I may never know the history of this bike, but it certainly has seen something.
It's currently in Pennsylvania, so it may be delivered earlier than Thursday, we'll see.
My birthday is in 2 weekends, so we know what I'm going to be doing 😁

Phil

Phil,
I’m intrigued by this bike. I hope we can see images of it.
It reminds me of the bike I rode when I live in London. It was a dark green “Edwards of Camberwell” I think from the 60’s. I ended up living in Camberwell, and Edwards was a bike shop there that probably still exists. Cabbies used to roll down their windows at traffic light to tell me, “you know that was a police bike”. It had a 4 speed sturmey archer with integrated dynohub. Unfortunately it had a standard 3 speed lever, so the gears were a little miss matched. I never found a 4 speed lever to go with it. The dynohub worked but produced pretty minimal power. I soldered 4 super bright red led’s together to make a permanent rear light. It had those cool rod brake levers that pull the pads onto the rim. Those produce zero brake power when it is wet. It was surprisingly light and fast.
My friend had a cool bike too, which was a red raleigh royal mail bike. That thing was super solid and weighed a ton. He had an accident with it where he hit a huge pot hole at full speed. It severed the tire, and badly dented the rim. He fell and broke a collar bone.

 

[Calzone]

Phil,

Sounds like a really nice bike project.

The Nitro-cellulose plastic ages poorly and is highly reactive. Also very combustible.

Early guitar pick guards were nitrocellulose and they decomposed over the decades. Generally they destroy the original finish.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Yeah, the options for mudguards are either Velo Orange, Honjo, or SKS (possibly their Bluemels line). I prefer the VO aluminum units as they are the ones I have on my Miyata, but the mounting of these on this Rudge frame won’t be optimal. The SKS have the correct mounting but they are kind of ugly plastic, and they are either black or a dingy gray. I may go with the gray and paint them white which is the color of the original celluloid mudguards. Bar tape, lever hoods, cable housing and frame pump are going to all be white.

Back when we would sell a pair of original Bluemels or Britannia mudguards, we would give the buyer the option to install themselves, with caveat that they may literally fall apart on the first ride. We did enough wall hanger restorations that folks would buy them then simply never ride the bike. That was a very specialized shop when it came to certain era restorations.

Phil

 

[Calzone]

Field Report: We drove to Granite Springs to pickup the Empire State Trailway to do a first ride on the Yo Betty. “Maggie” is in love with the bike. Basically she told me I can no longer ride her bike now that the testing and safety check has been performed.

She is a slow learner on the use of trigger shifters and figuring out how to manipulate gearing. Anyways kinda dumb even though she is smart with a PhD.

The V-brake on the front is mucho aggressive, but the rear brake has a better feel for modulation. The front brake is kinda dangerous. In a panic you could do a nose wheelie.

During her recovery from her pancake spill she forgot how to spin and lost her great cadence. Took a while for her to understand not to rely on stiff gears and that biking should be kinda gentle. The heat index was high so we took it easy.

The way back to the car was a climb and then she used the gears to her advantage.

Back in the car she asked if my friend AJ would do a consignment and help us unload her almost new Trek AL-3. Pretty much is willing to take a big loss. Anyone need a nice production gravel bike that’s kinda mid-level at a great price? The size is small for a woman about 5’2”.

The bike is about a month old and comes with extras: a water bottle cage; and a top tube bag that will fit a wallet, an IPhone, and keys.

So I have two orphan bikes that are “Maggie’s in my basement. The beach bike I’m trying to give away to Maggie’s brother’s girlfriend. The almost new Trek AL-3 Domane is a color blue. Know that the AL-3 is a unisex bike.

Know that the Yo Betty has a place of honor in our hallway, and the IBIS Avion SS is parked in our living room. Maggie is cool with that because the bikes are mucho pretty. Know that my cellar stairs are narrow and navigating a bike up and down those stairs is tricky.

BTW the bikes stand out as trophy bike. Maggie loves the upright position and the smoothness that is a Fat Chance. Anyways it looks like I won’t have a third orphaned bike.

I’m doing pretty good taking care and preserving a 70 year old woman. Not an easy job.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Looking forward to seeing Tommy Emmanuel playing at the Peekskill Paramount Theater, an Art Deco theater that can seat 1.100.

I called my guitar geek friend Dave who met Tommy at a guitar show in Heraldsbug California. Basically Heraldsburg is a guitar show for guitar builders that are the extreme high end.

Dave is going to check with his wife and might come see Tommy Emmanuel.

Also invited Dave to come up from Lawn-Guy-Land to play my two new Santa Cruz guitars. Dave’s wife Tina is an avid gardener, and I’m sure she would love to see our house and the mess we live in.

Dave and Tina remodeled their kitchen a decade ago, but they cheaped out, so now they are going to do it over all again. I warned Dave that seeing some of our remodeling might be a problem for him. LOL.

In mid October is a big guitar show in Woodstock. Dave will be there as the resident guitarist manning our friend Cris’s booth.

We could hook up for a day trip, or we could spend three days. Lots of private performances that are basically great acoustic guitar players performing using/demo’ing guitars for the builders attending the show. Pretty much all small venues, very intimate , and hourly performances over three days.

How cool is that?

I don’t miss the city. I have a great life up here in the burbs.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

More positive responses for blurbs from famous known writers.

Also know that ”Maggie’s” literary agent is shopping around the screen rights. Anyways can you see some actor trying to be me? How crazy is that? Maggie’s book also has a separate British release with a different cover. Don’t know how big a book tour will be.

Anyways a ground surge is starting to happen. All I can say is, “I was just minding my own business.”

I know I have a crazy imagination, but then again lots of unusual and crazy stuff happens to me, anyways more than my fair share. I can feel something is brewing…

It seems like a probable two NYC Fashion Week shows coming up.

I guess my life is not so boring…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Fishing with a nine year old Creature-Junior tomorrow. Should be fun.

I won’t be fishing myself because I need to apply for a freshwater license. Also I don’t want to buy more fishing gear.

I’m planing on going by myself out to Captree to go on another charter boat. I need to wet my lines and get my skills back. Cheap thrills.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

My worry of getting caught up in a ground swell of sorts seems to be happening.

”I was just minding my own business,” I say.

This morning London called, and our agent talked with “Maggie for 2- 2 1/2 hours. A non paying gig for a luxury brand that s a household name kicked in some visibility, and now our agent is seeing a response/flood of interest.

Then there was talk of getting “blurbs” happening in the United Kingdom because Maggie’s book, “How To Be Old” will have a release there in that market. The British edition will feature a different cover.

Out of the dozen or so photographs that will get published about 8 are mine.

Anyways lots of talk, and I can feel the storm that is brewing.

In this book, even though its a memoir, is also about me and involves me.

In a ways I’m a secondary character… Anyways all I can do is go along for the ride at this point. Oh-well. Not so easy keeping a low profile or trying to stay under the radar.

So the thought comes to mind that why not flip the switch and run with the ball. Not sure that would make me happy. Call me a Ho, but I surely could use additional funds/mad money to fund some of my crazy ideas. A good example would be the $20K needed to build out my new/old truck (1966 C-10 Fleetside Longbed).

If I really go crazy I would want a vacation home not far from the Empire State Trailway as a base camp of sorts.

Yesterday I called my friend Iron Mike. I’m plotting a fall ride during peak color up at New Palz. Also want to inspire him to go riding up here. Lots of epic riding…

I went hunting for worms. Generally there is an abundance, but with the heat and dry weather none can be found. I even pulled out a shovel and dug into a garden bed: no worms. I could always buy some, but then again Creature-Junior is zoom calling with her friends and socializing.

Fishing might not happen today. Oh-well.

Been looking at my stockpile of bike parts. Trying to see what I can do and what I can’t do with the resources I already have.
I wonder if the clutches are known to go bad in XTR 11-speed derailleurs because I have two spare medium-cage rear derailleurs, I wonder if I should secure a shifter to have the capability of building a 1x11, or would it be better to just keep the two extras as spares?

Anyways I guess I’m feeling anxious because there is something brewing that is beyond my control, and I know that I have to be ready. I guess I’m purposely trying to have a simple uncomplicated life, but that is not what is happening. I think/believe/feel a surprise is about to happen.

It seems I don’t have to live in NYC to be in danger or to be surrounded by chaos. Trouble finds its way…

All I really want to do is ride my bike, go fishing, play guitar, and get back into photography, but I keep on getting interrupted.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Bike Nerd: I looked into comparing my IBIS SS with a later IBIS Mojo to see how things evolved from the beginning of the 90’s to the later 90’s.

Both bikes feature butted tubing, but the Mojo was marketed as having ”Moron” tubing meaning more on the ends. Like I said both had butted tubing, but the Mojo was built with more extreme butting.

The Mojo advanced to a 1 1/8th steerer, and also had its geometry changed to be designed with an 80mm suspension with “sag.” The diameter of the seat post was also reduced on the Mojo to shave weight.

The big difference for me is one is designed for suspension and the older model was not.

So Snarky Joe’s comment about being stuck in the past rings true. Basically I am more interested in the pre-suspension bikes that were designed as rigids because for me they do make great conversions into gravel bikes. I don’t want or need a suspension for riding the Empire State Trailway, and already have two bikes with front suspensions.

Anyways the angles for the geometry are pretty much the same between the two models, and it kinda makes sense that the SS got phased out by technical developments.

I’m cool with my IBIS SS having a sturdy heavier build because it is a 17 inch frame and slightly undersized for a 5’10” guy would fits an 18 inch frame (medium). The smaller frame of course promotes its own weight savings and I do love the slight undersize.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I’ve owned four brand new bikes in my life: 1. A Haro mountain bike that my parents bought me while trading in my old Diamond Back without asking.
2. A Stumpjumper M2 S Works that I employee purchased at wholesale cost in 1996.
3. A GT Course road bike which I employee purchased at wholesale.
4. A Felt Breed single speed CX bike which I also employee purchased at wholesale.
Otherwise, I’ve never been able or willing to afford a new bike, and I simply don't like them as much as a used frameset which I can customize myself. The closest I got to that with a new bike the the S Works.
Lately, I’ve been joking about now I’m the “old man” with facial hair and a few crazy bikes with ancient components, whom I used to complain about back when I was in my late teens and early twenties as a mechanic. That old guy just knew his limitations and also knew what worked and what worked for him.
Today I’m back to work after a 4-day weekend and I’m obsessively checking the UPS tracking to see if the “new” Rudge Clubman is out for delivery. Last update in the wee hours of September 3rd, shows the bike in Middletown, PA. So close, for three days now.
UPDATE: I made the decision to go with 700C wheels. I will have a very large variety of tires to choose from and I’ll be getting the best braking force I can from 65 year old calipers and levers (pulling modern cables through compressionless housing). I ordered a pair of polished Sun M13II rims for the build. I’ll be doing the spoke calculations over the next few days.
This choice of wheels guides my choice of mudguards as well, so I’ll be using a set of SKS “Bluemels” (name only) in gray which I’ll probably rattle-can white.
I also made the decision to swap in the Williams track crank with a 46 tooth chainring. This will give me the most flexibility in gearing the rear hub for climbing or long-distance spinning. I decided to go with a fixed gear on one side of the flip flop, and will do another 16/20 tooth freewheel if the horizontal dropouts are long enough to take up an inch of chain slack due to the 4 tooth difference. The fixed cog will probably be a 17 tooth.

Phil

 

[Calzone]

Phil,

I enjoy the sense of history that goes with the old stuff. I don’t feel that the new stuff really has history so much.

I knew poverty, I ate a lot of pizza for dinner, but I had/have nice bikes. It has been decades, and I still own all of them, and now an IBIS SS that fell from the sky that was a mistake that worked out great for me. No remorse on any bike and money well spent because I will ride these bikes to my grave, and already they kinda paid for themselves and saved my life.

I was a huge mess in my early 30’s. Way overwound and a very scary guy. PTSD, and I had to learn how to relax. People were afraid of me.

It was my friend Iron Mike and biking that taught me how to relax, something that was new to me that I never did before.

I think I would be unhappy in a brand new house: no history, no character, and no personality. Glad I bought a house that basically no one wanted that created the opportunity to make the house both ”Maggie” and I envisioned.

This year there are an abundance of bees, yellow jackets, and wasps. The reasoning is the mild winter due to global warming. I’m so glad we paid the price to install a two-zone mini-split that basically provides central AC for the entire first floor. It is kinda like life support. I have a Dyson air purifier to filter our air, but I think I will buy another so I can add a humidifier to the air purification.

The single purpose air purifier will still get used on the second floor to do duty there, or saved for my darkroom or digital printing studio. The idea here is to be able to utilize and extend the mini-split use to include a good portion of the heating season where our oil furnace will take over for the colder months. A consequence of the mini-split for heating is dry air that is bad for my skin and nasal passages.

At this point I think I have enough bikes, but then again I have bike disease. Truth be told perhaps I love the Yo Betty as much as “Maggie” does. What a cool, smooth, balanced bike; and what fun to ride. Pretty effortless…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Looks like an artist who follows “Maggie” who gifted her this wonderful print that Maggie had archivally framed that hangs in our kitchen will be in New York and will be coming by our house, I think from Europe.

She wants to photograph us. I have no idea what this is about.

Like I say, “I’m just minding my own business…”

What more surprises today?

Cal

 

[Calzone]

Have a writer friend of “Maggie’s” stop by the house today from Washington DC.

Seems like my house is becoming a hub of sorts for artists. Next week a photographer from Europe.

The ground swell continues.

I have been enlightened to a residency that I could apply for. I put being a writer on the side, but all these things are occuring that are dragging me out of my shell.

I’m not ready for any of this.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

UPS tracking says the Rudge is arriving tomorrow.
Antici... pation.

Phil

 

[Calzone]

Phil,

Hang in there…

Cal

 

[Calzone]

I got encouraged to apply for a residency by the writer who visited us yesterday. She is the Executive Director on the Board of that residency.

Here we go.

Not really retired. “Anyways time is a good editor,” I say and my mentor told me it will likely take a very long time to write my story. Perhaps now is the time.

Hard not to believe in Divine-Intervention with all these things happening.

Cal

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Front 3 cross, 291mm. 15g double butted.
Rear 4 cross, 301mm. 14g double butted.
Spokes are on the way. This is looking to be one of my lighter wheel builds since I was racing 14 years ago. Rims are Sun M13II with the polished finish.
The bike is on a truck somewhere in Philly. I’ll pick it up on my way home and hone out the seat tube while I’m at the shop.
It turns out that my pedals are a rare super light racing variant of a higher end pedal made in the UK. The normal ones have a stainless barrel with an aluminum frame then stainless cages. The ones I got have aluminum cages and are so light they make me chuckle. I’m no longer a weight weenie, but this bike is turning out to be a true lightweight. I’m going to see if I can find a good track chain and if at the right price, maybe hollow plates. I think I’ll be looking at under 24lbs.
Probably going to mount Panaracer Gravel Kings, hopefully 35mm, but definitely 32 if I don’t have the clearance for the wider tire.
I hope I’ll be able to get this bike out of the shop this evening; all the staff are randoneurs and love old club racers like this.

Phil

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The Rudge Aero Clubman is home. What a saga.
Condition of the frame is perhaps a little better than I thought from the photos, which is awesome.
There's some additional forensics I've done, like ascertaining that the bike had a top tube shifter on it, evidenced by the marking made from a clamp. The handlebar is not a Northroad, but a steel riser bar, possibly a Wald from a cruiser. It looks like a klunker mountain bike bar. The stem is just as I thought, a little shorter but that's ok. Hopefully my GB bar will fit fine. I may stray a little a just go for a different stem, though one which is proper.
Front wheel is an obvious mismatch from the rear, and the rear is a mismatch from the overall bike build in 1951. Rear hub *might* be original, since the year matches the frame, but it's a steel shell AW, and most of these came with alloy AM, FM, or FW hubs. The rear rim is a garden variety Rigida 27x1-1/4 from well over a decade after this bike was built. The front *might* be original since it's got a more upscale rim along with a Normandy hub with wingnuts; the "bad" wingnuts too, so they can't even be used, I don't think.
The rear brake caliper is a steel sidepull which came off a Nottingham Raleigh 3 speed Sports. One thing that was added in the past 70 years was a centerpull anchor, which means that someone was riding this with centerpull calipers. This is what I get for being impatient with my wheel build. If I had chosen to stray from the 27" build and go with long reach centerpull calipers, I could have probably reached a 650B. The problem is that is a full 23mm extra brake reach which can make for some brakes which take their sweet time and negotiate in committee prior to stopping. I don't want a bureaucratic-seeming lag in my braking time.
The fun thing is that the bottom bracket is indeed a hollow spindle, which was truly a unit for racing back in 1951. The crankset is a beautiful 3-arm 116BCD cottered unit, which might get changed out with my aforementioned Williams B110 track crank. If I can get a 1/8" chain to sit on my 22 tooth skiptooth chainring, I'm definitely making that swap.
I took a bunch of photos with my Ricoh GRD4 but I can't find my dang card reader and I don't know if I ever had the original crazy USB cable directly to the camera. I'll get these photos up as soon as I can.
It was busy at the shop, so no one had a chance to really geek out on it. I think they were/are having a sale on tires, so I may go back and see if I can grab some cheap.
I just made a pot of brown basmati rice and I'll be cooking dinner, but y'all know what I really want to do is start cleaning the bike with a toothbrush.

Phil

 

[Calzone]

Phil,

Congrats on your new treasure. Sounds like a real rare find. Keep us updated.

Cal