Part 1: Brakes real and metaphoric.
I'm a little out of my depth.
Last December a rusty old 1950s British Humber Ladies Bike crossed my path and I fell in Love.
I've always liked these bikes. They were known as the "Aristocrat of Bikes" and had stylish features like the duplex (twin) front forks, an interesting frame design, the dancing chainring and an inbuilt lock designed to make a would-be thief go round in circles.
Restoring a bike like this is not for the faint-hearted as I found out when I gave up restoring a Humber Gents bike many years ago, but I thought I'd have a crack at this latest one and began by making sure the bike was OK mechanically .
So I started with the Coaster Back Pedal Brake (known as a Perry Coaster Hub).
Much to my surprise I actually had the tools to do the job and was able to overhaul this neat bit of British Engineering:
Last December a rusty old 1950s British Humber Ladies Bike crossed my path and I fell in Love.
I've always liked these bikes. They were known as the "Aristocrat of Bikes" and had stylish features like the duplex (twin) front forks, an interesting frame design, the dancing chainring and an inbuilt lock designed to make a would-be thief go round in circles.
Restoring a bike like this is not for the faint-hearted as I found out when I gave up restoring a Humber Gents bike many years ago, but I thought I'd have a crack at this latest one and began by making sure the bike was OK mechanically .
So I started with the Coaster Back Pedal Brake (known as a Perry Coaster Hub).
Much to my surprise I actually had the tools to do the job and was able to overhaul this neat bit of British Engineering:
It looked like the rest of the bike was OK....the wheels a bit rusty perhaps and needing a a spoke or two, but the project seemed pretty much good to go with enough bits for a complete bike.
I wasn't sure what I would do with the bike when finished, but I wanted it to look nice, have a bell and be rideable for short distances. I may be sentimental, but I'm not stupid; those British bikes are really heavy!
I was debating whether to paint the bike or not and get the decals, which added to some of the bikes charm and one Saturday I actually had the bike in the car to go to a paint shop after work when disaster struck.
I had an accident while testing a bike, which resulted in concussion and amnesia and a loss of interest in fun things including the poor old Humber.
You could say my metaphorical coaster brakes were on!
But the story continues....and I am not yet sure how it will end
Coming soon:
"To Paint or Not to Paint (Sympathetic treatment of old bikes)"
I wasn't sure what I would do with the bike when finished, but I wanted it to look nice, have a bell and be rideable for short distances. I may be sentimental, but I'm not stupid; those British bikes are really heavy!
I was debating whether to paint the bike or not and get the decals, which added to some of the bikes charm and one Saturday I actually had the bike in the car to go to a paint shop after work when disaster struck.
I had an accident while testing a bike, which resulted in concussion and amnesia and a loss of interest in fun things including the poor old Humber.
You could say my metaphorical coaster brakes were on!
But the story continues....and I am not yet sure how it will end
Coming soon:
"To Paint or Not to Paint (Sympathetic treatment of old bikes)"