Thanet Silverlight

The troll has been bellowing and thumping his chest all week. Not because he has accomplished anything of significance (the very concept would be alien to a troll) but because he has gone out and bought something. As is often the case, he was out of his depth and (well) outside his budget.

Rather than sniffing out a bargain in the murky waters of ebay the troll wandered out into the bright lights of the open market. And when the troll sticks his head out in the real world it is usually to reflect on a significant event or opportunity that has passed him by. Such is the burden of a life of routine: the troll rarely catches the fleeting wind of opportunity.

Very occasionally, the wind of opportunity blows twice from the same direction.

Hilary Stone’s (http://hilarystone.com/index.html) mid 1950‘s Thanet Silverlight:

THANET SILVERLIGHT Reynolds 531 double butted

Seat Tube (ctt): 22.5in (57cm)

Frame tubing: Reynolds 531 double butted

Frame number: SL1945

Sold originally: 23/1/53 built by Eddie Oliver, nephew of Les Cassell, owner and founder of Thanet Cycles

This is one of the very best Thanet Silverlights I have seen. It has a period respray, I should think done in the mid 1950s, when the frame was updated to take a Simplex 543 gear. Its fitted with the very best in equipment from the 1950s:

- Simplex 543 rear gear

- Duprat hollow cranks

- Hobbs Lytalloy pedals

- Chater-Lea large flange hubs built onto Constrictor Asp rims

- Brooks B17 Swallow saddle on a Reynolds aluminium seatpost

- Brooks Hiduminium brakes

All the parts are in excellent lightly used condition. The frame is in excellent condition with only a few small marks to the paint and no dents or dings.

This is a very rare bicycle in exceptional condition. Its up for sale again as the previous buyer did not come up with the money.

Plenty of triangulation help accommodate/ ie resist bending and twisting loads on the small diameter tubeset. Also note "proper" treatment of hellenic stays with the seat stays parallel to the downtube.

The best of British (with a bit of French).

Prototype Campagnolo Record dual pivot calipers

Campagnolo delta brake calipers were in production as Campagnolo's top level offering from 1984-1993 with a two year hiatus when the first generation was recalled (1985-86 with the Cobalto brakeset used as an interim replacement). When the delta brakeset was reintroduced in 1987 it took another 7 years and a further 4 generations to work out that the concept simply didn't work.

In 1993 Campagnolo came out with these prototype dual pivot calipers:

mmm... p r o t o t y p e...

...note the industrial-strength machined rocker...

...and caliper arms recessed for brake pad fittings.

The rest they say...

...is history.

Currently on ebay for USD $299

http://cgi.ebay.com/Campagnolo-1st-gen-Delta-C-Record-Prototype-Brakes-/110683082234?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c539cdfa#ht_500wt_1413

ADDIT: sold 23/5/11

Stasis booth

If you are a Red Dwarf or Star Wars dweeb (highly unlikely given that you are on this supercool blogsite) you would know that a stasis booth is where the occupant rests in suspended animation so he/she/it does not age. The occupant thus leaves the stasis booth at exactly the same age and condition as he went in (excluding exiting ambulation time) regardless of the time that has passed in the world outside. Very useful for long distance space travel. And also very useful for storing old bicycle bits and bobs.

Speedbicycles (in Switzerland) has one sitting in his closet. He is currently selling an unregistered, NOS, 50th Anniversary Campagnolo groupset on ebay. That alone isn’t particularly special and there are plenty of old bicycles and assorted componentry out there in immaculate or NOS condition. What is particularly impressive in this case is, well, the case. The vinyl cover appears unblemished and the tacky rubber sides utterly undamaged. In the real world where the sun's rays make the flowers grow, the birds sing, gives a “healthy glow” to the beautiful people, and rots rubber and plastic products, this is a pretty amazing find. Campagnolo may have produced an iconic groupset with its 50th anniversary edition but chose to put it in a cheap case prone to spoiling with the slightest of UV exposure.

And now the really awesome bit...

Hitherto an impossibility now proven to exist.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1984-Campagnolo-50th-ANNIVERSARY-GROUP-12421-PERFECT-/360362403535?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e745e6cf#ht_14902wt_1141

The one obvious dilemma with a stasis booth is that the time spent in the stasis booth isn’t time spent living.

ADDIT: sold USD $3950

Bottecchia Professional, Campagnolo Syncro, and the return of the Delta Brakeset

Bicycle Guide, May 1987

On Matters of Consequence

It is a fact of Life that we are born, we die, and somewhere in-between we have to deal with matters of consequence.

Sure, this means different things to different people. The daily life of a mother on the Tibetan plains brings different concerns to those that confront the oil tycoon, the climate change scientist, or the CEO of the Gates Foundation (although some will say that they are all inextricably linked). The consequence of their actions matters but the scope of influence differs.

But, in the main, we live in a small world dealing with matters that affect us directly. From the time we shriek our first breath of air (and some stranger cuts the cord so we can never go back) we are dealing with matters of consequence. At the start it’s all about our own personal needs - food, warmth, environmental stimulation, bowel control, mobility, autonomy - preferably, but almost certainly never, in that order. And at some stage most of us learn that there is a bigger world outside ourselves. As teenagers we cry out against the obvious injustices - social, political, environmental - that in some way or other get thrust into our small sphere of existence.

But over time we come to appreciate a number facts that steadies our temperament with the reality that exists around us: parents are fallible, the world is unequal and unfair, nothing comes for free, and never pick a fight with someone who has nothing to lose (or rather, has a cause that is so integral to their being that they feel they have nothing to lose by fighting for it - unless, of course, you are sure you will win). And then, for better or worse, we become what’s commonly known as an adult.

And from then on there are all forms of matters of consequence in which we may concern ourselves. No doubt there are still personal matters to attend to but also relationship matters, family and household matters, social matters, work and career matters, financial matters, planning-for-the-future matters.

For those of us who work and whose endeavours, no matter how humble, lead to some change in the fabric of life, then these too become matters of consequence. The consequence is payment and (hopefully) some sense of achievement for the worker whilst benefiting the recipient, or cause, or meeting the mission statement/ goals of the work (whatever that may be). But never confuse movement with action as Hemingway once said. Of the many who fulfill a meaningful role in society there are some who do so through leadership and a great many more who do so through labour. Sure there are many self-serving individuals but also many well-meaning but ineffective people.

And, for those interested in such things, there has been a lot going on around the world over the past few weeks: earthquakes in New Zealand; revolution(s) in North Africa; earthquakes, tsunami and nuclear uncertainty in Japan. Whether or not you believe that democracy can steer a course through the treacherous waters of collapsing social structure (the price of a barrel of oil is set to remain high for some time), or that Japan will be able to ride out another natural disaster with a weak and unpopular government (even without a palpable blip in the global economy the debate about the practicalities of nuclear power is again back on the table) these are matters of consequence even for those of us that are not directly affected.

Hmmm...

A reprieve from matters of consequence.

As George Carlin once said:

“Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be.”

Blue steel

The look...

The troll has a desperate wish to be cool. But the practicalities of this defeats him. He lacks the personal attributes (apparently small and whimpering doesn’t cut), is unable to find, much less maintain the company of cool people, is clueless on the latest trends, and is too much of a cheapskate to buy into it.

Despite the appearance of casual ease, being cool simply takes too much effort.

But, on occasion, someone else does the work for you. Then drops it in your lap.

Say ... c o b a l t o

She followed the ebay troll home...

If necessity is the mother of invention then the Cobalto brakeset was an opportune stroke of marketing genius.

Soon after C Record’s glorious debut in 1985 the first generation delta calipers were pulled off the market because of alleged concerns with the cable clamping bolt (the fact that the whole concept was flawed took a little longer to work out). In 1986 Campagnolo came up with a brilliant plan: take the Super Record calipers (that were still in production), modify the mounting bolt to set a blue plastic “jewel” at its centre, paint the Campagnolo script in a matching blue, match the rubber rings of the cable adjusters to the grey-white hoods on the existing C Record levers, call them “Cobalto” brakes and quietly slip them into the C Record (Record Corsa) groupset.

Brilliant.

As pretty a decoration as any hard-nosed racer would dare to place on his steed...

Clean lines. These were the first levers that Campagnolo offered with an aero option. And yes, they were the same levers that pulled up (or at least attempted to pull up) 1st generation Campagnolo delta calipers. When Campagnolo brought out their second generation delta calipers in 1987 the cable quick release moved to the lever (a technical quirk that continues to this day). Pull up the rubber skirt on your modern lever and I bet you'll find that the body ain't made of metal like these babies...

Hmmm. I don’t recall this brand of handlebar back in the 80s.

That’s a long reach to them levers there gov’ner. I guess pre-ergonomic levers and ergonomic bars aren’t such a practical combination (unless you go by the nickname “horse”).

Catching a bicycle of this calibre on the troll’s limited budget is like going out to fish for minnow and coming home hauling a marlin. Is the troll worthy? Probably not. But the troll has observed that repainted Colnago’s usually do not generate much interest. Even more so if the respray is in plain white and wholly unsympathetic to the original. The Colnago Master is typically remembered for the legendary name, the wonderful ride, and the fancy paint job. Take away the paint and you still have the name and ride for sure but it is no longer recognisable as a “Colnago Master”. And confused consumers don’t tend to stump up with the cash.

In addition, Australians, being practical people, really don’t have too much time for something as esoteric as Campagnolo’s C Record group. If it’s heavy, outdated and clunky then the question arises “What’s the point?”. Followed by “How much?”. Then “That much for a bloody bicycle?”. Then “Tell him he’s dreaming!”

But the troll has always been drawn to shiny bicycle bits. And C Record certainly has plenty of that. The Cobalto brakeset with the electric blue cable wrap, well, that’s just the ducks nuts, the bees knees, the cats meow...

This bike has the look. The look of blue steel...

It’s nice to spend a bit of time back on friction shifters especially with a full complement of shiny C Record bits. (And yes, those are double-sided Shimano SPD pedals. And no, I don’t care what the purists think. Surely, with my pitiful riding ability, baggy shorts, unmatched clothing, and light dongle on my helmet, scorn will find its attention drawn elsewhere)

Great choice of bottle cage by the previous owner. Like the handlebar it's a modern generic copy, but not at all out of place on this build.

To quote Derek Zoolander: “Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?” Answer: No. (Well ok, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and many Colnago followers will probably find this repaint a little unsettling. Logos, lug details, and colour choice are certainly not typical of a Colnago Master. But the electric blue cabling is very clever indeed. Should the troll tire of it I guess he could go over the frame with coloured crayon.)

The C Record rear derailleur "... so well made that it will continue to shift badly forever...”

Last time a rode a block this tight I was young, fit, and self-assured. Time to swap out the freewheel.

Mavic Open 4CD’s. The first 400g clincher rim that didn’t pretzel on you when you turned a corner.

Amen.

Blue steel. Surely a look that has no peer.

Aging gracefully - a supplement

From the Brooks England website

Charming, amusing, or simply ridiculous.

Take your pick.

Pinarello deltas

One of the perils of pantographed components is that it is such a simple thing to add on.

Did Campagnolo ever make "differential" delta's?

It's a nice concept, but I highly doubt it.