Tuesday 14th July 2020 - 1958 Flying Scot Continental model

Having purchased this lovely old Scot bike back in February, based on just a couple of photos but at a price that was silly not too, I finally picked it up from down in Fife on Tuesday.
This was not the only Fling Scot I had purchased just before lockdown and with both coming from Fife, meant that my patience over the intervening months was finally about to be rewarded.
This Flying Scot was at a crazy low price and I  assumed it was because of the patina, or well worn state it was in. From what I could see in the photos I assumed that all the components would be rusted or seized and the frame would need a repaint. My thinking was that even in this condition the frame and fork alone were a bargain so anything left that was salvageable was a bonus.
While I have a couple of projects on the go and everything takes me a while I don't mind when it comes to a frame like this as it is my size so like nearly everything I buy it is with the intention to ride it, I no longer have the motivation to buy something just to flip and make a few quick dollars. While this is rough around the edges I just see the lovely riding bike and how great it could be both riding wise and looking wise with a little bit of love, to show the classy ride it is.  This was proved by my wife seeing it in the van and saying the other was lovely but this one looked like an old rusty bike, but once home and stripping it down she too could start to see the potential underneath.
While the main problem at the moment is a rounded out seat post clamp Allen bolt that will get sorted tomorrow, the rest came apart relatively easy. The stem and headset were free and the cotter pins came out with just a small tap to persuade them, not what I was expecting at all. Judging by the fact that everything worked and was full of now hardened grease meant it was well looked after until it was put away to sit for a very long time.
While the paint is now weather worn  and faded with rust coming through all over the original gold and red can still be seen in places. The gold behind the fork crown is bright in patches and there was a piece of decal off that exposed the bright gold underneath on the downtube that looked really stunning. I had toyed with the idea of repainting it a purple or heather colour but seeing the gold and red it may well just get a repaint in original colours.
Anyway it is a 1958 Flying Scot Continental model running 27'' wheels and a single chainring front and a 5 speed freewheel on the back, Weinmann brakes etc, Reynolds 531 tubing throughout.
Looking forward to this one.

Jamie

Sunday 12 July 2020 - Sunday evening Jack Taylor coast ride.

Yesterday, Saturday,  had a very enjoyable day as the family and I ventured slightly south to visit with Brian and Sheena, socially distancing of course, as I had a BSA frame and some bikepacking gear I had to drop off but really just to visit and have an outside lunch at the Highland café. Along the way I had picked up a 50's Viking frame and fork and seeing as how it wasn't my size but was spot on for Brian he ended up getting two frames. It wasn't all one sided as I left with a frame in my size, a very lovely 1930's BSA Golden Vase! and a lovely set of polished 27'' Weinmann rims for the JT Sport. It seemed the perfect solution, win win. Both Sheena and Heather were wondering whether this was some sort of elaborate plan ;)
Anyway on to today and after getting a bit of work done around the garden for Heather and sorting the on the ground plans for the new shed we hope to get building before the end of summer I did manage to get out for a ride, just local but a good hour and a half to help clear the head. Out on the JT Super Clubman as it has really become my favourite ride of late. Glad I did as it started chucking it down not too long after I got in.
Nothing too far or fancy just a small quiet selection of back lanes looping back round to the coast and then back along the windy by now, coast.   
I went on a quick stop at the old Olrig cemetery and the old ruined medieval church to have another look for the Selkie woman's grave. Didn't find it but I wasn't looking too hard. It was nice to sit outside as it is such a peaceful place, not many people go there as there is a modern cemetery not far away and across the lane is a Commonwealth war cemetery, again seldom visited, they are well hidden away from any main thorough fares, which in some ways is a shame. From there I wound my way round to come out back on the coast for a cruise back home. Well the whole ride was short on distance and taken at a leisurely pace just spinning along enjoying being out.
Hope everyone else has had an enjoyable weekend.

Jamie

Weds July 8th - Mercian build museings.

Can't believe it has been nearly 12 months and I haven't got this built back up yet.
I do have a couple of frames I would like to get built and ride even if it means rotating a groupset and having them mobile for a couple of months each before deciding what stays and what may go.
I have my Scot Ventoux to finish and this lovely Mercian. This will be running 9 x 3 speed so will to all effects be my modern Audax machine so will fill that role slightly lighter and quicker than my LHT tourer, which while an amazing tourer I sometime find myself looking for something lighter on a 200klm brevet.
I keep partially building it, then debating on a certain part then dismantling and putting away. I have got a couple of projects on the go but I really do want to build this up and use it again as my everyday rider.
Pulled it out the loft and checked it over and have now decided to put some Tektro sidepulls on it rather than the recently fitted Mafacs. Took a couple of pictures as it still looked nice even on a dull day :)

Jamie

Sunday 5th July 2020 - Jack Taylor Sport - Build contemplations

A slight update, though not much new happened so far beside a wipe down and rethink on the build. 
Pulled the 1963 Sport down from the loft and thought I better start making some plans to get it built. Has sat in lofts for far too many years. Has had the BB and headset fitted but other than that, never had a brake bolt, seat post or seat bolt. tried to get a decent photo but there isn't even a paint chip or scratch at the brake bridge or binder bolt. Colour is still as great as when it was painted as the photos don't do the yellow justice. Not bad for being 57 years old in a couple of weeks.
Still not a 100% sure on direction and I change my mind often about how I want to build it but it needs to happen as I am itching to ride it.
Plenty of clearance even with the 27'' wheel fitted. These wheels are spaced for a wider frame but Brian has me a pair of very nice Weinmann rims that I would like to build onto a set of High flange first generation Dura Ace hubs, I know, sacrilege, though they are 120 and screw on 5 speed freewheel. I was toying with fitting a double chainset but this would mean fitting band on shifters and a cable guide for the front Derailleur as it only has these for the rear with only a right hand side shifter mount.  Keep then going back to just keeping as a single front 5 speed.
I have ordered a new 531 decal from HLoyds, I went with the standard one that is on it rather than the Jack Taylor version that says SPORT across the decal. This original one is flaking off due to not being lacquered.   
Would love to find some yellow Bluemels to fit as well if anybody knows of any.
I do have a couple of projects on the go but this keeps tugging at me to sort. Have been super busy with work since the start of the year and besides weekends have only had a day or so off so have spent the time with family and used the spare time to ride more than build.
Slow going but will try and bring this to the JT weekend which is at the end of August now,  instead of the trusty Super Clubman.
Anyway a few photos to keep it updated
Jamie

20th June 2020 - Jack Taylor ride - Lockdown LBS loop

A few photos from todays ride out on the Jack Taylor Super Clubman. I had to head into town to the local bikeshop, which funnily is called 'the Bikeshop'  as I have been sorting some hubs for when I put the JT Sports wheels together and had a set of 5 speed first gen Dura Ace hubs I needed to rebuild and lucky for me the local shop up here had a new old stock Shimano 10mm axle at 145mm. I had to cut it shorter which was no problem with the Dremel and a bit of patience to make a neat job and was only a fiver. So this along with some new bearings was well worth it. 

Weather was iffy when I left home so packed a long sleeve jersey as well as my rain jacket in the trunk bag just in case. Thankfully didn't need either as once I left town and headed south to do a longer loop home the weather brightened really nicely to the point I was thinking I should maybe have worn my shorts.

Once loaded up with my axle and bearings from the shop I did a quick loop of town and ended up down at the harbour with a quick photo looking over to Dunnet Head and Hoy. 

I ended up heading south east out of town on the small singletrack roads and basically doing a big loop inland before coming back down onto the coast near home. It turned out such a lovely afternoon I think I could of just kept on going for a good few hours more. If we weren't still on lockdown I may well have gone a lot further but as it was I had a great ride. 

This feeling of a great ride is in no small part due to the ride feel of the Super Clubman, it really is such a joy to ride. And this is with me openly admitting I have it only partially set up how I really want it. It just rides so surefootedly and stable but with that feeling of nimble handling that I find hard to describe. It just feels right, secure and effortless. I think once I have it fully dialled in I will get it repainted back to it's former glory as it so deserves to look as nice as it rides. 

I think this may be why I am having a hard time finding the motivation to finish my Mercian as I am enjoying this so much that I don't feel the need for anything else.....at the moment. :) So far I am keeping content and useful tinkering with wheels and hubs. It's not always motivation sometimes these last few months it is more to do with enjoying my weekends at home with the family with short rides and pottering about rather than being away on long rides. I suppose lockdown has kept me busy with work and like most made everything a bit unusual. 

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well. 

See you on the road soon.

Jamie

June 20th 2020 - Dura Ace High Flange First Gen rear hub rebuild/refurb

Decided to sort out this lovely High Flange Dura Ace rear hub.
It's a first gen so 1974 5 speed hub.
I recently picked these up for a bargain price and while there was a slight issue it was not the sellers fault or even to his knowledge of the issue.
I wanted to build this set up for the 1963 Jack Taylor Sport on some 27'' rims. The problem with it has been that the previous owner had replaced the axle, which originally would have been a quick release and put in a solid axle. I hadn't really paid any notice to it, until I tried it on the old Jack Taylor and found yes it's a 120mm hub but the solid axle is cut the same width as a QR which means that it doesn't come out past the dropouts in the frame meaning you cant put a nut on either end  :shock:  So such a nice and rare old hubset meant a complete refurb was in order and luckily the local bikeshop had a new old Shimano axle in the right diameter that just needed cut down to the exact size. These old 120mm hubs had a axle length of 131mm where as this new one was a standard 145mm. I had called in and asked about it earlier in the week, and so had a nice ride into town for it today on the Jack Taylor Clubman and then a nice long loop home, with the sun coming out and warming up throughout.
So an hour or so after getting home job done. With the new axle, bearings and grease fitted, the original  races and cones were spotless and far better quality than those on the new one so they went straight back on. The drive side of the old one had the alloy spacer seized to the axle so that took a bit to get off as it had also seized the outside nut to it and the axle. Just took a bit of fine cleaning, WD and persuasion to sort.
You can see in the photos the state of the end of the axle it came with so at least I have made it usable again. I really like these high flange hubs for touring and these early Dura Ace are so durable and smooth that for the £8.50 for axle and 18 x 1/4'' bearings I now have a great set of hubs for the Jack Taylor when I do get round to building it. It's about the only thing I have a use for these 120mm hubs.
I have still to get the rims but am hoping to find some Mavic MA2 27'' somewhere on my travels.  I also have several other wheels to get sorted  for various other ideas/projects. While I can lace and build and get through to the end stage it is the tensioning and final trueing that I have to find more patience for. :)
I did have an excellent ride to town and then home the long way to get this stuff but that's for later :)
Hope you all had a lovely Solstice.

Jamie

The solid axle on the rear hub on the right




New, nicely cut ;) axle

May 31st 2020 - Jack Taylor Super Clubman - Local Lockdown Ride

A lovely day up here in the north of Scotland today, pretty much the same as yesterday really and while sunny and warm there has been a really strong south easterly blowing. 

While I have had a few rides to town and a bit of commuting this was the first ride for a while that had no destination, just a rough direction with a meandering route. The aim was to just go for a ride and see where I ended up. 

So after a lovely morning at home the Jack Taylor was checked over, tyres pumped, chain oiled and off.

Nice weather to just be out cruising along and while the roads were noticeably busier than what they have been, they were still quieter than normal. 

The Jack Taylor is such a pleasure to ride, just a very nice handling well fitted and confident bike to ride. I am getting it close to right with how I want it set up. While of course it may not be as quick as a modern machine, and neither am I these days, it's near on 50 year age belies the ride quality and sure footed handling. This machine wasn't built to be an out and out race bike but a good all rounder, something it still does with a lot of style. 

While the wind was pretty wild depending on direction it wasn't enough to spoil such a nice ride. The bike was riding perfectly, so a nice couple of hours were spent heading around the coast, taking a couple of off road or dirt road detours which are normally a bit muddy but were bone dry today and then a few singletrack tarmac lanes with just a bit of main road riding thrown in when it was necessary, though to be fair there was not much traffic anyway.
I then returned home to a late lunch while watching the Space X dragon module dock with the space station before the family went across the field to the beach. No one at all on it as only one way in and was fine for Heather who is still in lockdown/shielding.
A good day indeed. I hope everyone else has had a good weekend as well.

Stay safe

Jamie 

Family Beach Time