Monday, July 21, 2014

BOOK REVIEW RUSSELL MOCKRIDGE MY WORLD ON WHEELS

Here is my first book review, and since it
is the first, I have decided to review one of my 
favorites, Russell Mockridges' classic autobiography
'My World on Wheels' posthumously completed by 
John Burrowes and printed in 1960.

Mockridge was an Australian track rider and road man who won
Two Golds and a Silver in the match sprint and Kilometer TT
 at the 1950 Empire games held in Auckland NZ.
 Two golds in the match sprint and tandem sprint at the 1954
Helsinki Olympic games.

He went on to become a professional road/track rider
competing in Australia and Europe.
His career was cut short when he collided with a
bus while training in Melbourne in on September 13 1958.

What I really enjoyed about reading Mockridges' bio, is his,
what seems to be, complete honesty, in one chapter
"Cross Roads" talking about his "emotional problems" which
he thought he could cure by leaving cycling and 
becoming a Anglican minister, which he did for 14 months,
before coming back to cycling for the rest of his life.

Maybe it is because he had trained as a journalist before 
becoming a cyclist, that this book
  is so well written, but what ever the reason it  is extremely readable, 
but of course ultimately quite sad because of his accident.
It is also a book that doesn't
shy away from any of the taboo subjects that
other sports books from this period (in English anyway) seem to,
 the very personal emotional torments mentioned earlier, 
and the question of drugs, which he has a whole chapter on.
There are many excellent descriptions of his racing in
 Europe and Australia on both road and track, including
his two TDF rides.

If you can find I copy, get it, it really is
one of the classics in cycle literature.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

1975 Raleigh Competition Mk II

Here is a 1975 Raleigh Competition Mk II
Model DL 165, for some reason these are rare
over here in New Zealand, in fact all the high end Raleigh's 
of this period are thin on the ground on 
these Shores.
I have a suspicion that this could well be because it
was right in the middle of the American bike boom
of the Seventies, and American was consuming all
 (at lest most) of Raleigh's high end bike out put?
I know that Hills Cycles In Auckalnd 
who had been buying Bertin C37's and track
 bikes direct from the factory since the middle fifties,
couldn't buy any for a couple of years
 in the late seventies because they had all
 been pre brought by an
American agent...first in first served I guess.
This one was originaly brought over in Australia
in 1975 by Barry O'Brien for $289.00.  



 Even though this is third down in Raleigh's range, it
is in my opinion, an exceptionally well appointed machine
straight out of the box.
Brooks professional on the early models, 
Huret Jubilee derailleurs.


 T.A. crank set, Weinmann 999 centre pull
brakes, with cool slotted levers.


Nice sloping fork crown, which it shares with
the top Raleigh Professional.
Only available from 1973-76, so quite a rare peice
of machinery from a company that made a LOT of
bikes.
Note that the wheel set and Cinelli stem on this bike
are not original equipment.
  
By the way if anyone out there knows of a reasonably
priced Raleigh Professional Mk IV, whole bike or frame set only
56-58 C-T and are willing to ship to New Zealand 
please let me know here
adrian@theflyingwheel.com




Thursday, July 17, 2014

ROB OLIVERS BOSOMWORTH TT

This eighties Bosomworth funny bike
was made especially for Rob Oliver by master
craftsman Eddie Bosomworth.
Rob is the owner of The Hub Cycles in
Hastings, and along with his dedicated bike crew,
are the go to guys when it comes to any 
human motivated two wheeled machine.

One of the things I really like about this bike, is that,
although Rob could have used what ever he liked, he went
  with Shimano 600 and 105.
It looks great, and would have worked every bit as
well as other groupsets costing 3-4 times the price.

Rob was part of the New Zealand 1972 
Munich Olympic squad, so has mucho respect
in the local cycling fraternity.



 Although it has 653 decals, Tony (eighties superbike guru)
tells me that the two curved tubes are in fact 531, and that 
this is how low pro frame-sets came from Reynolds.
Apparently 653 didn't bend that well.

 Has Shimano 600 ever looked so good....

 Bosomworths always had great paint jobs, Eddie
wasn't just a master frame builder, but also a mean painter 
as well. Unfortunately the chemicals in the paint got to him.
and he is now quite ill.


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

RALEIGH-CARLTON PROFESSIONAL TRACK

I have just finished restoring this very
early and I think quite rare Carlton/Raleigh track frame set.
Judging by the frame number C2720, I would hazard a guess
that this would be from about 1968, 
but could stand to be corrected on this.

It has a couple of unusual features, most obviously the chromed 
and drilled seat stays and the drilled drop outs.
I had the paint mixed to match the original Raleigh
"flamboyant" pearl deep red and pearl blue.
I have tried matching this colour before, but have always been a
 bit disappointed, however this time the guys at Topaz paints
really nailed it, and it looks perfect( thanks guys).












A very nice frame set all over.