Tommy Simpson Carlton Track Bike Tribute

Here is my tribute to the great Tom Simpson.

If you don't know about, or not much about

Simpson go here to read and see all about him.

I came up with the idea to make this tribute

track bike when I saw a photo of Simpson

holding a all chrome Carlton track bike.

After doing a little more research, I found

out that he rode Carlton track bike's right

through his later amateur years and even

into his early professional years, at least

he did when he was riding track back in the UK

 It so happened that I had been after a Carlton

track bike for quite a while, a well used one that

had a awful bright yellow paint job on it.

When I finally got it back to the workshop 

after negotiating it's purchase, I started to

gently scrape the paint back, and was surprised

and very please to find chrome under the paint.

I assumed that the chrome would be buggered,

but was again surprised to find it was in really

good condition, so I was off to a good start.

 After much buffing and polishing, I painted the
red,white and blue strips on the head tube and down tube.

I also picked out the drilled out rear Campagnolo

drop outs in the same colour combination..

quite a sexy touch I thought.

Tommy Simpson was a real star in Europe, but it was back 

in the UK where I think he made his biggest impact,

he really helped change the perception and aspirations

of the local racers growing up reading, watching 

and following his career abroad.

Kelly, Wiggins, Froome etc probably all owe Simpson

 at least a small debt of gratitude, I know Brian Robinson

and Shay Elliot were there first, but somehow it 

was Simpson who captured the imagination. 

 Not quite finished, but you get the idea.

A very serious looking track machine.

Beautiful workmanship is on display everywhere

you cast your gaze on this frame. 

 I had a lot of fun restoring this frame set and building

it up as a tribute to Mr Simpson.