Late in 2016 a friend of mine passed away.
His name was Jacky Hayes, I had met Jacky when I was tracking down information on the surviving New Zealand frame builders from the golden age of hand built race frames in New Zealand, which I extend into the early nineties btw.
Jacky was the son of Slater Hayes the founder of one of New Zealand's, and certainly one of Auckland's most famous bike shops of the late 1930's-70's.
In fact it was after first meeting Jacky in 2009 that I decided that needed to do this blog and record some of the history of NZ cycle racing that I was being told.
I used to really enjoy dropping by Jacky's once or twice a year when I was up in Auckland, and always enjoyed a cup of tea a biscuit and a chat with Jacky and his wife. Here is a link to my very first Flying Wheel post from
2009 which was on Comet Cycles of course!
Unfortunately I don't have any photos of Jacky in my collection, so here is one of Brian 'Happy' Howlett who rode Comets nearly exclusively throughout his cycle racing career (1940's-70's).
Jacky's father Slater Hayes who started Comet in 1934, is seen here in 1938 after winning the annual Auckland-Morrinsville race, which was reportedly watched by 15,000 people.
Notice the machine advertised in the Comet add weighs in at 12lb 12ozs (5.7 Kg).
When I had heard of Jacky passing I made a trip up to Auckland and purchased a Comet that I had known about for while with the intention of building it up as a tribute to Jacky Hayes, Salter Hayes and Comet cycles.
This is the bike as I purchased it (not including wheel set/bars/stem), unfortunately it was just to rusty to leave as is, so a full restoration was in order, before I stripped the paint I took the frame to my paint supplier and had him colour match the green and red, and have to say I am very pleased with his match.
Here is a link to more photos and the story behind this bike.
A couple of Comets with unknown riders in action 1950's.
With this build I wanted to portray a serious 1950's road bike.
I find that many of the restored 50's race bikes that I see on the net ( I am really talking about English light weights here), seem to me to look too...well tweed, lots of them somehow just don't come across to me as authentic looking period race bikes that are about to be taken out to do battle.
For my homage to jacky I wanted to build a bike that was about as period perfect to about 1954-6 as I could reasonably make it.
The bike also had to reflect a roadman who, like most young men at the time had far from unlimited funds, so had to choose his components carefully.
Back from the chromers, who disappointingly didn't do the
greatest job, anyway I had to push on none the less
Masked up and ready for some serious etch priming and
spray putty work.
The original "Comet" down tube writing was applied with a tin stencil and then hand lined. I had seen this stencil in Jackys garage, he was going to give the stencil to me, but sadly I lost track of it.
Anyway I made my own stencil taken from the 1956 Neil Ritchie Olympic track bike
Here is the frame with the colour matched metallic green and deep red and stenciled 'Comet' sprayed on and ready for lining.
(with some Fiamme wheel decals for another project)
Notice the very nice world Champion stripes..so pretty.
New Comet logo came up pretty good I thought,
which was just as well, I spent some serious time getting this right.
So here is my homage to Jacky Hayes, one of the last of a
long line of New Zealand race frame builders,
and sadly missed.
long line of New Zealand race frame builders,
and sadly missed.
and ready for action..1950's style!
This is Jacky Hayes jersey he wore while competing in Australia in the late1950's, he also worked for Malvern Star at that time, where he learned to pin stripe.
Reynolds tubing, definitely 531 DB from the 1950's onward.
Hollow Stronglight bottom bracket set, with Lytaloy steel/alloy cups and retainer. Unknown slotted, double fluted crank arms,with TA 51/49 chain rings, I do know that this chainset was used in the 1953 Tour of Britain, Brampton chain.
My favorite 'suicide' type front changer, the classic
Benelux, which always reminds me of a a Morris Minor
gear stick for some reason.
these contraptions..
The beautifully constructed Allez! pedals with matching Allez! Corsa toe straps and GB Special clips, this set had been cut down to track style pedals which thought was pretty cool.
Half hollow axle, alloy cap and retaining nut. these pedals are a great example of some the top end English equipment on the market during the 1950's, some of the best in the world IMO.
Type 2 Benelux derailleur, which runs fours speeds,
I am just using the five speed block until I can find a
four speed with a decent rang on it, as I actually want to
ride this bike regularly.
Notice the Chater Lea rear track drop outs, as I
mentioned in the original post on this bike, it was used
by it's original owner as both a road and track machine, and
came with two sets of forks.
Exploded view of not quite the same Benelux derailleur taken
from the 1955/56 Brown Brothers catalogue.
1952 AKL Junior Champions, notice both Whyman and Gunn are holding Comets, I know that Neil Richie also rode a Comet, not sure about Peter Baird though, I know he rode a few Bertins.
Baird would go on to come second in the 1958 Empire games road race, and Richie rode for NZ in the 1956 Olympics.
this Cyclo bar end shifter.
wrapped in NOS Allez! twill bar tape.
these for quite a while waiting for the right build.
I know that these would be rarely (if ever) seen in
the peloton..but they are so cool, I couldn't resist.
Neil Richie and Comet circa 1956
Here is the NOS Mansfield Ormond Sprint saddle that I would replace after just one ride! I have ridden..I don't know how many different saddles, and not all of them great, but this saddle is without doubt the most painful saddle I have ever encountered, which is a shame as I loved that alloy frame.
Brian 'Happy' Howlett of the Manukau club in Auckland
rode Comets throughout most of his career, he was married to
Pam Stephenson who was a professional photographer, and
spent a lot of time shooting the Auckland scene around her
husband, hence there are more photos of Happy Howlett from
this period than anyone else (that I am aware of anyway).
Here are a selection of photos of Howlett and fellow bikies
during the period that this bike was being used in
these same races.
to be a very young Dick Johnson, I think this photo must be from
1958 as Johnson first rode against the seniors that year I believe.
Johnson would go on to win the first Dulux Six day tour in 1960.
in what I think is the trials for the 1958 Empire games.
double chainset, Campagnolo derailleurs..I would
love to know what happened to this machine.
The wheel set is something pretty special,
Harden H/F hubs radial laced with 17/15 DB spokes
with alloy nipples to Constrictor ASP 27" alloy rims,
tyres are fasgrip crono 240 gram TT rubbers all held
on with Reynold alloy wing nuts.
The rear is radial/cross.
Unfortunately the NOS fasgrip tyres fell apart on
my first ride, luckily I had some Specialized
27" tyres that fitted the bill as replacements.
have Ekla fork crowns.
1949-53(?) a great little magazine, let me know if you have
any, I would really like to get a complete collection together.
Laurie Coats Speedwell cycles catalogue was eagerly awaited by the racing set.
Here is the Comet in it's riding rim, a couple of little adjustments here and there, especially replacing the Mansfield for the Brooks B17.
The bike rode like a dream, it felt fast and aggressive, the Benelux front and rear derailleurs worked flawlessly, the GB brakes are pretty good. It is surprising nimble, though maybe not all that surprising when you look at the overall geometry...I think Slater and Jacky would approve.
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Wow, great job on the Comet! Beautiful bike, and history.
ReplyDeleteThanks, glad to hear you enjoyed reading it, I had a lot of fun putting it all together.
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