Vintage Racing Bicycle Road Tests

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I have meaning to put this Classic Road Test page together for
years, as one of the best things about restoring and rebuilding so
many classic and vintage racing bike is that I
get to ride many of them.
Usually I like to road test any bike I am selling at least 100km,
this is why most bikes I buy to restore/rebuild are
somewhere between 55-58cm, as this is the size range I
can reasonably fit onto to ride over that distance.
While road testing all these different racing bikes from the 1910's
through to the 1990's that I have finished working on,
I have always thought I should write down brief impressions of
the way the bike feels to me and record it on The Flying Wheel,
maybe one or two there enthusiasts out there might find it
interesting, who knows?...
and so finally after many years of procrastination here we are...
the first Flying Wheel R/T....but wait...

 

...before we get started, I thought I should outline some guides I have put together for myself for these conducting these extended Road Tests, this is so that the bikes tested will hopefully perform as closely as possible, to how they might of at the time they were originally built and used.

1.All road test bikes will be as close to period original as I can make them, within reason and budget.
Frames will be fully aligned, B/B and Headset faced.
Bike are then be built up using period grease/bearings ( except on pre 1950's frame, as I don't have any cycle grease or bearings that old) new or NOS cables

Tyres are probably going to be the main issue in maintaining an adherence to being fairly period correct, and as this is a vital component in the feel and on road performance of any sporting/competition bike, I will therefore no doubt talk more about what choice I make in this regard than might seem necessary, hang in there however, as in my experience, (as it is with most of you I am sure) this one choice can and does radically transform the overall impressions of riding any Classic/Vintage racing bike.
I think it is worthwhile getting this tricky component as right as I can, while at the same time maintaining the right “look”, which gets harder and harder to achieve as the bikes get older..and if you have bothered to read this far into this, you will probably know exactly what I mean…once you start talking about bikes from the 1960's or earlier, the problem of correct tyres starts to become quite a hassle..however aesthetically, having tyres looking and performing as close to period correct is vital IMO.

Drivetrain components are usually reasonably easy to obtain, and I usually wouldn't start a build or restoration if I didn't have a complete (reasonably) correct groupset nearly ready to fit to a frame.

2. Length and type of testing.
To really get to grips with a bike, I think that about 3-500kms should be covered in a full and thorough road test.
Road Tests will include my commuting rides to and from home to my workshop/bookshop, in all weathers that coincide with the period of the test.


There are two rides that this commute involves, one about 23km and is pretty much all flat, though prone to very regular and quite stiff headwinds (and of course the occasional tailwind). This is a great course for just putting your head down, putting down the power

( of what little I have!), and seeing how you feel about the bike at the end, a real old school English TT course.
The other course, which I ride home if I have the time and/or inclination is a fairly hilly 45km-55km (depending on motivation) ride, it is an excellent course for road testing as it has nearly every type of reasonable hill to try out, short sharp, steep, long and pretty steep, long and low, and of course all the descents that go along with each climb.
Last will be at least one longer ride which will be somewhere between 80-120km’s.

3. Rider Apparel.
To really get the feel for each bike, I like to try and ride in something very close to the cycling kit that matches the bike for at least some of the time..and luckily for me I have been collecting vintage cycling clothing for quite a while…actually to be honest I only ever ride in mostly vintage gear pretty much every day anyway, so the only real difference is that I might pull out that special older jersey/cap or shoes for a longer Sunday ride.

 

So that is about it, lets just get out there and start riding some vintage racing bikes....