As a few folks may remember, I recently took delivery of what purports to be a '49 Ephgrave # 1 off of eBay. Now that it's in my hands, the ID and time frame seem consistent with the clues (# 1 style lug work, oiler port on BB shell, pre-lollipop top eye treatment). But sometime in the early '80's, the bike was "updated" with campy short rear drop outs, DT shifter bosses, rear spread to 126mm and BB cable guides. While the historical heresy was sad, it did discourage the "serious" collectors and suppress the price enough to where I could afford her. (Actually, I couldn't afford it, but it was reasonable enough that I didn't care.)
I took the maiden voyage this morning, and except for the routine mechanical niggles (of course the brakes squeal, they're Mafacs) she rides extra nice. And the heresy of the prior owner freed me to use whatever parts I wanted without concern for accuracy. While I admire those hardy souls who ride Paris Roubaix and Cambio Corsa bikes, I have no desire to emulate them because my mechanical aptitude (or lack thereof) presages disaster. I envision myself lying on the side of the road with the bike broken in half and the chain wrapped around my neck and tangled in the sprokets. Death by butter fingers.
The drivetrain is friction/modern, with Shimano changers controlled by Simplex retrofriction levers mounted in Rivendell Bar-con pods. Vintage parts include a Brooks Comp saddle, Campy NR headset, Mafac Racer brakes, GB Randonneur Bars and ALE bottle cage. Cranks are Ritchey modern (but with cool retro looking scallops), pedals are SPD, wheels are Suntour sealed hubs laced to Torelli Master road rims, seatpost is Ritchey, etc etc you get the idea. Kind of like the Johnny Cash song: She's a '49, '78, '81, '95, '99 and '02 model, as near as I can tell.
So since the parts mix won't generate any interest, I concentrated on the lug work in the following pictures.
If the link doesn't work, click on the following
http://photos.yahoo.com/
and go to the '49 Ephgrave folder.
Thanks to everyone who helped, including Hillary, Chuck, Sheldon, Grant, Baron and many other's I've forgotten. As always, a CR list bike is a group effort.
Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
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