[CR]Introduction and questions on vintage hubs for daily use....

(Example: Framebuilding:Norris Lockley)

Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:08:54 -0800 (PST)
From: "Kurt Henry" <shrew13@yahoo.com>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Introduction and questions on vintage hubs for daily use....

Hi folks,

I'm a new list member, so a word of introduction is probably in order. I apologize ahead of time, because that may make this long.

Historically I've been mostly a BOB list member, but find myself leaning more toward older bikes. After a few trips to Cirque and the Crossroads Bicycle Festival, I've become really fascinated by Sturmey equipped Clubman style bikes (among others). I currently have a couple of bikes that should fit into the CR guidelines, although I'm not certain about the exact production date for either:

1) A Londoner, from the London Bicycle Company. Not in front of me at the moment, but from memory it's all butted 531c in the main frame and 531 forks. The lugwork isn't very fancy and it's short some of the handier braze-ons (downtube shifter mounts, rack mounts, etc), but it rides really nicely and has lots of character, like the really cool English lamp mount on the fork. For more details, look for an older post on this list by Byron Morton, from whom I bought it a few years ago.

2) Alpine, out of Baltimore...or maybe out of Europe. I'm not sure which family of frames mine grew out of, but I bought it from list member Lou Deeter in about 1999 or so and have been riding it ever since for a variety of purposes - commuting, brevets, even a cyclocross race. It's currently half-built at the moment between build iterations, but will be back on the road in the spring.

3) And then a few other frames that arein the family of "nonlist guideline", so I'll leave them unmentioned.

My first question for the list is around using vintage flip flop hubs for regular use. I'm currently riding the Londoner above as a fixed gear. I converted the freewheel wheelset (NR hubs laced to GL330 tubular rims) to fixed by using a bottom bracket lockring and re-dishing to just try it out. I actually like the simplicity, especially for just jumping on and shooting out for a quick spin. But the lightweight tubulars currently on there don't hold air well, and I'm thinking of replacing them with a clincher wheelset using a flip-flop hub in the rear for easier jump and go riding.

I could easily replace the current wheelset with a newer kinda generic hubset using sealed bearings and such, but that seems a waste for such a cool frame. Instead, I'm considering building up a set of vintage high flange hubs, like maybe some Bramptons or Airlites. I already have the Brooks B-17 in place along with a Carradice, so it only seems appropriate to go the whole-hog path racer route.
>From the experience of list members, are there vintage flip-flop hubs that are not well sealed and that I should stay away from on a bike that may get caught in a shower now and then while out riding? Or maybe some that have really nice seals and good bearings that make good riders? I'm hoping to avoid any "all show, no go" hubs, so any input on things to avoid or grab would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks! Kurt Henry Lancaster, PA (until recently Mount Holly, NC)

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