First ride impressions from riding a 78 year old Hobbs
11-15-15, 09:04 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
First ride impressions from riding a 78 year old Hobbs
I picked this up in Vancouver, BC last Saturday. A very nice Hobbs bicycle thought to date back to 1937 - a pre-Barbican era. I have been reading up on the Marque since then.
Hobbs of Barbican
and I wonder if it (serial 1559) is earlier than originally thought. There is an example with a higher serial number dated to 1936
Bad weather and a busy schedule put off getting out on this thing until today. I finally rode it for about 20 flat miles today.
Here are my first ride impressions.
The frame measures c-c 60cm x 59.5cm but on the bike it feels ‘smaller” than it measures.
My weight is centered over the bike just as it would on a modern machine with hands on the brake hoods.
The drops are huge and not all that comfortable. I am used to much shallower drops,
The bike handles very nicely - reminiscent of my Merckx it is a true race bike. It carries speed on the flat very well. Standing up and sprinting is not it’s strong suite. The drivetrain makes noise as the frame flexes. This bike is suited for smooth spinning, not sprinting. the bike weighs 23.4 LBs - surprisingly light. The rear dropouts are very thin by modern standards.
Indexed shifting like this takes a bit to get used to. You have to throw the lever a slight bit then back it off and into the indents. If you forget, there’s a nice metallic ring singing to you to remind you to throw it next time.
I was thinking, this bike is best ridden in cleated shoes in order to keep my heel away from the Bowden cable and rear Derailluer.
I like this bike. It is different than anything else I own. The gearing will work for Eroica type rides.
This just may come with me to Cino #10 next September in Montana. :-)
Driveside profile
The hand painted font is on non-driveside only.
Hobbs of Barbican
and I wonder if it (serial 1559) is earlier than originally thought. There is an example with a higher serial number dated to 1936
Bad weather and a busy schedule put off getting out on this thing until today. I finally rode it for about 20 flat miles today.
Here are my first ride impressions.
The frame measures c-c 60cm x 59.5cm but on the bike it feels ‘smaller” than it measures.
My weight is centered over the bike just as it would on a modern machine with hands on the brake hoods.
The drops are huge and not all that comfortable. I am used to much shallower drops,
The bike handles very nicely - reminiscent of my Merckx it is a true race bike. It carries speed on the flat very well. Standing up and sprinting is not it’s strong suite. The drivetrain makes noise as the frame flexes. This bike is suited for smooth spinning, not sprinting. the bike weighs 23.4 LBs - surprisingly light. The rear dropouts are very thin by modern standards.
Indexed shifting like this takes a bit to get used to. You have to throw the lever a slight bit then back it off and into the indents. If you forget, there’s a nice metallic ring singing to you to remind you to throw it next time.
I was thinking, this bike is best ridden in cleated shoes in order to keep my heel away from the Bowden cable and rear Derailluer.
I like this bike. It is different than anything else I own. The gearing will work for Eroica type rides.
This just may come with me to Cino #10 next September in Montana. :-)
Driveside profile
The hand painted font is on non-driveside only.
11-15-15, 09:14 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 665
Bikes: Condor, Cinelli SC, MKM Metcalfe, Peugeot AE08, Bianchi, Cougar, Miyata, Harry Hall, Holdsworth Special, Raleigh Int'l, Le Croco, Bob Jackson, Zeus
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 114 Post(s)
Liked 102 Times
in
53 Posts
Spectacular. Thanks for the ride report. Huge drop on those bars.
Brad
Brad
__________________
Better bike .. Better life!
Better bike .. Better life!
11-15-15, 09:20 PM
#3
Senior Member
Very nice. Look forward to seeing it.
__________________
My bikes: '81 Trek 957, '83 Trek 720, '85 Trek 500, '85 Trek 770,'81 Merckx, '85 Centurion Cinelli, '85 Raleigh Portage, '92 RB-2, '09 Bianchi
My bikes: '81 Trek 957, '83 Trek 720, '85 Trek 500, '85 Trek 770,
11-15-15, 09:31 PM
#5
Senior Member
Lovely, uncommon bike.
Picked up in my neck of the woods. I don't see anything like that around too often, though.
Curious whether you connected with a local collector, chanced upon a CL listing, or...?
If you're comfortable sharing what you can about the acquisition, that is.
Very cool to see this out on the road. I imagine the PNW in November evokes something of its English origins.
Thanks for posting this Brit gem. All the more lovely to my eye, I'm sure...as that's about my size (which always adds lust-factor).
Picked up in my neck of the woods. I don't see anything like that around too often, though.
Curious whether you connected with a local collector, chanced upon a CL listing, or...?
If you're comfortable sharing what you can about the acquisition, that is.
Very cool to see this out on the road. I imagine the PNW in November evokes something of its English origins.
Thanks for posting this Brit gem. All the more lovely to my eye, I'm sure...as that's about my size (which always adds lust-factor).
11-15-15, 09:34 PM
#6
52psi
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 4,015
Bikes: Schwinn Volare ('78); Raleigh Competition GS ('79)
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 790 Post(s)
Liked 802 Times
in
391 Posts
That is a spectacularly cool bike; I especially like the paint work on the lugs and head tube.
I'm curious about the placement of the rear wheel in the dropouts -- it's waaay forward, which I've not seen before. Is that a track thing? A 30's thing?
Thanks for sharing. Epic!
I'm curious about the placement of the rear wheel in the dropouts -- it's waaay forward, which I've not seen before. Is that a track thing? A 30's thing?
Thanks for sharing. Epic!
__________________
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
11-15-15, 09:47 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
That is a spectacularly cool bike; I especially like the paint work on the lugs and head tube.
I'm curious about the placement of the rear wheel in the dropouts -- it's waaay forward, which I've not seen before. Is that a track thing? A 30's thing?
Thanks for sharing. Epic!
I'm curious about the placement of the rear wheel in the dropouts -- it's waaay forward, which I've not seen before. Is that a track thing? A 30's thing?
Thanks for sharing. Epic!
Last edited by northbend; 11-15-15 at 10:11 PM.
11-15-15, 09:50 PM
#9
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
Yup, that's pretty cool. Original paint? What are the wheels?
It's specific to that type of dropout. Look again; it's really a double dropout, with a horizontal bit st the back (for fixed gear use) and a vertical bit at the front (for use with a derailleur gear and/or chain tensioner).
It's specific to that type of dropout. Look again; it's really a double dropout, with a horizontal bit st the back (for fixed gear use) and a vertical bit at the front (for use with a derailleur gear and/or chain tensioner).
__________________
www.rhmsaddles.com.
www.rhmsaddles.com.
11-15-15, 10:01 PM
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Bend, Washington State
Posts: 2,942
Bikes: 1937 Hobbs; 1977 Bruce Gordon; 1987 Bill Holland; 1988 Schwinn Paramount (Fixed gear); 1999 Fat City Yo Eddy (MTB); 2018 Woodrup (Touring) 2016 Ritchey breakaway
Mentioned: 291 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 554 Post(s)
Liked 3,794 Times
in
668 Posts
Original paint, airlite hubs laced to new Ghisallo rims. Challenge 25mm tubies
11-15-15, 10:06 PM
#11
Family, Health, Cycling
11-15-15, 10:40 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,046
Bikes: 1989 Schwinn World Sport. 1994 Diamond Back Response Elite MTB. 1964 Schwinn Typhoon. 1974 Bridgestone Sprinter, 2015 Scott Sub 10 Citybike.
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1688 Post(s)
Liked 84 Times
in
37 Posts
Very nice
11-15-15, 10:52 PM
#14
Senior Member
Looks like it came out of a time capsule. Beautiful cool bike!
11-15-15, 11:08 PM
#15
Keener splendor
Amazing. covered in awesomesauce.
11-15-15, 11:53 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,751 Times
in
938 Posts
Oh my! What a nice old road bicycle. Good for you.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
11-16-15, 07:59 AM
#19
What??? Only 2 wheels?
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Boston-ish, MA
Posts: 13,434
Bikes: 72 Peugeot UO-8, 82 Peugeot TH8, 87 Bianchi Brava, 76? Masi Grand Criterium, 74 Motobecane Champion Team, 86 & 77 Gazelle champion mondial, 81? Grandis, 82? Tommasini, 83 Peugeot PF10
Mentioned: 189 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1222 Post(s)
Liked 645 Times
in
232 Posts
Now that is an impressive bike!
__________________
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
Real cyclists use toe clips.
With great bikes comes great responsibility.
jimmuller
11-16-15, 08:46 AM
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,054
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3015 Post(s)
Liked 3,802 Times
in
1,408 Posts
Neat bike. Couple of questions. How certain are you about the originality of the bars? I don't know much about English bikes but that profile was very popular post war until the early 50s, not prewar.
Also, handles like a Merckx? With that wheelbase and the noodly wheels?
Also, handles like a Merckx? With that wheelbase and the noodly wheels?
11-16-15, 12:50 PM
#22
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 11,006
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 280 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2198 Post(s)
Liked 4,600 Times
in
1,764 Posts
Nice! And in a very useful size too. Thanks for sharing it.
11-16-15, 12:57 PM
#24
Senior Member
WOW ! I would certainly like to take that for a steady 20 miler. Better get used to being stared at !
11-16-15, 01:09 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Yukon, Canada
Posts: 8,759
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 113 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 16 Times
in
14 Posts
those bar look like torture to me, Anything less than 44cm kills me and the slope down to the hoods = only the drops and at that height.. boy howdy! I'd put some of those lauterwasser bars on. But man oh man that is a beautiful bike and you found it in Vancouver!?
__________________
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear
1 Super Record bike, 1 Nuovo Record bike, 1 Pista, 1 Road, 1 Cyclocross/Allrounder, 1 MTB, 1 Touring, 1 Fixed gear