roadrunna

I got this bike free from a local bike shop. They were glad I took it away. I was wondering what brand or year could the frame be, anyone have a clue?

It's been painted over. I've removed the brakes, changed the rear hub to some old Sachs Favorit, so now it is a singlespeed. The wheels were big, but I changed the rims to standard 28..The whole bike has cost me like 10 euros! (except for the tires, which I had anyway)

It had Huret derailleurs and 5 gears in the back, 2 at the front. The hub was named Maillard. EDIT: no, Shimano, with Maillard cogs(?)



I made that seat myself.. Ok, It's ugly and uncomfortable. Little rust on the frame here and there but not bad.




Here's the head tube:




The chrome part on the fork is like new:


I believe this bike should last fine for the winter without any kind of maintenance! It has only one gear, and no cables. I should open up the hubs at some point though.

Could it be a Crescent? They're quite common here..

Sammyboy

I don't know what that is, but it's quite nice, however for the love of God get some brakes.

nlerner

Coaster brake on the rear, Sammy. I'm afraid I can't identity the frame mfg, though.

Neal

Wino Ryder

Well the chain's clean, so that says something.

...but for some reason I like it. Judging by the bend in the forks, I'd say 60's-70's. Can you scrape off the paint where the materials sticker is on the seat tube?

maddyfish

I don't know what it is, but I like it. I like the coaster brake. I like the color. I like the roughness.
It looks alot like a Concord that I had. I miss that bike.

pastorbobnlnh 

There's a circa '69 Huffy Sportsman sitting out in my shed that came home from the dump not too long ago. It has the same fork crown with the same chrome cap, as I remember. I don't believe it has a lugged frame. I'll check on the way out the door and get back to you.

EDIT: The Robin Hood (also a '69) I'm sending to BobHufford has the same fork crown treatment, and lugs.

roadrunna

I had to replace the chain, that's why it shines!
Made a mistake, only the front hub was maillard, the rear hub was a shimano like this:



In the part next to the smallest cog, it says Maillard, made in France.
Not sure if these are original parts for this bike, though.

I really like the geometry of the frame, and the bend in the forks sucks all the bumps.. its comfortable, but at the same time I can get a fast, low position. Cranks make some noise, I don't know where to find new bottom brackets or cranks for this.. I don't think they're one-piece cranks. They work fine for now, though.

Could'nt see a materials sticker, or any stickers, they must have been removed when painted. There was a number under the bottom bracket: 71350.

Hocam

Those are cottered cranks and can generally be replaced with a modern crankset. The cotter pins can be difficult to deal with, they tend to break when you try and extract them.

Sammyboy

A coaster brake is not a brake, it's a toy. It'll be good in some ways, since it won't fade due to water and ice, but that bike is clearly set up for snow, and the rear will be way easy to lock up. It needs a front brake.

John E

A front brake is absolutely essential for safety, but I would consider adding front and rear handbrakes for maximum versatility and control. My very first bicycle had a coaster brake (Bendix 2-speed hub with handbrake-style squeeze-for-high gearshift), and it was difficult to modulate and very easy to lock into a skid.

roadrunna

I agree, I really should put at least the front brake there, and I will. Also coaster brakes are not the most reliable brakes.

Sammyboy

A pat on the back sir. I really do like the bike, too.

CV-6 

Looks a bit like an old Follis I had. Any idea on the threading?

nlerner

Ah, where's your sense of adventure? For a long time my main bike was a Columbia middle weight with a New Departure rear coaster brake hub, and that was it. I do admit that once I moved to the Boston area and was commuting to work in the Boston medical area on that bike, I did put a front brake on it. Scary traffic!

Neal

pastorbobnlnh 

Finally had a chance to check the Huffy Sportsman and the Robin Hood. While the forks on both look the same as the fork on this bike, the Huffy has no lugs as I sort of remembered and the Robin Hood lugs are very different. Sorry I wasn't much help.

OLDYELLR

Sammyboy, when I came to Canada in the mid fifties, almost all domestic and U.S. bikes only had coaster brakes. I had never seen such things in the U.K. but my parents told me they were quite common in continental Europe. Coaster brakes worked quite well for kids: You locked up the back wheel, skidding to a stop, dropping your bike in the middle of the driveway and walking away. In fact, the U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION has decreed the rear brake should be the primary brake and be mounted on the right handlebar. It just runs in the genes on this side of the Atlantic.

bbattle

Oh man, powerslides on my Stingray knock-off back in the 70's was the only way to stop. Front tire still has tread on it long after you've burned through 3 or 4 of the fat slicks for the rear.

I do recommend front and rear brakes for adults and older kids. A lot of kid's bikes I see today have a rear coaster and a front hand brake. That's the way the Treks and Giants are set up.

Nice little singlespeed 'cross bike you've got there, roadrunna. Have you considered spd clipless pedals? They'll help you out in the snow.

Repacking the bearings is no big deal but necessary on a yearly basis if you're riding in harsh conditions. You can get new cotter pins for your cranks. Every time I've had to sledgehammer an old one out I've ruined it.

no.cages

At first I thought late 70's to 80's japanese from the lugwork, dropouts and pump peg placement. Then I saw the BB and fork, which make me think Huffy. I can't say that helps much.

One thing you can do is try and read the serial # off the BB (if its not buried in paint). Then do a google search for old/vintage serial #'s and see if yours is a near match. There are years of data available. That might get you close enough to make an educated guess.

In any case, go fixed gear in the snow and learn to not use your brake (maybe have them, just in case). Might sound crazy but it will be well worth it when you strap on derailleurs later in the year. Buttery smooth and powerful.

redneckwes

I think I have it's cousin in the basement, (The unknown green sled of legend) So given the lugs, the ESGE Brake bridge and it's overall looks, and the fact that the OP is in Europe. I'll say it's either made in Austria or Belgum. It could be a Browning or something.

P.S. Does it have a mounting plate on the chainstays for a kickstand??

P.P.S. Did it have Altenburger Synchrons??

markwebb

It's a FREE bike - that's what kind of bike you have

roadrunna

Yes, it has a mounting place for kickstand. Altenburger Synchrons? Are they brakes? It had Weinmann brakes.

I just put on SPD pedals! there's a lot of snow here now, and not too cold, so it's fun to ride.. I'm going away for the weekend and the bike is coming with me, I'm planning on riding a lot! I hope the bike can take it..

There was a picture of a Crescent Sportracer yesterday I found from google. It kinda looks like the same but not sure. The parts were different and pictures were small. I don't have time right now to search the link. Next week I'll continue searching information about the frame!

buddyp

I think a huffy of that era would have an ashtabula crank, not cotter pins

what does it weigh? I think thats a better clue