Originally Posted by
Wileyone
"Not particularly knowledgeable"
"In terms of monetary value, these are pretty much bottom of the bin"
Bottom of the bin..."Not particularly knowledgeable" You hit the nail on the head with this statement...
These were Hand made British Bikes using Reynolds 531 Tubing. How does that make them "bottom of the bin"??
Wileyone: I say, steady on old chap............
On a sample of o
ne, you seem to be asserting that all Coventry Eagle frames are hand-built 531?
Even though I don't have the very detailed knowledge of this marque that I have of say, Claud Butler or Holdsworth (just as examples), I have examined these cycles closely when they were new in the 1960's and 70's, ridden one exclusively for six months back then, have worked on many more over the intervening four decades and am currently restoring a Coventry Eagle Commodore. I can categorically assure you that the majority of Coventry-Eagle frames are NOT hand-built, or constructed of Reynolds 531 - but some of the top models were, The OP's is NOT one of these. Yours may well be, please post photos, they are nice bikes and we all like to look at C&V frames on this Forum. I'd be very interested to compare
However, as I said , even the lower models still build into nice riding bikes - but as a potential investment for spending a lot of money on, the outlay will not produce a commensurate return on investment. Hence
"In terms of monetary value, pretty much bottom of the bin". Doesn't mean it's not worth refurbing and riding, just don't expect anyone to pay much for it.
Coventry-Eagle did produce some treasures, yours might be one? My Commodore is a lugged steel touring frame built from Reynolds 453 - very unusual. Simplex drop-outs with mainly French equipment; Simplex 10-speed, Maillard high flange hubs, Rigida rims, Stronglight cranks, Lyotard pedals. Decent but not top drawer. The Reynolds 453 tubing is unusual, a manganese-titanium steel alloy, butted but rolled and seamed. Similar weight, maybe slightly heavier than a 531 frame of the same size but not much. I'm planning to build new wheels, run a triple Campagnolo Daytona with Daytona front mech, Campagnolo barcons TA Campagnolo pattern BB and Shimano 105 long-cage rear der, SR Road Champion bars & stem, Dia Compe or Weinmann side-pulls, NOS alloy mudguards and so on. I know, pictures or it didn't happen. I'll post finished photos once it's all done, but for now here are some 'before' snapshots - scruffy and with lots of potential.
For now, toodle-pip old bean.
