Thanks SJX426, Stevensb, The Golden Boy and Andy_K for the kind words!

More about the bike. It's a 1951 Rotrax Supercourse that I bought as a complete bike from Hilary Stone. Hilary has a nice article on Rotrax (Rotrax).

The frame is remarkable in its attention to detail: it has braze-ons for both derailleur and rear brake cabling (not bad for 1951). Even the pump pegs have elegant little bands.

I'm not sure who did the renovation of the frame but it's the best I've ever seen: flam blue and red with perfect box and lug lining (if anyone knows who it might be, then let me know).

The bike took about two months to properly set up. The front Airlite hub had a hairline crack in it, so I replaced that and used the opportunity to relace both wheels with nipple and spoke washers. The GB 531 stem with which it came also had a crack in it (which I can repair), so I replaced it with a GB Hiduminium stem.

In trying to straighten the chainset, I managed to crack the spider (idiot), it is a TA spider milled from billet aluminium alloy. Fortunately I managed to repair it using HTS-2000 brazing rods which work rather well and it's probably stronger than it was before.

The equipment list is as follows:
- 1951 Rotrax Supercourse frame in flam blue and red
- 32/40 hole Airlite hubs and Fiamme yellow label clincher rims
- GB Courier brakes and Superhood levers
- GB Hiduminium stem and Reynolds Bailey bars with a chevron ferrule
- A Rotrax headset (I didn't even know these existed)
- mid-50's Campagnolo Gran Sport derailleurs
- Stronglight cranks, TA spider, Williams chainrings (it's a great combination!)
- Sheffield Sprint 673 pedals
- Bluemels Tour de France shortie mudguards
- Middlemores saddle and Reynolds seat post
and (to my shame)
- Shimano Uniglide freewheel and chain

The handlebar tape is cotton and has been shellacked, the cabling, tires and toeclips are modern. It's not perfectly period-correct, but it's fairly close.

Here is another picture of the drive train:


Needless to say, it rides beautifully, but I only take it out in fine weather.