Originally Posted by
rmfrance
Very nice indeed! Good to see the elusive Simplex 543, too. Is that a Stronglight 49D/TA crankset? I have a feeling that it might have originally had a 57 or 63 Super Competition, depending on the year.
Thanks for the comment! When I bought this as a basket-case in 1974, hanging up in the back of a bicycle shop, there was a frame, two wheels, and a bag of parts -- I can only guess which, if any, of the parts were original. The cranks were indeed 49D and are still on the bike, as are the brakes and I seem to recall the seat post... but much of the rest has been changed.
Now that I have given up on trying to trick the 543 to be a 6543 with an extra-narrow 6-speed freewheel, now it shifts great as a 5 speed. Today is supposed to be the arrival of a nice freewheel from the world-famous Pastor Bob; meanwhile, an inferior-quality IRD freewheel suffices.
It is being ridden rather a lot more in recent months.