The bike I bought on eBay a couple of weeks ago has been picked up by my nephew who luckily, as it was 'pick-up' only, happens to live in the same village in Devon, England, as the seller. It cost me £90, or around US$180.
All I knew about the bike was what the seller wrote in his description:
"A Leader Cycles handbuilt training bike.
Reynolds 531 tubing.
22inch frame. 27inch wheels.
Campagnolo 5 speed gears.
Wedglock bottom bracket set single clanger( I have the tools).
Mafac brakes with Weimann leavers.
Campagnolo quick release hubs.
Brooks saddle.
Tyres and tubes knackered and the grandchildren have pinched the pump.
It has spent the last 10 years in my attic so there is spots of rust on the chrome parts
Everything needs some TLC but if anybody can do anything with it please bid. It has
served me well in the past but I am now to old for it and it would be sad to scrap it."
Searching the internet uncovered just a couple of references to Leader Cycles making racing frames in the 1940s and 50s. I also discovered that the Wedgelock BB was patented by a British-naturalised Polish man in 1955. But that was all.
My nephew sent me some photos yesterday, out of focus and with tantalising omissions which I have asked him to take and send; the head tube badge, a decal on the seat tube, the Brooks saddle, the derailleur and the crankset. However, one photo was a lead on the provenance of the bike. On the seat stay end is the name 'Leo Star'. A quick search led me to this site:
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bikes/reed-rb.html
and a photo of virtually the same bike but in far, far better condition, and about which it has this to say:
Quote:
"1958/9 G.R. REED ‘Leo Star’ 23” The frame, which was probably made by one of the local frame builders, is built out of Reynolds plain gauge 531 tubing and Nervex Legere Series lugs. The money saved on the slightly cheaper tubing and lugs was obviously spent on eye-catching extras; chrome lugs, fork ends and crown and the flamboyant purple paint which after nearly 50 years still looks spectacular."
I would be very interested to hear any comments about my new bike. I'm familiar with the component maker names but not with the actual components. Also, as I won't be able to pick the bike up until September, any advice on what might be done in order to arrest any rot that has already begun would be very much appreciated... maybe spraying grease on all metal parts?
In addition to the Thumbnails below the same photos are available full size at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2298367...7604620676201/