poetman

I've always heard that in cying the frame is most important but never felt equipped to distinguish the nuances of one frame from another. Then, I saw this and don't think I've seen sexier! Is the modern race bike the descendent of this?
This is gorgeous:

David Newton

Oh boy Path Racers! Is that like a race on paths?
The top pic is Major Taylor, right? A true "path racer".
Isn't the second picture a photo-shop job?
Is the bottom pic a Pashley Guv'nor? Not a path racer.

tombc

Pashley rules

pamaguahiker 

I had a 1950 Dawes Red Feather path racer. It was a true patch racer. Pashley is not. They are pretty. It was a term for bikes that would handle light off roads such as gravel grinders....so yea. They were an original gravel grinder. So where is the return of the path racer? Is it a specific model or?

Path racers and grass track racers were one and the same. Very popular in the 50s, 60s. Usually fixed gear or single speed set ups.

Senior Ryder 00 

Retro Path Racers are hot projects in some areas. Take a 60s/70s frame and convert it to a single speed with old style Weinmann or Universal side pulls, moustache bars and a classic leather saddle. Or run it as a fixie w/o brakes.

Velognome 

Before this goes much further, search the sire for Path Racer or Guv'Nor, this has been done to death.

But I still have this Carlton Road-path frame hanging on hook, nice and slack, would make a nice Guv'nor type ride....(Hilary just grabbed his chest)........No, it's destined for a proper rehab.




But the Cheap way out is fun too, convert a old R. Sports to fulfill your fancy

Bianchigirll 

So other than being a SS and having those cool mustachioed handlebars how is a path racer different from a Gravel Grinder?

big chainring 

I think it has something to do with the cockpit and the amount of twine and shellac used. Oh and some cork bits too.

Matariki

Yep, Major Taylor. There was supposed to be a movie coming out about him soon. Anyone have any details?

rustystrings61 

No, "path-racer" was NOT historically the term for what we now call a "gravel grinder." "Path" was an early term used in the U.K. To describe tracks - velodromes. The old term typically encountered in old British cycling literature was for a "road-path" machine, a bike meant for use on a track or as a time-trialist's" bike. Between the wars the term became "road-track," more in line with bikes like the Holdsworth Zephyr, etc.

Think track ends but drilled for brakes, geometry suitable for track amd speedy roads.

Today's "path-racer" is basically a single speed or fixed-gear suitable for unpaved roads, pretty much the classic British ss/fg club bike. The big stylistic split I see is between those duplicating '30s-50s British iron and ose duplicating late 19th Century American bikes. A better term would be "scorcher," though that was originally a term used for a scofflaw cyclist who rode too fast through populated areas.

Velognome 

Brooks, must contain Brooks sourced materials.

Bianchigirll 

arex

Doesn't appear to be anything at IMDB yet.

iab

There was a mini series called Tracks of Glory. Kinda sucks.

Tracks of Glory (TV Mini-Series 1992) - IMDb

poetman

I did search for path racer, but bothing populated. What is the difference between the path racer, gravel grinder, or a modern road bike?

Wileyone 

Why so many Cables?

Bandera

Did you miss post #10 ?

-rustystrings61

Here's a TT machine and the inestimable Beryl Burton:

A "gravel grinder" is nonsense marketing speak for a category of bicycle that need not/does not actually exist except in the inventory of your LBS, soon to offered at a massive discount.

Road bikes can be machines intended for competition, touring or randonneuring and are generally equipped with derailleur gearing for operation on public roads.
They do not have track ends as path racers did unless designed for fixed gear use, a tiny minority for the last 50 years.



"Path Racer" in the modern context is a vacuous nonentity nearly as bad as "Gravel Grinder: but far more annoying to those who know the history of the sport.

-Bandera

USAZorro

I have my own take on "gravel grinder". When I have it complete I am definitely going to share, but because I want to try painting it myself, is going to be a month at least before done. As far as I'm aware, there really isn't any rule for frame geometry, but just would be something that doesn't sacrifice much performance on the road, yet is capable of handling pretty horrid road surfaces. In my mind at least, a critical component is the right tires.

noglider 

That picture of Major Taylor is stunning. Have you ever noticed that every picture of him is? Such beauty and poise! I wonder if the same photographer followed him everywhere!

clubman 

1922 Raleigh...it's all grey guys.

Senior Ryder 00 

It appears that there is a lot confusion regarding what a path racer is. It is my understanding that the original path racer was essentially a track bike that was frequently ridden to and from events. The "Road-Path" or "Road-Track" was an evolution of these multi use bikes. These were bikes designed for competition which were also used as transportation.

USAZorro

Looks like "back in the day", the frame angles were very slack, but compensated for with "wrong way" seat posts. It would definitely take a lot of getting used to that geometry for me. *rounds up 12 pounds to give it a go*

Bandera

Club cyclists rode their machines to work, church and the pub.
On the weekends they did a tour or fitted the sprint wheels for the club time trial or hill climb.

Highly versatile machines not lacking in performance.

-Bandera

Steve Bauserman 

This is my interpretation of a path racer based on a 1958 Carlton Flyer frame. The rear hub is a modern Sturmey Archer five speed. The stem is a Nitto Slider.

nlerner

Don't forget the reverse sloping top tube path racers: