The Hobbster
 

Took me awhile to recover from the Hetchins build but I managed to get two more done this year. One was a '54 Holdsworth Monsoon - never did a thread on that one but posted a pic or two here and there.

But this one, the Raceweight, I've been looking forward to for a couple of reasons: 1, being of 1947 vintage it'll be my oldest completion to date; And 2, I decided to equip it with a 4-speed SA FW IGH, which I have zero prior experience with. As received:


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e51439679.jpg

It was resprayed not too long ago judging by the paint condition and I love the frame. The only issue I saw was a bent rear pump peg, so being the smart guy I grabbed a set of pliers and tried to straighten it - and of course it broke off. Oops. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth...

I did some measuring and decided on a simple and cheap solution. First, drill a hole on the old peg base and thread it, then bend up a new peg stem and braze on the docking cone I cut from the broken one (with mapp gas - woked like a charm). Finally, thread it to mate and lock position with red threadloc once I was happy. Some touch up paint and, while not perfect, more than good enough for me.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e74769a12a.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5ae99ef986.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d5438eafdb.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a219292702.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...72fb01dcbb.jpg

No real build pics, it was fairly straitforward with the usual challenges sourcing period-correct parts (because I'm an idiot when I want to be) and fiddling with the trigger/cable length to get the FW to correctly shift gears. That last wasn't fun but not nearly as bad as I expected after reading online.

And so - the final result.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6d3e708b46.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e76a7eb50b.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f740c2fc85.jpg
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https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...feea74d385.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...00035efe2e.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fdf483016f.jpg

The 33mm tires barely fit in the rear, and the front end is prone to oscillating with very little input - I'll swap out with some 28's pronto. And I have too large a cog on the rear, I could climb a wall with it as it sits and I need more straight and level gearing. But otherwise it's fun to ride and comfortable, ready to put some miles on it and post gratuitous pics here and there...

Looks great and thanks for sharing! This is the one that Chris Bertwhistle sold last year, right? Cheers!

-Gregory

Thanks, and yes this is one of Chris's offerings. He's pleasant to work with and I have done a few transactions with him.

Nice job with the build and pump peg fix. Very clever.
Wonder what it would like like with black trim. Saddle, housing, bar tape.
Love those brakes, how are they working for you?
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Great looking bike. Love the cable housing. I suffer from a lack of knowledge (sorry). What is SA,FW,IGH?

Great looking results! I like everything about it.

Thanks, threading one in was the best I could come up with that I could handle with my limited capabilities - it worked better than I expected it to. The brakes work okay, some Koolstop pads would definitely help there but for now it's good enough with the cheapies...

Sorry, I tend to get acronym-happy sometimes. Sturmey Archer FW Internally Geared Hub. I think FW is SA's acro for four / wide re speeds and ratios.

This bike is great! Have you ridden it yet? Do you know which lug-set it has? Are the fork blades round? Do you know if the dropouts are Chater-Lea or B.S.A? Yeah, I think 28mm tires would look nicer, too. Good thing you are tall. If you were shorter, the bottle cage could jeopardize your headbadge. Nice Colorals. Also glad to hear you have a Monsoon (my favorite Holdsworth).

Thanks, I'm really happy with it. Unsure on the lug set, just knew I liked them - I'd bet [MENTION=333224]juvela[/MENTION] would know. No idea on the dropouts either, they're unmarked as to mfg. I spent some time enhancing the serial on the NDS dropout to confirm a match with the fork, other than that noticed nothing. The fork blades are round.

I've only ridden the bike about 5 miles on a shakedown run where I noticed the front wheel oscillation, gearing issues, and a few other things. All fixed now, and I've swapped in 28c's for the 33's which I hope cures the wobbles. I wound up rotating the cage up by about 10 degrees to improve the looks and grab-angle on the bottles, which also gives more space from the head tube. The dual cage is a Coloral imitation I rigged up (my 3rd now) from two Velo-Orange cages and a couple of steel strips, and with a bit of helicopter tape in strategic spots to keep the bottles from clanking it works beautifully. Those are the steel vacuum Colorals that came out a few years ago and which, I think, are no longer in production. Amazon has knockoffs, Velo Canteen brand. Also steel and vacuum and look nice - not cheap at $45 a pop but they have the right look.

The Hobbs Raceweight changed its lug design a few times between the model's inception in 1930 until it disappeared from the catalogs around 1953. The lugs that were used through the post-war years until 1951 or so, which looked similar overall (the later ones having scalloped edges around the front of the head tube rather than the smooth look shown here), were apparently a proprietary design or were heavily modified from their original form.

-Gregory

Great looking bike! I really like the Chater-Lea Crank/Chain ring. They look great on a 40's British bike.

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fabulous job with it, have really enjoyed following along! :thumb:

headset -

at intake it appears to be wearing a Thomas D. Cross & Sons Ltd Model S
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...48d8f0841d.jpg




https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b83fa0097e.jpg

in the completed build the lower stack appears to remain the model S while the upper stack appears to have been replaced with a model Continental Italia -

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c176fcaebb.jpg

is this correct?

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steerer -

in image of completed machine first thing noticed was the CL chainset and pedalset

this made me eyes go straight to the headset as immediately wondered if Hobbs may have employed a CL steerer

since it was possible to mount a Thomas D. Cross & Sons Ltd headset am thinking steerer must be thirty-two thirty-twoths rather than thirty-one thirty-twoths

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hydration -

the Colorals appear brandy new
had not known they were in production

are they now being manufactured as repops or did company relaunch at some point?

whenever find one or more at a jumble sale or similar the stoppers are ever in non-attendance
have noticed some folks using simple corks for C&V events
the little lanyard/keeper on plastic bottles is a well-merited feature...

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a treat to see the Reynolds stem with double binder; the Centrix stem & bar manufacturer of France also did some stems with double binders

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The Original Cycling Bottle - Coloral

I've also purchased a couple to go with an original double-cage. They're rather splendid.

very nice! i tried (and failed) to get a handlebar to fit around the bends on a stem i have like yours.

Thanks juvela . I pick up parts here and there and all those for this one I acquired over the past few years except for the stem which I just got from cycles de ORO specifically to complete this build - I like that girder look. Here's a closeup of the headset (I see another chip I need to touch up). As far as I knew it's a complete TDC Conti Italia, but I have been known to be way off-base on parts ID. The spacer is obviously a sub, misplaced the lock washer (it's here somewhere...) and I also needed to keep the stack as low as possible, the stem was cut a bit close way back when. V.A.R pin spanner I had really came in handy here. Standard 22.2 diam for stem. It would have been great to get a Lytaloy headset for this but ask prices for the rare ones that crop up are eye-watering.

Coloral relaunched a few years back and I grabbed a couple, but I haven't seen any of the bottles in stock anywhere for awhile now. Website is still up, https://coloral.cc.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b979adcc09.jpghttps://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...204fb1de2e.jpg

Thanks for posting this beautiful bike! I love seeing these pre-1970s bikes.
Brent

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thanks very much for reply concerning HS & waterworks

in one of the images of the completed bicycle a chance reflection from the lower head cup gave me the idea it was faceted, like the model S

my error :(

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brake pads -

am sure that Mr. Burgess had his own

one interesting one which would be period and national origin correct is the FIBRAX

even if you did not care for their performance they would be good to fit for occasions where you will be exhibiting the machine at C&V events

as an example here is the FIBRAX pad made for the GB Coureur 66 model brake which launched in 1962, so fifteen years later than cycle, posted as example only

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QAEAA...pP/s-l1600.png
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Bt8AA...7j/s-l1600.jpg

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