Please rescue me!

Happy bird!

It called and I came to welcome yet another Viscount into my loving arms. This time it's a beautiful Viscount Aerospace Gran Prix, which is essentially the same bike as my Lambert G.P. Deluxe--just under a different branding and in white/blue. I found this bike on eBay--no, wrong, one of my Viscount family found it and pointed it out, all I did was go and make sure it goes to a good home. It arrived at the shop on Friday, but I couldn't touch it until today, so you can imagine that I was all eager to get to work.
The story behind this bike is that an Australian couple moved into a house (here in UK), after the old man, who lived there beforehand, had passed away; and the bike was left in the shed. They didn't think anything of it and filled the shed up with their own belongings until they now, 25 years later, moved out and de-cluttered the shed. The bike emerged again and they wanted to throw it away. Their window cleaner thought it would be a shame, took it, put it on eBay and the rest is history. I put the bike together (it was partly dismantled), pumped up the tyres and took it for a really quick spin around the block. Man, it felt familiar immediately. Sometimes I think you could sit me on a bike and let me ride it blind folded, and I'd recognise a Viscount or Lambert. Smooth, even after 25 years of not being ridden! Okay, the headset's a little stiffer than it should be, and the cables are seized up, but that's all the bike needs doing, really. I could even move the seat post up without any problems. The powder coating is in very good nick, almost immaculate, and the blue bits are beautifully hand-painted. It came with a thermos flask, which had my colleagues in stitches.

But enough of the talking, here are the pictures. Be prepared to be amazed!

With mark 3 death fork

Just a pretty sight

An example of Viscount using up Lambert parts

Titlist front mech in great condition

Titlist RD with a bit of rust

Curious little sticker

I hope I can rescue this rusty bottle holder and make it shine again. Perfect transfer underneath

Stunning paint job (and fillet brazing)

Viscount brakes 

Viscount hubs complete with QR

Birmalux seat post!

Wrights saddle in need of some nutrition

Brake lever playing dress-up

Couldn't resist to put that bike in the window till Tuesday

1973 vs. 2014

I've said it for some time now: I'm determined to re-create the 1973's magazine cover picture of that woman sort of sitting on a Viscount. So today, when I went to see my friend Ben, I suddenly decided he could take a picture of me, since I was wearing boots and--what a surprise--riding my red flash. 

Please feel free to howl with laughter at my first (of many) attempt:

I admit that I look somewhat hideous in the picture, purely because I appear more like a whale stuck in a frame than the elegant and gracious girl I aimed to achieve. Guess it's partly because that frame in the original advert is much larger. The background isn't ideal either. Gave me the giggles when I uploaded it and I'm always happy to share so you can have one, too.

Note to self: need to try harder.

Share your story!

Not too long ago, a reader sent me an e-mail, eager to share a picture of his Viscount Sebring commuter, which found its way to him by law of fate. As every Viscount owner I know, he's properly smitten by those bicycles and I asked him to tell me the story of the bike and him 'getting together'. That e-mail inspired me to post a call for submissions for pictures and, if possible, a write-up about people's love affair with their Viscounts or Lamberts and I'll put them on this blog. Let's spread the word; there's really nothing like a ride on those bikes.

Here's John's story:

A rather wonderful pub bike

My local Craigslist bicycle listing showed this Viscount, resplendent in it's 'bright' blue paint pictured in a grassy back yard in somewhat blurry mobile phone pics. The owner was keen to point out it 'Was from the midwest and still had it's stickers to prove it!' I considered his asking price-$60 and thought to myself: I've got one Aerospace G.B. in pieces and one Aerospace Pro frame & fork in my size waiting to become a 'special' project in the near future, what am I going to do with another Viscount/old 10-speed anyways? I emailed the seller and asked for his best availability to see the bike but never followed through on setting a date and time, so I let it 'ride', pardon the pun. About two months passed and I saw the Sebring listed again but thought to myself, 'What am I going to do with another...' you get the point. A week or more went by and something told me to at least take a look at the bike, so I arranged to visit the seller who was about a half hour away from home. I loved the look of the bike and it's blue frame, so it was love at first sight. The seller rambled on about his 'junk picking' of bikes that he was repairing and selling, although 10-speed road bikes weren't really his thing. He pointed out that the bars and stem were swapped out as the originals were missing some pieces, although he had them. Besides one shift cable, and the seat, the rest of bike was original so I struck a deal for $40 and the bike came home with me, no test ride needed. Upon getting it home, I filled the tyres with air and took it for a spin...ah, the Viscount 'Affect' was upon me! It was immediately apparent why I love old road bikes-svelt racers or 'heavy' tourers, they just have a way of 'gliding' along without much upset-so refined! I spent time cleaning off the old grease, swapping out the fossilized brake pads for new, exchanging the seat, and converting the drop bars to flat with lovely oldish DiaCompe brake levers and moto-grips.

What's in the works for the Sebring 'Pub Bike'? I set of 'vintage' Bluemel fenders (proper UK made!). A longer, one-piece alloy seatpost. Alloy rims laced to the original Shimano hubs. New tyres (as you spell the word). A Pletscher rear rack. Maybe one day new transfers over a glossy new coat of paint but we'll see... ;)

What a disaster!

Today, I went to pick up the Indy 500 frame, giddy up to the gills; I mean I really couldn't wait to gather all the parts and get started on the build. When I took a first look at the frame I was delighted; the steel hadn't darkened too much in the phosphoring process, and the welds had come out really beautiful with the cold colour. In short: the result were far better than I'd had expected.
As usual, I gave the frame a quick once over, starting at the bottom bracket, and what a shock it was to discover that it had quite an impressive crack! Something that was overlooked. It should have been picked up right after the sand blasting, but somehow wasn't (mistakes can happen, we're all human). A shame nevertheless, particularly as we all agreed that the frame looks fabulous in its naked form.
As this frame is not particularly valuable (it's lugged, not fillet brazed, nor is it Aerospace tubing), I've decided to write it off, rather than getting it repaired. I'll keep it for when I open my own shop (I'm still dreaming about it, yes) to build it up and use it as decorative window display; it's a Viscount, after all, and therefore deserves a special place.

Rather prominent crack

Good thing I got it stripped!

Stunning!

Beautiful gold-framed lugs

Anyway, this means I'm looking for another frame (and forks) for my 'bare steel' project. Of course it has to be a Viscount! No question about that. It also means I'll need some time and patience as Viscounts don't crop up too often--if so, they're totally overpriced. Maybe this means I should get a wiggle on with the Lambert. If only I could find a rear Lambert hub!

It all starts with an idea

I'm talking about the bike build. Especially since I've started experimenting with translating my visions into reality. The process of phantasising about a bicycle, made to your own taste and needs is an intoxicating one; and the pride you feel when everything comes together and people stop you in the street to admire your work ... 

Well, today I've brought the Indy500 frame to the powder coaters. I'm firmly sticking to my idea of stripping it and leaving it naked. Unfortunately, it's possibly not going to be as silver as I'd like to; due to the phosphating (to protect the steel from rusting), which darkens the metal. Still, the weldings will be clearly visible and that's the look I'm after: clean and bare frame and forks. This bike will be a commuter, so it'll have mudguards (I'm looking for a rear one in red) and most likely raiser handlebars (with red grips), taken from this bike:

Of course I'll build my own wheels in 27 1 1/4, and I'll keep it in Viscount style. 

Speaking of which: I spotted one (I assume Sport or Sprint) in Dalston, and had to take a picture. Not sure to whom it belongs, but I think it may be Billy's, the guy who works at Cafe Oto, as I faintly remember him saying that his old Viscount went to bicycle heaven and he'd got a new one. But I may be wrong here. Nevertheless, it's always a pleasure to see this wonderful make carrying people around London (and anywhere else).

And something else: my beloved Viscount Sprint is finally getting its last honour; it'll go to the hands of my friend Ben from BikeBox, who will make it look pretty to entice customers to pop by his container. So I'm saying farewell to one of  my most favourite rides, but with a smile on my face as I'll be able to see it every time when I visit Ben at work.