and I'll be going to Brighton. Not forever, mind, just for a day. My friend Mabs and I had spoken about this for a year or so, but we never got around doing it. He's normally busy as hell, travelling the world due to his work, and then it was me who was busy. But we finally agreed on a date and tickets are booked, so I'm looking very much forward to the day we're going.
Up to now I wasn't really sure which bike I should ride. For a day trip it needs to be comfortable (saddle, mainly) and in good working condition. Okay, I know that, as a mechanic, all my bikes should be--and they are--although the Viscountess has a headset problem I need to fix, and the red flash's left crank arm had suddenly come loose one day. The blue bike has a bit of a ticking sound around the handlebar and I cannot really figure out what's going on with it. (I have an idea, but need to investigate.) All of those little problems need to be taken care of, but I'm also quite keen on riding the newest addition to my collection. So today I took the G.P. for a little spin in the sunny cold and you would not believe the big smile on my face--I just couldn't help it. After adjusting the Wrights saddle a tiny bit, it felt as if it were made for my arse and I've decided that this one will be the bike I'll take to Brighton. My friend said I should put on some puncture-proof tyres, but I believe I'll be fine with the
NOS Raleigh gumwall tyres I recently acquired. They were absolutely fine on the bit of gravel path along the canal.
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| Markfield Cafe London |
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| Viscount G.P. looking pretty |
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| Best date I ever had! |
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| When your company looks happy ... |
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| Does my arse look fat on this? |
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| Who took the picture? |
The bike is a bit on the bigger side, but I have no difficulties riding it. In fact it feels rather comfortable. In general Viscounts have a relaxed geometry, ideal for racing, touring, or commuting. They are all-round talents, those bicycle. I will, however, change the wheel bearings beforehand as, at the moment, I feel they're a little stiff, which takes a bit more effort. New cartridge bearings make all the difference. I've changed the brake blocks to
Continental Kool Stop ones, as the original pads didn't do anything in the wet, as I had to learn, and I've got those pads on three other bikes and am rather happy with them.
Anyway, I believe the alloy forks are contributing to the comfort as they have a bit of bounce in them, and the frame itself feels as if it's not as stiff as the smaller ones I have. In fact, riding the G.P. reminds me a lot of my Sprint, which was basically the same size (24" seat tube and 22.5" top tube). Those of you who remember that bike will know that it was one of my most favourite bikes, even though on the low end of the Viscount production line. Talking of the Sprint, after crashing it into a bollard back then, and then being stored in a container, it's now gone to a good cause: helping my friend Ben from
BikeBox in Dalston.
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| Slightly transformed. |
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| My beloved Sprint! |
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| Keeping the Viscount pride alive! |
The bike's duty is to draw some attention. Every time I pass it my heart sobs a little, but I'm also proud that it's visible, representing Viscounts.
Hello Stella, I'm Frank, live in Chicago, and have been a fan of Lamberts and Viscounts since their introduction, way back when. I've been visiting for a while, admire your collection, pics and writing. I had a yellow frame back then, that I built up with a steel fork and a mix of parts, and raced for a couple of years. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteThere are several "history of" sites that talk about the bikes, but none really address the complete uniqueness that the bike, and the brand(s) represented. NO other bike company was using industrial sealed cartridge bearings. Hi-E and Phil Wood were offering hubs, and Phil rather quickly added his bottom brackets, but it was strictly aftermarket. No company thought to completely cast pedals, or make the innovative design changes that allowed them to be so efficient in their manufacturing.
I've worked, in the last two years, in the machine tool industry, and learned enough to see, not only that, but WHY, they did what they did. Casting the pedals in one piece saves a bunch of time and money - you don't have to cast the body then stamp and bend the cage, and then rivet or somehow attach one to the other. Casting design called for the use of stock caged needle bearings, which are quite inexpensive, and just pressing them into place. There is no need to press a race into each side separately, add balls and lubrication, slide the axle through and then adjust the cone, washer and locknut to finish the assembly; just slide the axle in, place the pin, cap washer and bolt it down.
For the BB shell, they could just use a section of tube, no need to thread it, and machine the ends to the exact size required for a tight press fit on the bearings. In a manufacturing environment, with the correct tooling and fixtures, this must have been an enormous time and labor saver. Press fit BB's are all the rage on carbon bikes these days, but no one gives credit to the pioneering folks at Viscount for leading the way. Same with sealed bearing hubs for production bikes. I note with some wry (and perhaps a bit cynical ?- who me?-) satisfaction that the carbon ones do not have the same tight fit and therefore frequently end up creaking miserably.
My new Viscount project is the conversion of a nearly fully OEM Aerospace Pro, said to be from 1974, into a poor man's TT bike. It's silver-gray, with a beautiful metallic blue head tube and matching seat tube panel. As purchased it was fitted with the Shimano Titlest and Crane derailleurs, Viscount labeled brake levers with "safety" extensions, leather saddle, calipers, stem, seat post and bolt, crankset and pedals. It also had 27 x 1 1/4" rims and tires, nameless bars and generic headset.
The conversion will use the frame, crankset and BB, hubs, and perhaps the seat post. The rest will be an interesting mix of NOS and newer components. I fully expect the ride worthy result to weigh in around 19.5 lb., complete with aero bars mounted.
Whew. Thanks for listening.
Frank
fbrichetto@yahoo.com
Wow! Frank, you're indeed a fan of Viscounts and I'm glad you found my blog and like it. Not sure if you know about our forum, if so, please do join (if you haven't already). It's free and we're a friendly bunch. http://viscountandlambert.boards.net/ Always lovely to meet other Viscount enthusiasts. Quite agree on the pioneering work back then. People take the mick out of my passion for those old racer, but hey, I'll be still riding them when their frames are knackered. :-)
DeleteHi Stella,
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes, I have found, and joined, the forum. Great fun is already underway. Now I just have to figure out how to finance a trip to the Death Fork Rally!
Oh, that would be so great if you came along. It's good fun and everyone is exceptionally nice. I promise.
DeleteI used to work at Trusty Viscount's in the late 70s & early 80s until their closure in 1983. & I have many tales to tell.
ReplyDelete