1983ish Claud Butler Sovereign 531 frame & forks - first outing

[Tony Raynor]

picked this up tonight and it looks in reasonable condition. This was CB's answer to the Dawes galaxy and was set up as a touring machine. Interestingly it has a flip flop hub on it for some reason.

Will have a fettle at the weekend.

 

[wisdom]

That will turn out very nice I am sure.
Great looking retro bike.

 

[midlife]

Splendid. Anything that has the gear cable stop on top of the chainstay gets my vote

Shaun

 

[biggs682]

Bloody hell @Tony Raynor you are giving me a good chase for my money on these gems you keep turning up with , whet ever next a Roberts !!!!

 

[Tony Raynor]

Who knows what's around the corner, just don't tell Mrs T

 

[Drago]

Very similar to my Claud. 531, VX-GT mech, 25.5 frame, Wolber rims, even the same year. The Holdsworth era bikes are lovely. It'll make a smooth riding machine.

 

[Tony Raynor]

Tonight's story
1. Strip components.
2. wash frame.
3. Remove bottom bracket
4. Rush into house to clean hands
5. Check eBay and see last 30 seconds on Pinarello.
6. Jump for joy at winning
7. Swear profusely as it didn't update when watching and find out I was outbid in the last seconds
8. Clean and grease bearings and replace spindle and bracket
9. Put left crank on and tighten
10. Try right crank and realise I've put spindle in wrong way round
11. Swear profusely
12. Remove crank and bottom bracket, turn round spindle and tighten up
13. Replace cranks.
14 remove foam handlebar covers
15. Swear profusely as I skin my knuckles
16 put on new bar tape
17 have a beer

Anyway here's a couple of pictures.

 

[biggs682]

Tonight's story
1. Strip components.
2. wash frame.
3. Remove bottom bracket
4. Rush into house to clean hands
5. Check eBay and see last 30 seconds on Pinarello.
6. Jump for joy at winning
7. Swear profusely as it didn't update when watching and find out I was outbid in the last seconds
8. Clean and grease bearings and replace spindle and bracket
9. Put left crank on and tighten
10. Try right crank and realise I've put spindle in wrong way round
11. Swear profusely
12. Remove crank and bottom bracket, turn round spindle and tighten up
13. Replace cranks.
14 remove foam handlebar covers
15. Swear profusely as I skin my knuckles
16 put on new bar tape
17 have a beer

Anyway here's a couple of pictures.

Looking good mate , you mind all that swearing will get the neighbours complaining to Mrs R

 

[Tony Raynor]

Lol the wife is safe, I'm in Chertsey and she's in Patrington Haven hence the fettling time

 

[Tony Raynor]

Managed to do a staggered 20ish miles today and I'm feeling a little chaffed around the derrière and sun battered. Rides nice on the roads but felt harsh on the Thames towpath. Maybe need to run less psi in the tyres.

Here's a picture from Sunbury Lock.

 

[Drago]

I run mine on Schwalbes, fairly high pressure because of my weight and its a lovely ride.

 

[biggs682]

I run mine on Schwalbes, fairly high pressure because of my weight and its a lovely ride.

My Mercian with 27" wheels is also on the Schwalbes and i run them at about 80psi , narrow 700's i run at 110 psi

 

[Drifterjoe]

Hi

I know this is an old thread but I was hoping to find out if you have any more info on the Sovereign?

I've just bought exactly the same bike, even down to the wolber wheelset with a flip flop hub, but I'm puzzled about the history of it. Apparently the sovereign was only made in 1981 but the frame number suggests 1985?? Also there's no info only that suggests CB ever made the sovereign in red. But both you and I have one??
Any info you have would be great as I want to refurbish the bike but wat to be sure it's authentic.
Picture is of my bike as it is now.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Re the hubs, it was quite common to have hubs that took a five speed block on one side and a fixed sprocket on the other. They are a throwback to the times when one bike was all many riders could afford, race through the season on gears and swap to a fixed for the winter.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Re the hubs, it was quite common to have hubs that took a five speed block on one side and a fixed sprocket on the other. They are a throwback to the times when one bike was all many riders could afford, race through the season on gears and swap to a fixed for the winter.

Yes, I've done that, if I remember correctly I did that with my Pollard, 6 speed in the summer and fixed in the winter.