Claud Butler Dalesman

[Rhythm Thief]

One of the things I like about older bikes is how serviceable they are. Here's the original bottom bracket, all cleaned up and ready for new bearings. So often these days "maintenance free" can be translated as "disposable", but with new bearings and grease there's thousands of miles left in this. The headset has been likewise rebuilt. I always rebuild this stuff with loose bearings, rather than races, as there's more bearing surface than with races.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Back on this today after a week with no time to even think about bikes, let alone ride them or mess about with them.
I've dated the bike to 1982 from the frame number, and I found a 1982 Claud Butler catalogue online. Looking at that, I'm pretty sure my bike is completely original, so it will ultimately end up restored and with all its original bits.
However, upon getting stuck into cleaning the wheels, I discovered that the spokes were a bit manky and that cleaning the hubs was a bit of a ball ache, and... Well, here's where we are now. New stainless spokes to be ordered soon, but in the meantime I might build it up with modern kit. Just temporarily, until I've rebuilt the original wheels.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Front hub cleaned and polished and rebuilt with new bearings.

 

[MichaelW2]

The CB Dalesman was a nice club bike but not a special one. Rebuild it with all mod cons or not.
Compared to any new product with a Claude Butler badge, you just want to weep at how the mighty have fallen.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I know modern bike bits are lighter, stronger and generally better in every respect than old bike bits (except possibly where serviceability is concerned), but are they sexier? I think not. Checkmate, modern bike bits.

 

[mickle]

I had an 1983 CB Dalesman, but rebadged as a London Bicycle Company Dalesman. Bought new from their shop (Now Paul Smiths) in Cov Gdn. I loved that bike. It went under the front of an Audi driven by a drunken policeman whilst I went backwards, head first, through the windscreen. The bike jammed under the front of the car, which stopped him trying to drive over my legs to escape the scene. I ended up in a wheelchair for a couple of months from my injuries anyway, but the bike was a total write off. The police attended the scene, but somehow all record of the collision ever happening disappeared.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

A lovely evening to rebuild the wheels.

 

[Jameshow]

A lovely evening to rebuild the wheels.

Lovely! Enjoy!!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Done, more or less. Not quite finished but I've run out of light and enthusiasm!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

The wheels have been rebuilt with the original rims and Campag hubs and new Spain Race double butted spokes. The mudguards were an eBay purchase and are stainless steel, which will polish up nicely. I've spent far longer than I bargained for salvaging stays and brackets from knackered mudguards and fitting them, but it's all done now. I should get it finished tomorrow, if I can get a couple of hours on it.

 

[Gunk]

You’re doing a cracking job of that.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Annoyingly, the spring tension on the original derailleur is not sufficient to keep the chain tensioned; you can see how slack it is. Shame, because I'd have liked to keep it original! I might pull it to bits and see if I can fix it.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Much better! Turns out I'd reassembled it wrong, like the idiot I sometimes am.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Pedal rebuild. Usually I'd just stick SPDs on something like this, and I still might if I want to ride it any distance. But I might as well rebuild the original pedals for a proper old skool riding experience.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Sometimes I wish my workbench was a bit tidier. Although not to the point where I actually tidy it up, obvs