Falcon - Champion Du Monde Project

[Biscuit]

Hi,

Rescued a falcon frame and hoops from a skip. Considering a restoration / rebuild project.
I know it's not financially viable but I'm not too worried about that.

What I want to know is this, before I launch into resprays etc. I want to fit a modern(ish) rear mech. However the rear drop outs are forward facing slots with no hole for a hanger screw on the drive side.
Both the drive and non drive side look the same.
It would be easy to go for the single speeder option, but I'd like gears.

I've seen the hangers made to take shimano mechs but all of these require a bolt / screw on the frame itself.

How the hell did the original fit onto the bike in the first place??

Any help / comments appreciated.

 

[Baggy]

Do you have any pictures? It's possible it might be a track frame, so wouldn't have a derailleur hanger.

Edited to add: have just found a pic of an old Dawes, which looks as if it has a hanger that attaches into the dropout.

 

[Hacienda71]

The old style rear mech came with a hanger attached that clamped on with the rear axle bolting on. It had a guide attached to fit in the rear drop outs. I bought one of these THESE worked fine on an 1979 Eddy Merckx steel frame with a QR skewer.

 

[Biscuit]

Hi, thanks for the info.

Looking at the imprints remaining in the inside of the drop out it looks as though the axle was bolted about half way along the slot.
Which would leave plenty of room for the hanger arrangement as shown in the dawes pic. Or alternatively use the mech with hanger, although removing the mech every time you take the rear wheel off would be a bit of a pain.

I want to try and use one of these. Think it will worth the £3 or so just to give it a try.

 

[Biscuit]

The old style rear mech came with a hanger attached that clamped on with the rear axle bolting on. It had a guide attached to fit in the rear drop outs. I bought one of these THESE worked fine on an 1979 Eddy Merckx steel frame with a QR skewer.

Ah think I was being a bit thick there. The mech slides into the drop out right and bolts on separately to the rear wheel. Gotcha!

 

[youngoldbloke]

More expensive top-end frames came with a hanger that was part of the dropout - for example 'Campag ends' - dropouts (front and rear) supplied by Campagnolo and brazed onto the frame during its construction. Cheaper frames with generic dropouts required the use of a hanger such as the one above - still easily available

 

[craigwend]

I had one of these as a 'lad' (30 years ago!) - Bog standard tubing from memory, It was a lovely gold colour (I had it resprayed white) with white-ish decals and world champ stripes?
I think I killed the frame hitting a 'bad' pothole commuting!

Anyway, from memory it had 10 speed shimano set up (cheap one) gears, brakes (changed to hoods from suicide levers) etc & a terrible (cheap splined) chainset which I eventually bought a new (sugino) chainset) after changing about 6 cranks.

No it did not have a hanger - the derailer had sort of a bit that fitted into the drop outs (possibly the worst technical explanation ever!) and was held there by tighting the nuts 'good and hard'.

If you've got a picture for my own trip down memeory lane, it would be great

My dad paid for half then I spent 6 months paying off the other half with my paper round money, got some nice alloy quick release wheels eventually, (original hoops steel?) ooh it takes me back.

 

[Biscuit]

Thought I'd bump this thread with a little photo update.

CW, not a great first photo I'm afraid might not be how you remembered it.
I have posted the photo stream on flickr.

Here you go.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sudburyswimmer/sets/72157625261216975/

I'm going for shimano on the group set primarily because I have the spares, and some 10 speed / double shifters. The wheelset will probably be FSA RD-60s to take the 10 speed cassette and are within my budget, ( Sod All ), and look relatively strong. ( I.E. Heavy :-) )
The most expensive bits apart from the wheels will probably be the Brooks bar tape and seat, indulgence. I have also identified some deep drop bolt on brakes to reach to 700C rims.
Still undecided on the cable routing after reading sheldon browns comments, and I shall need to buy the chrome cable end clips for the frame for whatever I decide.

I'm planning to have it finished by the spring for a little light tour. All coments gratefully recieved

Biscuit