New arrival: vintage Keith Lambert - bigger than advertised

[DCLane]

I picked up a part-complete Keith Lambert frame yesterday made from Columbus Aelle tubing, with Campag Record / Mavic Open4 tub wheels, Campag Mirage crankset, Tiagra 9 speed front derailleur and Shimano RSX brakes.

Described as a 22" frame I thought to myself "that looks big". It is - having measured the frame today it's actually 23 1/2" / 60cm frame.

Now I'm wondering whether it'll stay.

 

[Cycleops]

Nice, that would fit me. Never heard of Keoth Lambert before. Any story there?

 

[DCLane]

Nice, that would fit me. Never heard of Keoth Lambert before. Any story there?

http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=2787

and

http://www.seventy8.co.uk/keith_lambert_folder/lambert1.html

Ex-pro rider who sells decent frames. A colleague, who sadly died last year after being hit by a drug dealer, owned several of his hand-made bikes and wouldn't ride anything else.

The story behind this one is that it was the seller's own race bike who lives about 6 miles from the shop, hence the tubular Campag Record wheels, which he used in the 1980's and 1990's. Looks to be about 1989 but I'll get it dated by them.

 

[raleighnut]

That's a 'short' frame, will the back wheel come out with the tyre inflated.

 

[midlife]

That's a 'short' frame, will the back wheel come out with the tyre inflated.

Vertical drop outs . Forks look wrong to me but there again it's a bit after my time lol

Shaun

 

[DCLane]

That's a 'short' frame, will the back wheel come out with the tyre inflated.

Just, but only because there's no chain / rear derailleur at the moment.

Enlighten me please @raleighnut . What's a "short" frame? And what does that mean for the bike?

 

[midlife]

A short frame is one with short chain stays, reduces the wheelbase and makes handling sharper. Holdsworth reduced the wheelbase of their team bikes during the 70's to a point where the pros complained of poor handling in the bunch.

Short wheelbase beloved by 70's TT peeps like me who thought it would make them go faster lol

Shaun

 

[biggs682]

@DCLane that looks nice , agree re the style of forks it really needs a nice pr of sloping crown forks imho

 

[raleighnut]

Just, but only because there's no chain / rear derailleur at the moment.

Enlighten me please @raleighnut . What's a "short" frame? And what does that mean for the bike?

@midlife answered perfectly, my 653 TT frame is similar but has horizontal dropouts so with 25mm tyres the wheel won't come out with the tyre inflated, whether it would with 19mm tyres I've never checked but I have been told (possibly wrongly) that the theory was if you punctured on a TT then you'd blown your time anyway.
This is my short wheelbase 653 bike

I've got no idea who built the frame, I purchased it 2nd hand from Cyclemagic as a frame with Campagnolo headset and seatpost and built it up myself and originally had 'aero' extensions but couldn't get on with them so took them off. The funny looking bit that sticks up at the front is a set of 'bar extenders' that my lamps mount to.

 

[biggs682]

@midlife answered perfectly, my 653 TT frame is similar but has horizontal dropouts so with 25mm tyres the wheel won't come out with the tyre inflated, whether it would with 19mm tyres I've never checked but I have been told (possibly wrongly) that the theory was if you punctured on a TT then you'd blown your time anyway.
This is my short wheelbase 653 bike

View attachment 353477

I've got no idea who built the frame, I purchased it 2nd hand from Cyclemagic as a frame with Campagnolo headset and seatpost and built it up myself and originally had 'aero' extensions but couldn't get on with them so took them off. The funny looking bit that sticks up at the front is a set of 'bar extenders' that my lamps mount to.

very nice

 

[pubrunner]

A short frame is one with short chain stays, reduces the wheelbase and makes handling sharper. Holdsworth reduced the wheelbase of their team bikes during the 70's to a point where the pros complained of poor handling in the bunch.

Short wheelbase beloved by 70's TT peeps like me who thought it would make them go faster lol

View attachment 353424

Shaun

Shaun, has anyone ever told you, that you closely resemble Alf Engers ?

 

[midlife]

Shaun, has anyone ever told you, that you closely resemble Alf Engers ?

Pic above is Eddie Adkins I think.....this is me lol

Shaun

 

[midlife]

Slightly drier one......

Shaun

 

[pubrunner]

Slightly drier one......

View attachment 353554
Shaun

I love this pic - gives a real impression of speed.

The bike looks very highly-geared, the rear sprocket(s) look the size of a cotton bobbin.

Did you ever come across my old friend Mick Ward at any TT events ? . . . he's into his 80s now, so a tad older than you .

 

[pubrunner]

Pic above is Eddie Adkins I think.....this is me lol

Shaun

I still think that pic is Alf Engers; take a look at this pic . . . surely the same bike and rider ?

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/riders/engers-riders.html

Your pic IS of Alf Engers - he loved 'drillium' . . . take a look at the brake levers of the bike on the photo you supplied.