Old Wearwell Cycle Co. build

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Finally Rivendell got their Miesha cork grips in stock. Got the chain installed but had a bad experience with a well-respected local bike shop. Sent the bike to have the dropouts aligned but they assumed my SRAM Automatix was a kickback hub and proceeded to destroy its internals. They claimed it must have been broken when i brought it in. :roll: It was brand new and unridden. I had to buy a second SRAM hub to finish the build. Not added fenders or a bag yet, want to work out any kinks but it is rideable at last.

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Late 40s or early50s frame. And a very nice frame even before you started on it which you only made better---great job.
 
Took it for a shakedown run, everything works nicely. Will need to work a bit more on centering the rear wheel between the stays and a bit of fine tuning. Ordered a Carradice Barley saddle bag for it so I can carry a few bits with me, sandwiches, rain cape, spares, tools, camera.

I must say centering the rear wheel has been the most frustrating thing on this bike. I've tweaked the frame, the dropouts and still I have more tire to one side than the other up at the top of the seat stays, but down at the bottom on the chain stays it is centered.
 
Beautiful bike. How do you like the auto hub? I am thinking about doing something like your bike with my Schwinn american.
 
Beautiful bike. How do you like the auto hub? I am thinking about doing something like your bike with my Schwinn american.
 
stersam said:
Beautiful bike. How do you like the auto hub? I am thinking about doing something like your bike with my Schwinn american.

The hub is great but I will probably tweak the spring to make it shift a bit later. Right now it shifts when I would rather spin a bit more.
 
Took my bike for a nice ride today. Rides nicely despite my rear wheel not being centered.

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Well, I finally got the rear wheel centered in the frame between the seat stays and the chain stays. It was quite a task. I first moved the entire rear triangle toward the drive side. Then I took a reference measurement to the dropout on this side. I then checked on the non-drive side and found I was out by 6mm. I moved this side only out by 6mm. After all this I now have a wheel that is centered and I can finally add fenders too. Should have them in the post this week and get them installed later in the week.

Disassembly.

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Checking alignment.

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Closer look

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Added a Carradice Barley bag. I am currently designing a quick release for it as well as a support. I also had a custom made leather strap made for the bag so that when I remove it I can carry it easily.

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Here's the strap attached.

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Love the touch of adding the seamstress' name to each bag.

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Thanks Luke.

My Lion Bell arrived from England, very fast, took about a week. They will customize the bell with up to 30 characters for a small surcharge. I had them do mine with WEARWELL CYCLE CO. ENGLAND. The bell is brass with a nice tone and the mount is stainless.

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Just thought I would give a bit of an update.

I changed the rear sprocket to a larger one to make pedaling a bit easier on my old knees, the bike still moves along briskly and the automatic hub works very nicely.

I've added a set of Velo Orange Zeppelin mudguards, a small Spanninga tail light (I wrapped it in aluminium tape to blend with the mudguard) and will add a small rack this weekend. I am using a Cygolite Metro 500 USB headlight but I don't like the look, so don't leave it on the bike.

The Carradice Barley bag holds a nice bit of beer.

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