Last summer we went camping at a farm belonging to my uncle’s family. Whilst there I rode the oldest bike I have ever seen, a 1920’s Sunbeam. It has rod brakes, 2 gears and is surprisingly comfortable and well balanced, albeit rather hefty. Worth noting, too, that it is NOT restored – it is in original condition. My uncle is a purist about these things.
1920's Sunbeam
I had a bit of fun riding it about and later in the week I was asked to take it back to London for my uncle. So we loaded it onto the roof carrier and took it back home.
The Sun Beam
The next day I rode it the 10 miles from home into work which was near my uncle’s London house, and dropped it off to him. I only wished I had a tweed jacket and deerstalker cap to ride it in, but I had a lot of fun. At the time I was feeling pretty fit due to regular riding so I was in a mood to take all comers. On the “Silly Commuter Game” I certainly took a few scalps that morning. The bike ran beautifully and was perfectly geared for fairly high cadence speeding through London streets. And the rod brakes stopped it pretty effectively so once I was confident taking it at speed I really gave it some, sitting completely upright and taking on (and beating) many considerably lighter and faster bikes.
Upright cycling position
I must have looked a sight and my careering journey was only slowed by the saddle, which flipped back on the oldfashioned mount quite a few times.
Now THATs a saddle!
Anyway I reckon its a good many decades since the old girl went that fast in London and for an octagenarian she did very very well.
... and that is a headlamp.
Talk Wrench - Bikes and Bits 