Author Topic: Birmingham Wheels Frame - Reynolds bars (Read 20267 times)

insectbones · « **Reply #50 on:** February 11, 2014, 10:41 AM »

Great thread this

Cool bike, be nice to see it finished

dinglem · « **Reply #51 on:** February 11, 2014, 04:18 PM »

OK, so here are a few awesome period race shots of members of the Birmingham WHEELS team in action!! I am loosely basing my build around these photographs as they all seem to have a nice lightweight look about them. Note that they all appear to be running on skinnies, and in some cases have black padsets. One example shows a black frame with chrome forks. The bike in the first photo also seems to have cranks very similar to the Hanabishi items that came on my frame.

This is WHEELS team rider Ant Butt, stood next to his special edition WHEELS frame which came in a gold finish with red parts. There appears to be a second gold WHEELS bike in the background, also with red parts

I wonder where those gold frames are now....

sawzall · « **Reply #52 on:** February 12, 2014, 06:29 PM »

pics of my my expert

dinglem · « **Reply #53 on:** February 12, 2014, 06:34 PM »

^^^ That looks fantastic mate!

Is that one of the built-up ones on Page1 of this thread or is it another one for me to add? Do you have the serial number (or mind sharing it?)

Chrome looks great - is it the original finish or a re-chrome?

BMX1973 · « **Reply #54 on:** February 13, 2014, 06:30 PM »

That is very cool

I would keep the decals on if original.

dinglem · « **Reply #55 on:** February 13, 2014, 08:35 PM »

Quote from: BMX1973 on February 13, 2014, 06:30 PM

That is very cool

I would keep the decals on if original.

Hi mate - many thanks for the welcome! I've been around on the RAD forum for a while, just not posted much until now....

I am still deliberating about those decals as although they are original WHEELS decals they aren't the original ones for the frame. I tried to explain it (probably rather poorly) in an earlier post, but they are definitely from the Birmingham WHEELS office from BITD. Quite a few people have told me the same thing though, that i should retain them.

I might finish the build, add the missing repro decals and see how it looks with those originals on the downtube still in place before making up my mind... or will post on here for a bit of a vote!!

sawzall · « **Reply #56 on:** February 13, 2014, 08:37 PM »

Quote from: dinglem on February 12, 2014, 06:34 PM

^^^ That looks fantastic mate!

Is that one of the built-up ones on Page1 of this thread or is it another one for me to add? Do you have the serial number (or mind sharing it?)

Chrome looks great - is it the original finish or a re-chrome?

it's original chrome

i will get the frame number sorted

dinglem · « **Reply #57 on:** February 13, 2014, 11:05 PM »

...a few items have arrived through the post recently, the latest being a set of hubs

NOS black and chrome Tioga MX402 sealed headset and black Tange locking nut:-

A pair of NOS uber-rare (and utterly bonkers) Vector Ultimate PV-1 pedals (with both 1/2inch and 9/16 spindles). I'd never seen a set of these in the flesh before, and never seen pics of them in an unpainted factory finish:-

Son-Lites

Spartacus · « **Reply #58 on:** March 07, 2014, 09:35 PM »

Nice mate.

Mikku · « **Reply #59 on:** March 08, 2014, 02:04 AM »

If Batman had ridden a BMX, I'm sure those pedals would've been on it!!

dinglem · « **Reply #60 on:** March 08, 2014, 09:30 AM »

Yeah, the pedals are a bit crazy but I love them! So unusual and amazingly light. I have no idea what they are made of... Anybody know?

I am currently waiting on a few bits and pieces to come back from the polishers/chromers before starting the build-up, plus I am about to send off the hubs and rims for lacing.

I also sourced a lovely NOS Shotgun II seat in black which I am waiting to be delivered. I will add a few more pics shortly

Slow but steady progress!

kdw712 · « **Reply #61 on:** March 08, 2014, 09:43 AM »

Awesome build thread

dinglem · « **Reply #62 on:** March 08, 2014, 10:53 AM »

Here's a few shots of the seatpost... now polished up and with black decals to match the colour scheme of the bike.

Still waiting on this to be delivered... never seen one this nice before!

monkian · « **Reply #63 on:** March 10, 2014, 12:58 PM »

Awesome thread. Love the parts for it.
Should be a real stunner

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #64 on:** March 10, 2014, 07:17 PM »

This is going to be an awesome bike when built, that Shot Gun looks amazing.

I'm unsure about those pedals though. $:-\$

Clean · « **Reply #65 on:** March 10, 2014, 07:33 PM »

Am loving this thread, but I am with our Danno regarding the pedals. Rare as they may be, they do t look at all right for the bike, IMHO. $:-\$

Really enjoying the piccies of the red and yellow airtex Team Wheels racing Jerseys; I had one my dad bought me, and I distinctly remember it costing a fiver, which back in 1982 / 1983 (can't remember when, exactly) was a hell of a lot of money, especially for my folks. Unfortunately, it didn't make my BH California no my lighter!

Great thread, mate; cheers!

dinglem · « **Reply #66 on:** March 10, 2014, 08:55 PM »

I'm actually quite surprised it has taken this long for somebody to mention the pedals; they are a bit funky, I agree. We'll see how they look when tidied up and fitted.

I also have a Plan B

Retrodan72 · « **Reply #67 on:** March 10, 2014, 09:00 PM »

Quote from: dinglem on March 10, 2014, 08:55 PM

I'm actually quite surprised it has taken this long for somebody to mention the pedals; they are a bit funky, I agree. We'll see how they look when tidied up and fitted.

I also have a Plan B

That's a pretty nice back up plan too mate.

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #68 on:** March 10, 2014, 09:07 PM »

I think this is going to be one of my favourite builds. I really like those pedals on their own - It will be interesting to see what they look like when it's all done. Looking great so far - That Shotgun seat really stands out

dinglem · « **Reply #69 on:** March 10, 2014, 09:21 PM »

Quote from: dancetothedrummersbeat on March 10, 2014, 09:07 PM

I think this is going to be one of my favourite builds. I really like those pedals on their own - It will be interesting to see what they look like when it's all done. Looking great so far - That Shotgun seat really stands out

Thanks for that matey. I am trying to add a few of my own favourite parts where I can whilst staying as close as possible to what seems to be the original build. I'm excited to see it finished myself!!

dancetothedrummersbeat · « **Reply #70 on:** March 10, 2014, 09:25 PM »

and that headset is like the Fonz -

sweetg · « **Reply #71 on:** March 11, 2014, 05:09 PM »

Seat post looks great ding

like everyone has said this is going to be a great looking bike when done......very nice set of back up pedals and you know where to get rid of those ugly looking vector pedals LOL.....

if you decide to go plan b.

dinglem · « **Reply #72 on:** March 11, 2014, 05:25 PM »

Quote from: sweetg on March 11, 2014, 05:09 PM

Seat post looks great ding like everyone has said this is going to be a great looking bike when done......very nice set of back up pedals and you know where to get rid of those ugly looking vector pedals LOL..... if you decide to go plan b.

Haha! Yes mate, had a few messages interested in the PV-1 pedals should I not use them already! They are so light though, and that is just what I am after so I can see me using them tbh. Dare to be different and all that. We shall see! All the parts have come together nicely now. All I need is the chain and I'm done.

dinglem · « **Reply #73 on:** March 26, 2014, 10:54 PM »

Well not too much progress with the WHEELS build recently. I have stripped the remains of the JT Racing decals from the forks, as well as the remnants of what i presume was the original WHEELS head tube sticker (although i noted the exact position). All that was left was a plain silver circle. I have also removed the old headset and replaced it with the NOS Tioga item i posted previously. Looks very good!

The Shot Gun II arrived through the post and turned out to be just as good as it appeared in the pics. It's awesome, and literally mint, with an '82 date stamp on the underside

I've also taken in a heap of parts to ACF Howell in Walsall for polishing and/or rechroming. Bars, brake components, the Hanabishi cranks that came with the frame, and the PV-1 pedals along with other bits and pieces. Hopefully they should be ready for collection in the next couple of weeks.

The DX pedals are also even better than i expected, again being super-mint. I am starting to feel somewhat torn between using them and the PV-1's now, especially as the DX's are original in black so would match the build perfectly (and go with the seat post) and i could then use the shiny PV-1's on my next (blue framed) build which i am also in the pre-planning phase of. Hmmm?

I guess i will try both sets of pedals on the bike and see what i think then.

The hubs and rims have also gone off to a very helpful member of this forum to be laced up so i am very excited about seeing them, especially as i have just heard that they are currently underway

That's about all for the time being... i think once i have everything back it will build-up pretty quickly!

Andy68 · « **Reply #74 on:** March 28, 2014, 09:49 PM »

Looking good Martin!!

Author Topic: Birmingham Wheels Frame - Reynolds bars (Read 20267 times)

monkian