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Speedwell Racer

This bike was donated to me by my grandparents' neighbour. I'm its second owner. According to its first owner, it was purchased in 1951 and the serial number under the bottom bracket corroborates this, suggesting the frame was built in Feb 1948. The saddle that was originally installed was from the Wright Saddle Company, a company that was amalgamated into Brooks Saddles in 1962

Most of the parts have since been replaced - the fork was bent, the saddle's leather decayed such that the rivets poked into your butt, the steel rims were, well, steel and the Sturmey Archer hub laced into them give up

In its current configuration it sports a Shimano nexus 8 hub with a matching crankset, a Shimano SP8 dynamo hub and a Soma porteur front rack, making it a very practical but classic styled bike

My first effort at making the Speedwell rideable. Nexus 8 rear hub that replaced the busted Sturmey Archer AW. Sidewall dynamo for lights and an aluminium front rim
The best way to carry a growler is in a wooden crate
As the bike arrived. I had a few Sturmey Archer parts lying around to get it going, but unfortunately the hub didn't survive long. I kept the original shifter on there even when it wasn't functional because it's just so beautiful
Another variation - original Sturmey Archer hub laced into some aluminium rims
This actually after the Nexus 8 hub (which has since returned) as I managed to get a 1972 Sturmey Archer AW wheelset, which I thought matched nicely with the rest of the bike