1958 Carpenter #5071 Olympic Pursuit
Just as Claud Butler offered an Olympic Sprint model, from the late ’40s Frank Carpenter listed his Olympic Pursuit. This was his top-of-the-range frame. After Mike Gambrill’s ’56 Olympics success there was a steady demand for this model, many sold for track use, most were probably used for time trials with slightly wider clearances as here. Photos of Mike show he used both variants on the track.
Originally fitted with a 1″pitch x 3/16″ width chainset. These were still in use by sprinters in the mid-1950s who valued the strength and lateral stiffness offered, while pursuit riders had mainly switched to smoother running and lighter 1/2″ pitch x 1/8″ width. This bike was built up to this format.
Frame: 24″ seat tube, 23.75″ top tube, 40.5 wheelbase, 11″ b/b height, 75/72 head/seat tube angles. Reynolds 531. Curved seat-stay bridge. Nervex lugs and bottom bracket. No mudguard eyes.
Wheels: Airlite hubs in Fiamme rims 32/40 (track rear, road front to offer a braking surface).
Transmission: Brampton B8 pedals; hollow BW Featherweight bottom bracket in Nervex shell; formerly Williams B100 chainset 25/8T, 1″ pitch 3/16 roller chain, now TA chainring 50T, 1/8″ pitch set.
Saddle: Brooks Sprinter saddle on Reynolds pin, Cyclo support.
Steering: Cinelli steel bars and stem. Stronglite Competition headset.
(Stratalite Maes bars on Scheeren stem + GB Courier brake with red anodised lever for t/t)
Frame purchased from a house clearance business in Kingston-on-Thames 2012.
Restoration – Argos Bristol
Polishing & Replating – frame & hubs, by YB Plating, Crawley
Wheelbuilding – Petra Cycles Oxted.