Rory O’Brien track bike

Rory O’Brien Track iron, bought 2^nd hand from a club mate for about £90, c1979, The frame itself was built towards the end of the 1950’s or early ’60s quite possibly built by Les Ephgrave.. I first bought it when I went to Uni in London with a view to riding Paddington track. In the end I didn’t do very much but it has also been round Palmer Park (Reading) and  Saffron Lane (Leicester). After that it did a few time trials, then languished in my garage for about 20 years before seeing the light as a commuter for a few months. After I ran out of old tubs it went back to the back of the garage until I found some reasonable wheels with HP rims for it on ebay. Now with a 63″ gear it is my ride of choice for day trips up to 50 miles. Not done a seriously hilly ride on it yet though.

Update: Completed my first 200km audax on it, the rather hilly Rutland Ramble in August 2013.

Now stripped for a respray (April 2014) I took advantage of it’s nakedness to weigh it. Frame: 2044g – forks: 788g.

Frame: Steel Reynolds 531 tubing.

Current wheels: Mavic CXP22 on Ambrosio track hubs. Harry Rowland wheels bought from ebay for £80. Michelin Pro3 Race 700×23 tyres 116psi.

Saddle: Gilles Berthould Souldor

Bars and stem: Cinelli 64-42 bars and Cinelli XA 115 mm stem

Front brake calliper: GB Coureur Plus

Brake levers: Campag C-Record aero levers (c1991–4)

Pedals: Shimano PD-M540 SPD

Stronglight 49D chainset with 48T chainring.

Two frame numbers on bottom Bracket:

139

181        8043