1956 Carpenter #5000 Lightweight Tourer

This is based on a Lightweight Tourer purchased new by Stuart Bedingfield in 1963, with the addition of Cyclo-Benelux 3-speed derailleur gear married to the Sturmey Archer FW hub, and ‘suicide’  rod-operated front shifter. This combination was promoted by Cyclo to offer a wide set of 24 gears,  35″ to 112″. A quirky marriage of SA transmission inefficiency to Cyclo’s unreliable derailleur system, using a stiff 1/8″ chain which tries hard to tug the 3-sp cassette off its circlip. The suicide shifter is well nicknamed too. Still, it’s more entertaining to use than a modern 2×12 compact set!

Frame: Reynolds 531 frame and forks.

Transmission: Conloy Asp pedals, Christophe clips. Bayliss Wiley bottom bracket, Williams cranks, double chainring 1/8 inch; Cyclo Benelux rear and front ‘suicide’ shifter. 3 speed cyclo block. Sturmey Archer FW 4-speed hub.

Wheels: Conloy Asp rims. Conloy Constrictor front hub, GB wingnuts.

Brakes: GB Synchron brakes, Weinmann levers.

Steering: GB Allrounder flat bars on GB Hiduminium stem.

Saddle: Brooks B17 Standard saddle, alloy pin.

Accessories: Bluemels Lightweight mudguards. Constrictor lamp bracket. Carradice saddlebag and panniers on Pletscher rack.

Frame restoration – Argos, Bristol

Sturmey Archer service – Derek Folgate

Wheel Building – Petra Cycles, Oxted.