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A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 05 Dec 2011, 17:17
by lindsay
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Bicycle on which Hubert Opperman set a world record for 100 mile motor pace riding at the Melbourne Motordrome (now Olympic Park) in April 1930. Made by the Malvern Star Cycle & Motor Co., Melbourne circa 1926.

Inscriptions: Stamped "16280" on rear right-hand axle bracket and both "16280" & "J124" on the underside of the crank axle housing. Also embossed "CHATER-LEA" on underside of crank axle housing.

Manufacturer: Malvern Star Cycle & Motor Co, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1926
User: Sir Hubert Opperman, Australia, 1930

Re: A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 06 Dec 2011, 13:00
by jbcow
That first Malvern Star must have more teeth and a pack of crocodiles. It looks huge next to the smaller front wheel and reverse-trailing forks.
The second one has quite a slack chain... danger - don't ride!

Nice pics Lindsay, great to see some old steel

Re: A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 06 Dec 2011, 14:11
by Hung
WTF :shock:

is that front chain ring for real

Re: A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 06 Dec 2011, 19:09
by Chris96
The fork...

Re: A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 07 Dec 2011, 21:38
by marc2131
WTF :shock:

is that front chain ring for real
Can you imagine doing a cadence of 90-100rpm on those things? Need legs like tree trunks.

Re: A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 07 Dec 2011, 22:03
by weiyun
Can you imagine doing a cadence of 90-100rpm on those things? Need legs like tree trunks.
May not be if drafting a highly effective structure at high speed.

Re: A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 10 Dec 2011, 11:09
by Toff
Hmm. Lovely bikes, especially that stayer. The strut underneath the head tube is an interesting feature. I suppose it's there to stop the wheel flexing back and striking the down tube. I'm surprised it's not brandishing a Major Taylor stem though.

I assume that these are legitimately both Oppy's bikes, but they don't look the same size to me. Stem length looks markedly different too. To my eye these bikes look "staged". I can't imagine people choosing to race on the road on wooden rims, when alternatives were available.

Re: A Couple of Oppy's Bikes

Posted: 10 Dec 2011, 18:13
by rhys
May not be if drafting a highly effective structure at high speed.
This.

Also, Oppy is a certified bad-**s - even by today's standards. How good would it be to watch the greats of all generations ride together? Oppy, Merckx, Cipo, Cancellara, Nguyen....