artefact #3

This is the one side of the flip-flop fixed gear from my grandfather's (Kenneth Albert Wilson, Ken) racing bike that he built himself at some time around 1936. He would have been about 20. He was New Zealand national road champion at least once, a wharfie and an engraver of fine jewellery and trophies.

My father was also a fine road cyclist, but strangely I know less about his exploits, except that he one day broke the handle bars clean off this bike as he neared the top of one of the big hills out of Wellington. He rode back in, no hands, gripping the front brake lever to slow himself (no back brake because it is a fixed gear).

The bike sits in the basement of goodness awaiting it's turn for restoration.

Soon.

PS, if anyone knows of a nice pair of circa 1930's steel racing handlebars needing a new home please let me know...