Nimrod
Road Tests
The CHILTERN SUPER 60 seemed an obvious choice to make when the
new Mal Rees Chiltern Super' 60 bicycle arrived at our office- I would put the machine
through its paces in the range of hills from whence the bicycle obtained its name, the
Chilterns.
The Chiltern Hills are an 800 ft. range northwest of London, stretching some 50 miles
across the Home Counties. The northern boundary town is Dunstable, while to the south the
boundaries are Reading and Windsor. Within these limits is a beautiful range, of winding
valleys, beech-woods and commons, pleasant farming country and new dwellings built by
those daily refugee travellers from London offices. Bold routes like the A40 and A41 cut
through it; narrow, grit-covered paths and tracks climb its ridges. Obviously, the testing
ground could not be more complete.
So it was with some anticipation of pleasure that I headed
into the, hills on the Chittern Super 60. The bicycle did not fail me. Its performance
ably matched the attraction of its namesake - it looks colourful like the countryside ;
but it is clean-cut and serviceable like the trunkroads.
But before looking at the detail let me emphasize that the bicycle is quite
the liveliest I have tested for some time--it leaps away at the slightest suggestion of
effort in the legs, climbs hills with an ease that amazed me (especially as it has,
contrary to popular fashion, five gears instead of 10), and it descends, corners and stops
with all the stability of a London bus. Although it has no doubt been designed and built
with a more general market in mind, I would recommend it to the racing enthusiast. The
embryo fast-man with his pedantic ideas on equipment might prefer other fittings than
those provided, but it would be an unnecessary choice : less mudguards and, as it stands,
the bicycle would be ready for time trialing or massed start racing.
Mal Rees Ltd. (of 83 Coldharbour Lane, Hayes, Middlesex)
specialize in handbuilt, lightweight cycles, and the name seems set to spread from West
London throughout the country. Price of the Chiltern Super 60 is L28 19s. 6d., and, having
established that important point, let us now look at the frame and components which make
up.the value.
The 23 in. frame (as tested, although's choice is offered) is
built to the Continental principles with 72 degrees parallel angles, 22 in toptube, and 41
1/2 in. wheelbase, and employs Reynolds 531 tubing. The stylishly cut lugs are again of
Continental design using high grade steel.
Now note the top manufacturers' names in the components. The
undisputed favourite on production bicycles, Dunlop 27 in. by I 1/2 in. special
lightweight high pressure rims, are featured with Dunlop Road Racing tyres on Bayliss
Wiley small flange hubs and double butted spokes. The brakes are the centre pull pattern
Weinmann Vaingueur 999, with the quick-release attachments to facilitate speedy wheel
removal and adjustment. The handlebar combination is the square pattern G.B. Maes bends on
G.B. Hiduminium 3 1/2 in. extension. A point to note is that the length of stem is changed
depending upon the size of frame ordered. Phillips' famous range of accessories is
representedby Apollo No. 83 rat-trap type pedals, which offer a 2 3/4 in. width between
bars. A Lycett L15 Swallow cutaway saddle is featured, as is Williams' C.34 three-pin
detachable chainwheel with 6 1/2 in. cranks, Bluemel's Noweight mudguards and 18in. pump,
and, last but by no means least, the accessory which contributes to the name of the
bicycle, the Benelux Super 60 gear.
This gear, with a 14-16-19-21-24 block and 46 tooth
chainwheel,provides ratios of 54, 61.7, 68.2, 81 and 94.5 in. Recently introduced by the
Cyclo Gear Company, it functions on the parallelogram principle-pull the down-tube lever
back for bottom gear; push it forward for top. The range was admirable for the hills I
rode, but I must state there was a strong tendency for the gear to rush forward into top
when the lever was moved forward slightly out of bottom. This provided some anxious
moments with the thoughts of having to unjam the chain, but by gentle pressure on the
control lever the chain "homed " successfully on to the desired sprocket.
Delicacy is the word that describes the gear change principle. The other
thought-provoking action was a grinding noise from the bottom bracket when under pressure.
I liked the colour and finish of the Chiltern Super 60. The frame
is white enamel and the complementary colour is red. Red pump, seat tube
panel, transfers, lug lining, mudguards, brake cables and plastic handlebar tape. The Mal
Rees names on the down tube are in gold lettering with red embellishment. Pump pegs are
brazed on to the down tube (a now rare position, which caused one staff member to dislodge
the pump when changing gear), and other brazed on attachments are gear boss and cable
eyes.
I thoroughly enjoyed riding this bicycle, which
weighs just 28 lbs. and other staffmen who rode the bicycle in a wide range of conditionss
and various spheres of our pastime enjoyed a stimulating experience. |