Today we started work on getting out 1960s Freddie Grubb Tandem back on the road. It
really doesn't need much doing to it apart from replacing a missing spoke in
the rear wheel. However that’s where the
problem starts as the wheel is laced with much thicker spokes than normal. After much measuring and head scratching we
worked out the spokes are 13 gauge single butted (the same size all the way down)
instead of the more common, and thinner 14 gauge double butted which are found
on modern bikes. Unfortunately a couple
of hours trawling the internet should us that getting these off the shelf was
impossible.
However our friend Doug Pinkerton, who is professional cycle
restorer from Redditch
has come to our rescue and has promised if he does not have what we are looking
for in large stock of old parts will roll us some from longer length
spokes. Hopefully within a few days our
tandem will be back on the road.