Rotrax Vel d'Hiv

Frame 22½" - Frame No. 56436
- Nervex lugs - Ekla crowned forks - track rear ends

Wheels Harden large flange hub front, modern Ventura coaster brake laced to modern H+Son TB14 rims 32/36

Chainset Stronglight 49d 48t chainring

Pedals Lyotard 460

Gears single speed

Stem/Bars GB alloy Spearpoint stem Renolds Marsh pattern bars

Headset Gnutti

Saddle Brooks B17

Rotrax Cycles of Southampton was founded in 1945, pipping Mercian Cycles at the post for the title of the oldest framebuilder in the UK still in business.

Rotrax is one of the slightly less well known framebuilders in the UK but the quality of many of their frames in the early 1950s was as good as the very best available anywhere. The attention to detail on their top models was exquisite.

This classic English lightweight sports beautifully ornate hand-filed frame lugs, as was the style of the period. The restoration includes a modern coaster brake rear hub, seatpost and rims.

The model name Vel D’Hiv was cycling slang for the Parisian Vélodrome d’Hiver or Winter Velodrome.

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