Lennie Rogers

[petermccallum]

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. I can recall many movies that have had less drama and human interest. I must trawl through some other threads and see what other surprises there are in the forums.

My first bicycle was a Lennie Rogers but not quite the quality seen here. From my recollection it cost me about $100 brand new from Laurie in 1979. It was a very heavy ten speed with touring bar levers (death brakes) and gear levers on the goose neck. All the hallmarks of something downmarket, but I loved it for the freedom of being able to travel long distances in such a short time and for no cost.

I have spent years enjoying cycling in many forms (as a courier, a touring cyclist, a commuter and as an advocate). I'm so glad that my friend Kes Laukaitis introduced me to Lennie's shop 30 years ago.

Peter

[elk]

Well it's back together at last .

[monaco_boy]

Don't bother ringing the number.

Laurie sold the shop in 1985. a few months later it moved down Auburn road a bit further. didn't last very long after that..

I remember helping the new owner clean out the upstairs of the shop (I used to race against his son). there was some amazing old (at the time) gear in there. I even purchased a complete set of campag cone spanners that we found cleaning up.

[WyvernRH]

Well it's back together at last .

Very pretty! Nice job there but... where did you get the green handlebar tape?
Cheers
Richard

[elk]

Hi Richard ,

Abbotsford Cycles stock (or did a few months back ) several different colours of this nice old style cotton tape . It has an adhesive backing and isn't much more expensive than the stuff you can buy in fabric shops with no adhesive .

Cheers ,

Jon

[raskal]

Wow a Lennie Rogers page, amazing..
I had my first "new" bike built by Lennie Rogers in 1978, all previous bikes were hand me downs etc. 6 months later in 1979, I wrapped this around a car. Later that year, I got a replacement frame and rebuilt it using the previous bike parts and still have this bike. Over the years I have moded it some what. Around 1985 I got it repainted and put lugs on for cables and rear rack. I've also changed the stem, rims (twice), bottom bracket (twice), front and rear deralier, cluster, chainring, cranks, pedals, and saddle. The original gear still on the LR frame is the Dia Compe brakes, Campag hi flange hubs, handlebars, and seat post. This is now a touring bike. Its set up for comfort and long hauls with 4X spokes, triple chain ring, big rear cluster, huge Scott Mathauser brake pads, and gel seat. While Lennie may roll over in his grave, this bike has been so reliable, so responsive and strong and still keeps rolling on its Campags. It fits me like a glove, and I just love riding it. Its needs a bit of repair, so now its winter, its going to get an over haul.
I am thinking about another respray. Any ideas on who could do this? I found where to get some 531 decals, direct from Reynolds of course!
http://www.reynoldstechnology.biz/faqs.html
I'll post a photo of it some time..

[monaco_boy]

you can also get reynolds and other older stickers/transfers from ebay

[DaviDRW]

Jon - thank you for posting the picture of the old bike, now restored. It refreshes my memory of the bike. Thanks again for sharing your chapter of ownership!

Peter, Raskal and Monaco Boy and others - it is fascinating the connection made through one bike shop and our association with it! I have enjoyed reading your posts.

David

[luke_rodely]

This is amazing, I've got a Lennie Rogers bike that my dad got made for him back in the early 80s like '82 or '83 and I'm now getting it back to it's former glory. It's a real mixture of parts as seems to have been old Lennie's penchant...always with the reliable and tough as nails Reynolds 531 SL Tubing.

Campagnolo tips (front and back);
Campagnolo Record Hubs;
Mavic G40 anodised rims;
Campagnolo headset;
Cinelli stem and h/bars;
Campagnolo seatpost;
Campagnolo front derailleur;
Suntour cyclone rear derailleur;
Zeus crankset w. double chain ring 56 (track ring)/42;
Zeus bottom bracket;
Campagnolo Gran Sport pedals with toe clips (now Shimano 105 cleats);
Weinmann/Carrera side-pull breaks;
Cinelli unicanitor brown suede seat;





At the moment I am waiting on the drive-side crank to be heli-coiled as when I took the old Gran Sport pedals off it stripped the alloy thread. It looks like it's possible because there is still a fair bit of meat on the thread. Been trying to match the Bronze/brass paintjob with model paint and tried using one although at first it seemed to match perfectly but now it's dry it looks a little lighter and doesn't have the same sheen.

Lovingly restoring this bike with my Dad at the moment is a beautiful process, mind you I cannot wait to get back in the saddle and take her for a spin!

If anyone's got any tips or just wants to know more about the bike I'd love it if you would share your love of Lennie et al with me.

This story was amazing to read and I am so glad to be the proud owner of another little slice of Sydney cycling history!

[cludence]

Luke,

Nice Rogers frame you have. It looks like your Dad has looked after it well.

My Rogers frame has a mix of parts as well. This was common back then.

Looking forward to hearing of you taking it out for a spin.

Karen.

[Kid_Carbine]

Since this thread has become somewhat of a Lennie Rogers 'show & tell' I offer up my own humble example.

My stepfather rode with the Penrith Cycle Club in the 1930's & 40's, as did Lennie & the two remained friends all their lives. When my stepfather retired in the early 70's he went to Lennie's shop & had him build a new bike.
When my stepfather passed away in the early 80's [almost exactly a year after Lennie] I inherited the bike & with the assistance of Laurie Rogers & Jim Bundy, I fully rebuilt it to the specs that my stepfather had wanted, but couldn't afford.

It was originally built with Campy high flange record hubs in Mavic Championnat du Monde singles rims, Campy pedals & Campy Nuovo Record rear derailleur. I continued the Campy theme & it is now fully Record & Super Record equiped. I retained the wheels & R.D. but the steel caged Record pedals found a new life on another of my bikes. The new pedals are Superleggeri.
Note the measure of rake in the fork. This is no gas pipe roadster.
Yes, I still have the bike & it was always a pure delight to ride.

P.S. The baby in the photo on the left was about 1 year pld when I photograpked the bike. He is now aproaching 25 years of age.

[cludence]

Is that Kid Carbine in the photo on the right? If so, you look about 50 in that photo.

Does that mean you are aproaching 75 now?

[cludence]

I forgot, nice bike BTW Kid.


Karen.

[bill1964]

I also own a Lennie Rogers bike. I bought the bike second hand in Hobart in 1990. The bike had spent many years under the house until the last few years. I now use the bike to commute to work and back and I find it rides way better than other bikes I have used. Last year I buckled the back Fiamma rim and was told by two bike shops in Hobart that the bike should be taken to the tip. I persevered and found a young guy who tuned the back rim and got it back on the road for me. I love riding this bike. I find it very energy efficient. Any info on the history of these bikes would be appreciated. Are they considered a quality cycle still or were the guys at the bike shops right when they suggedted it be dumped at the tip?

[elk]

The blokes at the bike shop should be dumped at the tip .

Looking forward to some pics of your bike .

Cheers .

[bill1964]

That did cross my mind re... chucking them on the tip. You should have seen the look on their faces when i asked about repairs or parts. I will dig out the digital camera and post some pics of mine. It is the same colour as yours. I'm really pleased to have found this forum as I always wondered about how to find out info on my bike.

Can you tell me if I could pick up a similar back wheel for mine if it buckles again? To be honest it doesnt spin that true now it's been repaired.

[feelthewheel]

Hi bill1964 - great to hear you have a fantastic vintage frame that you are enjoying, and ignored the BS-advice you were given at the LBS (summed up well by elk). Unfortunately most employees at bike shops these days seem only interested in selling the latest carbon-whatever 50-speed runout last-season model and don't care about anything else. Luckily there are a few specialists who source spares and repair vintage bicycles (are there any in Tassie?) who may be able to assist with a replacement rim and repairs. In Melbourne, there is Abbotsford Cycles as one suggestion (and only a cheap flight across the straight).

Unfortunately I don't own a Lennie Rogers but have greatly admired them in the posts of those that do. Look forward to seeing pics of yours.

[bill1964]

Thanks feelthewheel. I have just noticed that the decal under the seat says 'Durifort'. So I assume even though it has Lennie Rogers printed elsewhere on the frame it is actually an imported frame. Can anyone enlighten me to 'Durifort' with Lennie Rogers branding?

[elk]

Durifort is the name of the tubing used . Builders would select tubing according to the budget and intended use for the bike . So it's got French tubes but still an Aussie bike . You can google durifort to learn more .

[Kid_Carbine]

I also own a Lennie Rogers bike. I bought the bike second hand in Hobart in 1990. The bike had spent many years under the house until the last few years. I now use the bike to commute to work and back and I find it rides way better than other bikes I have used. Last year I buckled the back Fiamma rim and was told by two bike shops in Hobart that the bike should be taken to the tip.

Perhaps you could advise the two bike shop people in Hobart, in the nicest possible way of course, that they are a pair of [censored]ing morons who wouldn't know a good bike if somone shoved it up their collective [censored].

As far as I can tell the Rogers frames were built by two highly regarded local frame builders, one being Jim Bundy & for the life of me, I can not think of the other.
The frames were built to customers specs & were built into bikes at the shop, usually by Laurie, using components selected by the customer, or those recomended by the Rogers.

These bikes were at the end of an era where you could walk into a bike shop & truly have a bespoke bicycle made to your specific requirements, sort of like having your tailor produce a made to measure suit.

Treasure your Lennie Rogers & do not let any ill educated, brain dead wannabee bike mechanic ever tell you that it is worthless & not worth fixing.
It's just another Aussie icon that was built to be enjoyed for decades to come. Many decades to come, so enjoy.

Is that Kid Carbine in the photo on the right? If so, you look about 50 in that photo.
Does that mean you are aproaching 75 now?

Yes, that's me. What do you mean, 75?
Don't you remember, I was the photographer when the Wright brothers first took to the air in December of '03 & I was 65 even then.
Oh to be a young & spritely 75 again. [blows raspberry]

[LG]

That did cross my mind re... chucking them on the tip. You should have seen the look on their faces when i asked about repairs or parts. I will dig out the digital camera and post some pics of mine. It is the same colour as yours. I'm really pleased to have found this forum as I always wondered about how to find out info on my bike.

Can you tell me if I could pick up a similar back wheel for mine if it buckles again? To be honest it doesnt spin that true now it's been repaired.

G'day Bill, I'm also yet to find a bike shop that will happily deal with repairs to older bikes, so do all my own. If you need a wheel trued or any other parts tweeked, send me a PM and we can meet up. Good to hear of another older bike lover in town. I've had similar comments about an old Ken Self roadie I'm in the process of resurrecting.

[bill1964]

G'day LG. Only just picked up your message. How is the restoration project going?

[foo on patrol]

Was driving up the Bruce Highway through the Pine Rivers stretch, and spotted a LG on the back of a white Hillux yesterday afternoon.

Was in good nic, with original down tube shifters and brakes. Couldn't see what the other bike was. I was in a truck, so not much time to gawk at things, unless you want to run over someone!

Foo

[doctorslotcar]

Regarding Lennie and Laurie Rogers I knew them well since 1970. I purchased from their shop in Auburn Rd Auburn NSW a total of 7 new road and track bikes in the following decade. Nervex or Cinelli lugs,Reynolds 531 double butted tubing, Campag tips. Lennie and Laurie were both strongly affiliated with Lidcombe Auburn Amateur Cycling Club which I also raced with. My father Dr Ken Heber was the club doctor and knew the family professionally as well as through club. If anyone is in contact with Laurie I would appreciate the details. The Rogers family were formative in my adolescence and I have enourmous respect as they are my friends. Gordon Heber gheber1@bigpond.com 0416 502 302

[gracie]

I bought this off ebay a couple of months ago. I assume it was a junior track bike which belonged to a Stuart Davis. It is quite small (46.5cm seat tube C-C) and I assume was used as a junior track bike. I've added a front brake, changed the bar tape and switched out the 27inch front wheel that came with the bike for a 700c. The 27 inch wheel in fact doesn't fit in the fork properly and was clamped only half in. If the wheel is seated properly in the fork blades with a 27 and 1/4 inch tire, the tire will touch the fork. I also had a bit of a problem finding a caliper with a short enough drop for the front wheel. The caliper I had just fits with the 700c but doesn't fit with a 27inch wheel. I think the bike originally had smaller wheels (perhaps 26 inches???) allowing enough drop for older style caliper brakes.

Anyway, the bike is lovely. I ride it everyday to work and for my local errands. I might switch the rear wheel one day to a 700c as the ride of the steel rim with cheap tires is not the best. Also, for some reason it has 175mm cranks, one of which is black and the other silver. I do like the 39 tooth front ring as I live on top of a hill and generally when I'm riding it, I'm not in a rush to get anywhere.

Here's a picture of it with my g'friends wheels on it