An introduction to my 1927 CWS Path Racer Bicycle!

I've bought another vintage bicycle - in today's video I will introduce you to my new (old) 1927 CWS Path Racer!
Expect a quick look over this fantastic vintage racing bicycle before I break out the oily rag and more to enhance its original, patinated look, and a bit of this particular bicycle's unusual history.
You can also look forward to some riding action, as I get used to the unique riding position on the 1927 CWS Path Racer alongside my 1952 CWS Federation Bicycle that I have owned for a few months now, and what had started my passion for vintage cycles.
If you enjoyed this introduction to my vintage Path Racer bike then do let me know in the comments what you think of it.
Please also remember to subscribe to CarTraction for exciting future content featuring aged vehicles of two wheels and four from classic car shows to my Austin Pathfinder pedal car restoration project!
Thanks for watching!

#vintagebicycle #oldbikes #cwsbicycle

[jeffking]

Very cool.
I like these old bikes.
I love the scene of you and your dad riding together.
📻🙂

[jbarner]

In the US, we call that style rear hub a "coaster brake." Many riders would have flipped that seatpost around so the offset faces forward. This is how they compensated for the extremely shallow seat tube angle that was common in that era. These shallow angles worked well on the kinds of road surfaces common when the bike was new. From looking at you riding the bike, you should have the saddle up a bit higher. We typically recommend starting with the saddle height set with the leg straight when the heel is on the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, then making small adjustments from there. Be sure to give yourself plenty of miles before making each small adjustment. Congratulations on finding these old classics!

[Carl-xyc]

I want to say you and your father have a good healthy relationship. I was scared of my father. He was alcoholic and abusive. It caused me alot of grief. Your dad is raising you in the correct way.

[simonpearce]

I'm glad you are enjoying the bike, as much as I did.I'll soon be in the process of building another one. ..

[nigelbond]

I really love your new vintage bike, that’s a peach. I think your approach to preservation rather than refurbishment is definitely the right way to go. And your commentary exudes knowledge and enthusiasm, really wonderful video 👌

[davidarter]

A beautiful bike, Harley. My first bike had a back pedal brakes and when I upgraded to the new two wheel grip brakes it was like changing from drum brakes to four wheel discs! Still there is something about older vehicles of all kinds that newer things just don’t have: Soul.

[douglasfortin]

I'm pushing 70 and to a young person like yourself into the old bikes like I am made my day! I restore and restomod every Schwinn I can get my hands on. Finding a very, very old bikes with the frame mounted pump is very rare - - they are always missing. A little tip from an old timer - - store the bike with the Sturmey Acher hub in high gear so the cable is slack. And I have found nothing works better on a Brooks saddle than the leather dressing Brooks sells. Keep them

[KiwiStag]

Funny how things go through seasons, isn't it? The style of the under-slung handlebars reminds me quite a lot of the late 1970's Healing 10-speed bike I used to ride everywhere. The hub-centric braking system reminds me of the early 70's Triang Dragster I rode before I got the 10-speed. The Dragster was a superb bike for an 8-12 year old and I did many miles on it around the village I lived in. Finally got a speedo for it and racked up over 300 miles in the last 6 months I rode it - bearing in mind this wee beasty had a 14" front wheel and a 16" rear, that Howick in Auckland, NZ is not a pancake by even the wildest stretch of the imagination (so it was tough going for a while) and I had a Need For Speed and had that bike pulling 25mph downhill on a regular basis. I think I got it to 28 once or twice, but never got to 30....and all with just that hub-centric brake to stop me.

....And yes, if you press hard, it does lock up the rear - and I learned that in the wet, your rear wheel can start to overtake you if you lose traction going down a steep if you've never drifted sideways through an intersection and then over a bank onto another road, letting off the brake and trying to bring the bike back into line as it kept fish-tailing, I'd certainly not recommend it - especially at 12 years old! Did it stop me riding fast in the wet? No....but it DID make me immediately go to the bike shop and invest in a clamp-style front brake! That rear hub brake was fantastic in its engineering though and I remember taking it apart to clean it out and regrease everything after the bike got drowned in a rather severe summer storm that turned our back yard (and out neighbours on two sides) into a very deep pool. Took two days for it to drain away sufficiently that I could again see my bike's handlebars and that it was still - somehow - propped up by it's stand.

The 10-speed could do just over 40 down the same hill I had so much fun on with the Dragster and I once had a tail wind that pushed it to 44, but I'd no sooner hit that speed than I started braking for that nasty intersection. I used to go through a set of rubber brake pads every 400 miles or so on that thing and considering I clocked up around 13, 000 miles in the four years I rode that beast full time, that's a fair few pad changes. I can't recall how many tyres I used either, but they never seemed to last long and it seemed the money I got from my paper round, lawn mowing rounds and chores around home was always disappearing to pay for one thing or another for it! Set me up well for the experience of owning a car when I started driving though!

The handlebars on the 10-speed were more tightly slung around in the vertical than the Path Racer, but I believe they were used to similar effect - to get the rider to lean forward further to reduce drag / wind resistance. The 10-speed had auxiliary brake handles in line with the flat bar closer to the steering shaft, so you could cruise on it as well as full-out fly along, but you can guess which I preferred! I had two mirrors mounted on the bars too - low down underneath the bars so I could still use them in "race mode". The gearing was only good enough to get me up to 25-30 before it was impossible to pump the legs up and down any faster to gain speed and I was in discussions with the bloke in the bike shop about all manner of improvements that could be done to increase the top end, but in truth there were few, really.

I might have been able to get an extra 5-10mph out of it with an 18- or 21-speed gear set, but that was a whole new cluster, new derailleurs, new shifters (although I figured that as the 10-speed's shifters were not stepped, I should have been able to get away with using the originals) new triple front cog and shaft assembly and possibly a replacement chain....and maybe going from a 26" to a 28" wheel....but the money I was going to have to save was around the cost (and a bit more) of a new 18-speed....and as it was, I put the money toward my first car instead. This trip down memory lane has been a fun one, actually. Makes me want to see if I can find a first-gen 10-speed - either Healing or Raleigh would be fine - and get back into a more modern, lighter, close-ratio geared cruiser is probably a better bet! (haha) All the best

[RobertGott-cf]

There’s al lot of interest in vintage cycles and rightly to
It’s great to see someone of your age interested in them 😮😮😊
I wish you well Harley😮
Keep that oil can going😮
They will last forever😊😊

[MichaelCondron-xn]

The new bike is great good on you, you better start building the 4 car garage now for when the cars start coming, Cheers

[tonycox]

You'll be needing another shed soon Harley, for all the bikes.Great vid! 🙂👍

[roberttaylor]

Well done 16 year-old 5' 9" oily rag man! I felt your pleasure in finding and fettling this new bike to increase your enjoyment and the satisfaction you have in old things ancient, which as an ancient I can appreciate! Well done you and hope it gives you some me-time in between the Pathfinder project work which vital to your continued success. Great vid! Rob

[michaeltreadwell]

Brilliant Harley. The new bike is gorgeous. 60 years ago, both my sisters had bikes with 'back pedal brakes'. Very easy to use once you get the hang of it. You have done well with your new acquisition - what will be next Take care 🙂

[Vince_uk]

You caught me unawares Harley, Wednesday and a CT video. An interesting bike. I have a 78 year old friend who is a Type 1 diabetic and a 64 year old neighbour who both regularly cycle 80 miles plus nearly every other day, weather permitting, complete with all the correct gear. Me? I couldn't do 80 feet but I am inherently lazy. 2024 = bikes, 2025 = cars methinks.

[lawrence]

Love the shape of the handlebars. A nice looking bike you've got there Harley.

[davidbee]

Just a suggestion. With old leather saddles, treat the underside first to allow the oil/conditioner to soak into the rough surface. This will soak through the material to keep it soft. then treat the upper surface lightly and wipe the excess off.

[dennisbotha]

Grand old bicycle, incidentally hails from the same year as my twin sister and i. We both rode Phillips cycles, sports models, UK imports, in the mid sixties, costing 26 pounds a piece, back then. Both beauties to ride & look at!

[johnfowler]

Nice one.
What engine does the old grey frgie have?

[ianthompson]

I sell white ball end grips for vintage bikes which would look lovely on this and match those bright white tires, and they would be a lot more comfortable too.

[Squirel]

Congratulations on your new purchase. 😊