The full text and pictures of the recent review of the Moulton Esprit in Velovision magazine can be downloaded here.
Hydrolastic Suspension
The Moulton Hydrolastic suspension was first featured in the Morris 1100. This photo shows Alex Moulton with Alec Issigonis, who famously designed the Mini, at the lauch of the 1100 in 1962.
In the background, is a chart detailing the design of the Hydrolastic suspension unit.
The Hydrolastic was a rubber suspension unit with integrated fluid damping. It was important for two reasons. Firstly, whereas a conventional suspension used separate springs and dampers, the Hydrolastic combined the two, thus saving space.
Secondly, the front and rear units were interconnected by a small diameter pipe, to reduce the tendency of a car to pitch when it went over a bump.
The Hydrolastic suspension was used in several cars from the 1100, to the Rover 100 and Metro. It was originally intended to be featured on the Mini, but wasn't quite ready when the Mini was launched. The first Minis with Hydrolastic suspension were produced in 1964.
A new implementation of the Hydrolastic suspension concept is currently in use in the Moulton New Series bicycle. Here, the fluid damped rubber unit contributes to the ultra smooth suspension.
The stiffness of the rear suspension can be increased for heavier loads, by pumping air into the valve at the rear of the unit. Earlier New Series models also featured a valve on the side of the Hydrolastic unit for adjusting the fluid damping, but this is not a feature of recent models.
Photo credits: Ken Butterfield and Alex Moulton Bicycles.
Duomatic Anti-Rotation Washers
I recently got hold of some new anti-rotation washers for my Fichtel&Sachs Duomatic hub.
The washers do exactly what they say on the tin... they resist the tendency of the rear axle to rotate under the heavy braking torque.
I found these difficult to source, mainly becuase they are rarely listed in English. They are however listed in the SRAM spare parts catalogue (6Mb PDF).
There are two versions. One version features a pair of lugs that sit in the dropout slot to assist in resisting any rotation. The other type is plain, flat without any extension, with a serrated surface to increase the friction between the washer and the rear dropout.
The SRAM spare parts numbers are :
65 0517 110 10 - Retention washer with extension (Fixierscheibe mit Haltenase, if your googling or ebaying)
65 0517 102 000 - Retention washer without extension (Fixierscheibe ohne Haltenase)
Both are listed on several German bike sites, for less than €1, but the postage costs were extortionate, so I found them on eBay (and ordered with the help of Babelfish translation) at a slightly higher price but with a fair charge for postage and packaging.
I should point out that these washers are for the earlier models with the 10.5mm axle, not the later model with the 9.5mm round axle.
An Arty Spaceframe
Alex Moulton describes his bicycle concept as the "Advanced Engineering Bicycle".
The "Art Bike" by Thick Bikes, is, as the name suggests is heavy on the Art and, I suspect, light on engineering. I use the word "light" in the metaphorical sense of course, as it weighs in at over 40lbs or 18kgs.
Also, unlike Alex Moulton's bicycles, which are very finely silver or bronze brazed, the Art Bike is rather crudely welded. Still, it is quite spectacular looking and might attract more attention (and just as stealable) as a Moulton.
The Spaceframe Moultons
If "The Moulton Bicycle" by Tony Hadland is the bible for F-frame Moultons, then "The Spaceframe Moultons" by the same author is the bible for spaceframes.
The book outlines in great detail, how the Moulton concept evolved from the original F-frame into the spaceframe, and contains lots of detail on the design process, and the various prototypes developed along the way. The numerous reproductions of sketches used by Alex Moulton as he refined the concept are fascinating.
Also covered are details of the launch of the AM in 1983, reaction in the media, and detailed specifications of the various models.
The Spaceframe Moultons covers the models produced in the period from 1983 to 1994, and covers the AM, ATB and APB/Pashley ranges, including the AM models produced in stainless steel. There are also chapters on the racing and touring achievements of AM bicycles.
Unfortunately, this book is now out of print, and it's becoming quite difficult to obtain - at least at a reasonable price.
A copy can be bought through Amazon.co.uk, for example, at a cost of £125.92. Copies do appear from time to time through sources like Amazon.co.uk and AbeBooks.co.uk. I bought my copy from Don Swift Books, via AbeBooks for £20.
The best bet may be to order a copy through your local bookshop, who might be able to get a copy through Gardners or another wholesaler.
Happy Hunting!
