Vintage Bicycles

As a time served engineering apprentice and being part of a small engineering company at that time I was lucky enough to qualify as a 'Mecky Fitter' but also got trained as a welder in gas, TIG(Lloyds coded), MIG and MMA I also was lucky enough to study plating and pipefitting as well as paintspraying. You could say I had a good alround training that has happily stood me in good stead over the years to tackle most DIY and construction jobs, especially useful for motorcycles and more importantly for this post 'Vintage Bicycles'.

I don't wish to go too deep into the whole 'Penny Farthing', 'Safety Bicycle' history thing so I'll just concentrate on the bicycle we regonise today, here are a few of mine.


      Mid 1950's James Fothergill 'Grimpeur' built from  Reynolds 531 double butted steel tubing.

It was updated in the 1970's by 'Bob Jackson's' of Leeds and resprayed at the time.

I've rebuilt it to mid-late 70's specification using high quality, high end Japanese components such as Shimano Dura -Ace, SR Royal etc.

All the lugs are laboriously hand cut and filed, close examination reveals very high quality craftsmanship seldom seen today.

Mid 1960's E.G Bates touring cycle, again built from Reynolds 531DB tubing.

Reynolds 531 transfer

Brakes are the scarce Mafac Driver

Swiss made 'Baby' 900 Lucifer dynamo

And it's matching front light.

A more recent early 1990's Raleigh 'Dynatech' built from Reynolds steel tubing bonded to alloy head, seat and bottom bracket lugs, it's lightweight and rides beautifully....it was also built fairly close to me in Worksop at the Raleigh Special Products Division.

Bars and stem are Italian made Cinelli.

Groupset is Shimano's 8 speed 600 'tricolour' which works very crisply and efficiently.

Raleigh headbadge.

Unusual seat stay lugs not often seen on Dynatechs, certainly on none I have seen.