Through our site Patricia and I would like to share our enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, classic lightweight cycles, particularly those built in Britain and Italy. Contributions from other lightweight enthusiasts are welcome, including images of machines or components of particular interest.

We are interested in collecting information on UK builders of classic frames, loosely described as frames which could be built to a customer's own specification. We don't have the capacity to include the larger mass-production builders of lightweights, although in a few cases we have included special examples of a builder's production as an example. Our cut-off date is around mid-1970 although we have included a few which have a direct historical link back to the period we cover.

The Readers' Bikes section is there as a guide to owners wishing for advice on components for a period-correct restoration so we ask that submissions are period correct.  Peter Underwood, email: peter.underwood(at)tesco.net

Please note that I am not able to give advice on restoring bikes, provide any form of valuation, or to identity 'finds'. If you are unable to find the information you need on this site please try some of the other sites listed under Links.  

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While doing research for the Horn brothers entries on this website I became aware that Dennis Horn had been a hero for the generation I was riding with in the early 1950s. Most were older than me as they had been riding pre-war and I think some had bikes that Dennis had ridden in his heyday.  As I did more and more research I began to visualise a book describing Dennis's feats in the decade or so before WWII and I am taking the liberty of promoting the resulting book which is being published by Adrian Bell of Mousehold Press.

Dennis Horn – racing for an English Rose by Peter Underwood is available from: www.mousehold-press.co.uk :

 

Toni Merkens, the German track rider who had great international success in the 1930s.
He often rode in the UK and, as an amateur, was one of Claud Butler's 'team' for several years.
He was Amateur World Sprint Champion in 1935 (Brussels)
He won a gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics in a controversial fashion and turned professional soon after,
riding a Hetchins track frame at the Wembley 6-day race.
For many years he used a Major Taylor adjustable stem but when he finally found his ideal position he
commissioned a 'droopy' stem, seen above, which was soon marketed as the 'Merkens' stem.
He served in the German army during WWII and sadly was killed on the Russian Front.


RECENT ADDITIONS

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We have returned from a two-week holiday cycling in Italy and our first offering (in Lightweight Extras)  is Sculptured in Steel: The three historic lightweight frame designs and beyond by Geoff Waters.  Readers' Bikes: An interesting 1967 Holdsworth Italia Professional (with history) from Kelvin Pawsey Readers' Bikes: Bob Johnson's 1959 Cinelli Super Corsa with the rare TA Criterium chainset with wedge axle Readers' Bikes: a 1961 Jensen belonging to Philip Amadeus, built for this year's L'Eroica Readers' Bikes: The thoroughly researched and documented restoration of a 1972 Cinelli Speciale Corsa owned by James Sage Readers' Bikes: Terry Harradine's 1970 Major Nicholls Record Classic Lightweight News: Edition 45. May-June 2013 has been published on the website Readers' Bikes: Detailed description of 1954 Johnny Berry Road/Path owned by Rick Hart Restoration and Readers' Bikes: 1934 Granby Taperlite-owned by W (Bill) Ives Readers' Bikes: 1974 Rondinella (Vic Edwards) track/fixie owned by Peter Underwood Classic Components: Yes, it is 1 April - a piece on dressing gowns by Peter Underwood Readers' Bikes:  Hugo Vanneck's 1954 Hetchins, Our first Nulli Secundus, Readers' Bikes: c1959 Meridian owned by Bryan Clarke Classic Lightweight News: Edition 44. March-April 2013 has been published on the website Lightweight Extras: Having just enjoyed this year's worlds track championships it is a good time to check Chasing Rainbows - the first 99 years of the official worlds cycling championships by Geoff Waters Readers' Bikes: A 1951 R O Harrison Lyta (?) owned by Peter Underwood Reminiscences: Shelia Clarke writes on Ronald James (Squibs) Cycling Days 1935-47 Classic Builders: A F Mills (Welling) Ltd by Bryan Clarke with an appeal for more information Readers' Bikes: A rare 1956 A F Mills track machine owned by Griff King-Spooner Readers' Bikes: A 1974 Jack Taylor Clubman from Sean Flores Classic Components: Peter Underwood on The Campagnola Portacatena Restoration: How to apply spirit-fix transfers by Derek Browne We have finally managed to restore the Google search engine for the website, above the image Classic Components: Details of Ozanne flint catchers added to the Flintcatcher section Classic Components: More of the mysterious Constrictors treasure trove is revealed showing many unique parts rarely seen before Classic Lightweight News: Edition 43. January February 2013 has been published on the web site Lightweight Extras: The Cycling Legacy of Leon Meredith, Bastide and the Constrictor Tyre Company by Geoff Waters Lightweight Extras: An interesting Ellis Briggs time trial machine added to Drillium Images Page 2 Classic Components: A new page on the Constrictor Tyre Company with details of part of a treasure-trove recently unearthed Classic Components: Ekla lugs and fork crowns by Bryan Clarke Catalogues: Knights of Harrow 1949 catalogue Bryan Clarke Lightweight Extras: Due to the popularity of the Drillium Images we have created a second page including a 'Keyhole' Hetchins and the humble sprocket Classic Builders: A 'feeder' piece on Ellis-Briggs hoping to elicit more information on this builder from Shipley in Yorkshire Readers' Bikes: Holmes of Welling 'Feather Superbe' held by Derek Browne Reminiscences: Buckshee Wheelers - the story of LAC G.M. Garth told by Peter Underwood from a photograph Readers' Bikes: Bob Freeman's 1946 Merlin L'Internationale Classic Lightweight News: Edition 42. November-December 2012 has been published on the web site along with a Supplement on our experiences of L'Eroica 2012 Lightweight Extras: We have added a page for 'Drillium' images to the existing piece on Drillium - now with images of Peter Kohler's Raleigh SBDU time trial build