Introduction
We are interested in collecting information on UK builders of classic frames, loosely defined as frames which could be built to a customer's individual specification. We don't have the capacity to include the larger mass-produced builders, although in a few cases we have included special examples as an example of that builder. Our cut-off date is around 1970 although, again, we have included a few machines with a historical link back to the era we cover.
Readers' Bikes are there as a guide to owners wishing for advice on components for a period-correct build and as such we ask that submissions are period correct.
Please note that the webmaster is not able to give advice on restoring bikes, provide any form of valuation, or to identify 'finds'. If you are unable to find the information that you are looking for on the web site please try some of the other sites listed under Links.
Tommy Godwin at speed at the World Chamionships - Paris, 1947 (on a Bill Gameson track bike)
The following year he won two bronze medals, riding a BSA, at the London Olympic Games
As one of the few 1948 medal winners still alive he has been elected as an Ambassador for the 2012 London Olympic Games
See Tommy in action here
| 24 January | Readers' Bikes: Chris Wimpey's rare Cinelli Super Corsa Leggerissimo |
| 18 January | Classic Builders: Frame pinning by Peter Underwood (now with additional material) |
| 13 January | Classic Components: Holdsworth's Allez pedals |
| 12 January | Classic Builders: We are sad to announce that Geoff Clark peacefully passed away on Saturday 7 January |
| 5 January | Classic Builders: Details and images of the rare Sport Anglais added to the Claud Butler page along with some information on C B's affairs after the sale of the company in 1958 |
| 3 January 2012 |
Lightweight Extras: Pedalling Puritans: The amateur in the history of competitive cycling by Geoff Waters |
| 30 December | Cambridge Lightweight News: Edition 37. January-February 2012 has been published on the website |
| 29 December | Restoration: Some interesting pre-war information added to the piece on Wood Sprints |
| 26 December | Classic
Components: Durax
cranks with some reference to axle lengths, by Peter Underwood Classic Riders: More images and text added to Jim (J F) Wilson |
| 20 December | Classic Riders: Nigel Wilson of Wilson Cycles gives a short history of his father, Jim (James Fredk.) Wilson |
| 17 December | Reminiscences: Mick Butler has added some information on Gaiety CC |
| 12 December | Classic Components: Gian Robert gears by Terry Harradine |
| 10 December | Readers' Bikes: Re-configured 1957 Rotrax 'La Premiere', now with fixed wheel |
| 6 December | Classic Components: Details of Chater-Lea lightweight components produced in 1932 |
| 5 December | Classic Builders: Information and image on Vic Clark added to page on W & E Pollard |
| 1 December | Readers' Bikes: Additional images added to page on 1957/8 Cinelli Corsa |
| 29 November | Calendar:
Events coming in for 2012 Readers' Bikes: Bob Johnson's 1960 Carlton Flyer Road Path with Capella lugs |
| 17 November | Links: A link to an interesting illustrated piece on the North Cotswold CC by Derek Parsons |
| 14 November | Restoration: Obtaining transfers and decals for obscure makes by Bryan Clarke |
| 12 November | Classic Components: Image of cantilevers and brake levers added to Mafac |
| 4 November | Reminiscences: Restoring John Beck's Claud Butler by Jon Derricott |
| 1 November | Cambridge Lightweight News: Edition 36. November-December has been published on the website |
| 27 October | Classic Builders: Another Pollard come to light and added to the W & E Pollard page |
| 25 October | Classic Builders: Extra images added to the H R Morris page and to Pat Hanlon page |
| 22 October | Lightweight Extras: Fixed-wheel Gallery - a selection of images of fixed-wheel machines |
| 8 October | Readers' Bikes: Extra images and link added to the page for the webmaster's 1976 Mercian Super Vigorelli track |
| 5 October | Readers' Bikes: Derek Browne's 1961 Pennine Richmond on fixed |
| 4 October | Readers' Bikes:
Paul Hardings original 1960s
Mercian Campianissimo with interesting chainset Classic Builders: Two notes added to the Johnny Berry page |
| 30 September | Reminiscences: Gordon Claughton's reminiscences of cycling in Singapore 1961-63 |
| 21 September | Classic Riders: Brian Haskell's Viking bike restored by Derek Brown plus images and some history of Brian |
| 17 September | Restoration/Components: A hub/derailleur hybrid conversion with front changer by Peter Lowry |
| 13 September | Lightweight Extras: The Fixed-Wheel/Fixie Scene, a look at the modern 'Fixie' scene in relation to the classic fixed era by Peter Underwood |
| 7 September | Links to related sites: Links to R S Brodericks Velo-Pages website with vintage catalogues, repair and maintenance, technical, road tests, reviews and pictorial history of Peugeot team bikes |
| 6 September | Classic Builders: Details of a Blue Riband and its rider added to the Hobbs page |
| 4 September | Classic Builders: A brief resume on Ken Janes as a cutter of lugs and bi-laminates |
| 31 August | Cambridge Lightweight News: Edition No. 35 - September/October has been published on the website |
| 29 August | Readers' Bikes: Another of Paul Harding's, a 1951/2 Holdsworth Zephyr Road/Path on fixed |
| 25 August | Readers' Bikes: Paul Harding's 1951 Higgins Ultralite |
| 22 August | Readers' Bikes: George Harding's c. 1960 Freddie Grubb Silver Star on fixed |
| 17 August | Readers' Bikes: The webmasters 1976 Mercian Super Vigorelli track |
| 15 August | Reminiscences: Alan
Godding writes about his Ernie Clements and George
Halls Now including Jim Jones and John Godding |
| 11 August | Classic Builders: Witcomb Lightweight Cycles, Wig Worland has added a slideshow of 19 images showing Barrie Witcomb at work |
| 6 August | Readers' Bikes: 1946 Higgins Ultralite SWB tandem owned by Jeremy and Fay Jones |
| 27 July | Classic Builders: Higgins Cycles by Peter Underwood |
| 25 July | Lightweight Extras: The Match Sprint - aristocrat of 20 century summer outdoor track racing by Geoff Waters |
| 5 July | Classic Builders: Alvin Smith has done some valuable research detailing the early-days link between Ephgrave and Purves. The material has been added to both builders' pages |
| 4 July | Readers' Bikes: Yet
another classic British track machine from Australia, Mario Romeo's 1959 Ephgrave No. 1 |
| 3 July | Cambridge Lightweight News: Special edition No 34A to include contact details for the review of 1957 Flying Scot, a private press book complete with two audio CDs at a very reasonable price of £20 |
| 1 July | Cambridge Lightweight News:
Edition
No. 34 - July/August has been published on the website Classic Builders: Nigel Land has added a piece to the Stuart Purves page along with a request for details of machines for his database on the marque |
| 28 June | Classic Builders: An additional page on H R Morris lugs |
| 25 June | Catalogues and Components: Steve Griffith submits information on Hicking of Hayes and their range of alloy components from 1938 |
| 23 June | Readers' Bikes: An Italian bike from Denmark - Martin Hanczyc's c. 1949 Cimatti with Cambio Corsa gear |
| 20 June | Readers' Bikes: Another from Australia, Roy Fossett's 1948 Claud Butler International Club |
| 19 June | Readers' Bikes:
Anni Kirk's 1967 Flying
Scot Continental and from Australia Cyril Peacock's 1950s Carlton Flyer track machine now owned by Roy Fossett |
| 14 June | Classic Builders:
Geoff (Jaffa) Orange has submitted a piece on Jack Hearne
with several images Classic Builders: Some additions to the R O Harrison page by Mick Scott and R O Harrisons daughter |
| 6 June | Lightweight Extras: Technologies for speed in 20th century competitive cycling by Geoff Waters |
| 2 June | Readers' Bikes: Ron Staffe has re-vamped the hybrid gears on his 1937 Claud Butler Anglo Continental |
| 30 May | Reminiscences:
Derek Parks has added details of his Hetchins Keyhole Classic Components:
Bob Freeman describes making some cork
brake blocks for his wood rims
|
| 28 May | Readers' Bikes: Bob
Jones' all-chrome 1949
Thanet Silverlight Classic Builders: some images of a Hurlow/Condor track frame added to Bill Hurlow's page |
| 25 May | Reminiscences: A selection of images from the programme added to the Fausto Coppi Meeting page |
| 23 May | Flying Scot - good
news that Bob Reid has re-launched his Flying Scot Website Reminiscences: Steve Chambers with a pictorial view of cycling in Chesterfield |
| 16 May | Readers' Bikes: Catalogue images giving technical details added to the 1949 R O Harrison Shortwin |
| 13 May | Readers' Bikes: Michael Townsend's 1930's E F Russ |
| 12 May | Reminiscences: More on The Canal Zone by Alan Colburn plus Hetchins Vade Mecum 1958 by Derek Parks |
| 10 May | We are just back from a cycling holiday in Italy so there may be a slight delay in uploading material recently submitted for the website. |
| 1 May | Cambridge Lightweight News: Edition No. 33 - May/June has been published on the website |
| 28 April | Reminiscences: South African road racing in the 20th century by Geoff Waters |
| 21 April | Readers' Bikes: Paul Gittin's 1972 Dave Russell |
| 20 April | Readers' Bikes: Terry Harradine's 1971 Major Nichols |
| 18 April | Readers Bikes: Paul Kimberley's 1972/3 Ron Kitching 'Prestige One' team bike |
| 14 April | Classic Builders: Merlin - the early years by Michael Townsend |
| 13 April | Readers' Bikes: Bob Johnson's 1951 Leach Marathon |
| 12 April | Classic Builders: Hawkes of Stratford by Bryan Clarke |
| 11 April | Readers' Bikes: Bob Johnson's 1969 Pat Rohan |
| 7 April | Readers' Bikes: Terry Harradine's 1968 Pat Hanlon |
| 5 April | Reminiscences: The Coppi Meeting at Herne Hill, 1958 by Brian Redfern |
| 3 April | Classic Builders: Michael Townsend's informative piece on Evelyn Hamilton |
| 2 April | Classic Builders: We have added a superb set of lugs crafted by H R Morris as an addendum to his page in Classic Builders |
| 29 March | Readers' Bikes: Our first trike I think - Alexander Von Tutschek's 1931 A & B racing tricycle |
| 27 March | Classic Builders: Steve Griffith's piece on Major Bros, builders specialising in machines for rough-stuff riders, of which Steve is one! |
| 23 March | Readers' Bikes: Derek Browne's c.1936 Baines 'Pennine Variable' |
| 21 March | Classic Builders: An informative piece on Johnny Berry the Manchester builder. Written by Alan Woods from Oregon, USA |
| 20 March | Classic Builders: Brian Baldwin and Dave Benger had recalled buying their Fred Dean cycles |
| 17 March | Readers' Bikes: Another of Bryan Clarke's - this time a c.1946 Evelyn Hamilton |
| 13 March | Readers' Bikes: A Major Bothers
'Touring' 1959 built for a member of the Rough Stuff
Fellowship - owned by Steve Griffith Also an E Stephens 'Special' 1947 owned by Bryan Clarke |
| 10 March | Classic Builders: Geoff Clark - Racing cyclist and frame builder by Derek Athey |
| 3 March | Classic Builders: Frank Ward, Wally Green team member in the late 1950's had added some interesting information and images to the page. |
| 28 February | Cambridge Lightweight News: Edition No. 32 - March/April has been published on the website |
| 26 February | Reminiscences: additional material to Teenage Cycling Years in Bristol and yet more examples in Speciality Cycling Clubs |
| 20 February | Reminiscences: Roger Pratt relates his story of Charlie Alexander's bike shop in Cardiff |
| 18 February | Readers' Bikes: Gary Higgitt's 1978 Ellis Briggs |
| 7 February | Readers' Bikes : Gary Higgitt's 1950 Giovanni Maino |
| 4 February | Readers' Bikes: Paul Page's 1958 Hetchins Experto Crede |
| 31 January | Lightweight extras: Track cycle racing: The rise and fall of a 20th century spectator sport by Geoff Waters |
| 30 January | Reminiscences: Primrose League and Rosslyn Ladies added to Speciality Cycling Clubs |
| 23 January | Reminiscences: Yet more additions to Speciality Cycling Clubs including San Fairy Ann CC |
| 22 January | Reminiscences: Another interesting piece on the life of cyclists when conscripted in the forces - Random Recollections of Cycling in Egypt 1950-51 by Sid Ellis |
| 19 January | Readers' Bikes: Michael Townsend's c.1937 F W Evans Beam (S) Tourer |
| 16 January | Reminiscences: Additions to Speciality Cycling Clubs include Buckshee Wheelers by Tony Hewson and extra images including badges from Mick Butler. More to come including San Fairy Ann CC |
| 10 January | Reminiscences: Some interesting 1950's photographs added to Metro Cycle Racing Club |
| 9 January | Reminiscences: BLRC North Midlands Section 1951-9 by Sid Ellis - an interesting look at the constant 'war' between the League and the Union (now with added programme images) |
| 5 January | Reminiscences: Speciality Cycling Clubs from the Classic Era by Peter Underwood, with a request for more information |
| 3 January | Reminiscences: More
from South Africa - The
Outdoor Cycle tracks of 20th Century Durban by Geoff Waters. Plus: An addition to the Metro Cycle Racing Club page by John Rawlinson (with images) |
| 1 January 2011 | Cambridge Lightweight News: The first offering for 2011 is the latest version of Cambridge Lightweight News - edition number 31 (January/February) |
Where it is indicated on the site that you can view larger versions of images click on the originals. The larger images may be constrained by page dimensions but a further click will bring up the full size.
If you have any contribution - text or images - to make, please forward to Peter Underwood, email:-
peter.underwood(at)tesco.net.
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