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Classic Lightweights UK
        Devoted to classic UK and Italian lightweights
 

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Introduction

Through this site we 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 builders production. Our cut-off date is around mid-1970 although we have included a few examples 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 and ask that submissions are period correct.  Peter Underwood, email: peter.underwood(at)tesco.net

Please note that the webmaster is 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.  Due to a technical problem the Google Search for the site has been temporarily removed.  



frejus-team-1950
Frejus (UK) Team in the 1950 Brighton to Glasgow Race - Frejus was overall winning team in this event
Left to right:Les Wade, Len West, Dave Bedwell and George Lander (winner of the race)
Note two jerseys with button-up pockets on front, Simplex front and rear changers
(Image Bernard Howerd)

RECENT ADDITIONS

1 May Classic Lightweight News: Edition 39. May-June 2012 has been published on the web site
30 April Catalogues: 1953 Ellis Briggs from Mike Duffy
28 April Catalogues: 1953 Pennine Cycles from Mike Duffy
27 April Readers' Bikes: 1952 Henry Burton owned by Terry Harradine
26 April Classic Builders: Now a piece on Hateley's Lightweight Cycles under 'Builders'
25 April Readers' Bikes: Simon Penfold's 1956 Sheffield Langsett
24 April Catalogues: Biciclette Fiorelli 1954 from Mike Duffy
22 April Catalogues: Hateley's Lightweight Cycles (Wolverhampton) 1950 from Mike Duffy
21 April Readers' Bikes: A very nice Mercian road/track built for Tom Crowther and owned by Simon Penfold
20 April Readers' Bikes: We have uploaded an up-dated version of Hugo Vanneck's Component Database
17 April Restoration: some useful fault-finding pages added to R Blakeley's page on Sturmey-Archer  four-speed maintenance
15 April Readers' Bikes: Another good guide to restoration - Simon Penfold's 1949 Maclean Apollo
10 April Readers' Bikes: 1960 Bianchi Specialissima owned by Simon Penfold
 6 April
Readers' Bikes: 1949 Thanet Silverthan owned by Simon Penfold
 5 April Classic Riders/Reminiscences: Lew Pond's story of track racing either side of WWII and about taking up flying Wheels and Wings
 3 April
Readers' Bikes: 1949 Hetchins Super Special owned by Mario Romeo
30 March Reminiscences: Roger Watts' pictorial reminiscences from the start of the 1946 BLRC Brighton to Glasgow Race
24 March
Reminiscences: Jim Case - Pictorial Reminiscences from 1948/9
22 March
Catalogues: Frejus 1951 from Mike Duffy
19 March Catalogues: James Fothergill - handbuilt lightweight cycles c.1958 from Mike Duffy
9 March Lightweight Extras: The 1948 South Africa vs. Great Britain International track omnium by Geoff Waters. (Featuring Tommy Godwin - above - amongst others in the GB team).
7 March Readers' Bikes: A very original 1948 Hobbs Superbe supplied by Bob Johnson - a useful guide to restoration.
4 March Restoration: Sturmey-Archer 4-speed restoration and maintenance by Roger Blakeley
1 March Classic Lightweight News: Edition 38. March-April 2012 has been published on the website
28 February Classic Components: Wingnuts by Steve Griffith
23 February Catalogues: 1961 Macleans Featherweight Cycles from Paul Gittins
19 February Catalogues: 1969 Mercian Cycles Ltd catalogue from Kyle Brooks
16 February Classic Components: A look at Conloy cotterless chainsets from their 1937 catalogue
12 February Lightweight Extras: Early British adaptors of derailleurs by Steve Griffith
8 February Classic Components: The Campagnolo twin-bilt seatpin now with additional information
Classic Builders: Some 1959 information added to the Witcomb page
4 February Classic Builders: A piece on Cliff Shrubb by David Vines
1 February Lightweight Extras: The 1948 World Track Championships as seen through the eyes of a S A amateur photographer by Geoff Waters