G. R.
Reed 'Leo Star' - 1958/9
Owned by: Bob JohnsonThis is a typical
example of a late fifties British clubman’s lightweight.
Supplied and badged by G.R. Reed of 147 Kingston Road, Wimbledon. Reed’s was a very well known bike shop that imported, what at the time was seen as rather exotic continental equipment such as Campagnolo, Stronglight, TA, Ambrosio, Universal, Gnutti, and Fiamme. They advertised regularly in cycling magazines with prices that generally undercut the official importers, this made them very popular, and like many lightweight dealers around the country at this time, a meeting place for local clubmen.
The frame, which was probably made by one of the local frame builders is built out of Reynolds plain gauge 531 tubing and Nervex Legere Series lugs. The money saved on the slightly cheaper tubing and lugs was obviously spent on eye-catching extras; chrome lugs, fork ends and crown and the flamboyant purple paint which after nearly 50 years still looks spectacular.
Supplied and badged by G.R. Reed of 147 Kingston Road, Wimbledon. Reed’s was a very well known bike shop that imported, what at the time was seen as rather exotic continental equipment such as Campagnolo, Stronglight, TA, Ambrosio, Universal, Gnutti, and Fiamme. They advertised regularly in cycling magazines with prices that generally undercut the official importers, this made them very popular, and like many lightweight dealers around the country at this time, a meeting place for local clubmen.
The frame, which was probably made by one of the local frame builders is built out of Reynolds plain gauge 531 tubing and Nervex Legere Series lugs. The money saved on the slightly cheaper tubing and lugs was obviously spent on eye-catching extras; chrome lugs, fork ends and crown and the flamboyant purple paint which after nearly 50 years still looks spectacular.
| Frame | 1958/9
G.R. REED ‘Leo Star’
23” The frame, which was probably made by one of the local
frame
builders, is built out of Reynolds plain gauge 531 tubing and Nervex
Legere Series lugs. The money saved on the slightly cheaper tubing and
lugs was obviously spent on eye-catching extras; chrome lugs, fork ends
and crown and the flamboyant purple paint which after nearly 50 years
still looks spectacular |
| Wheels | Fiamme high pressure 27 x 1
¼” rims on Milremo large flange hubset with Dunlop
‘Road Racing’ tyres |
| Chainset | Stronglight 49D cranks with TA rings |
| Pedals | Cyclo pedals with GB stainless toeclips |
| Gears | Campag Gran Sport gear levers and mechs |
| Brakes | GB Sport brakeset |
| Stem/Bars | GB Maes bars on GB spearpoint stem |
| Saddle | Mansfield
‘Victor’ saddle on Reynolds alloy seatpin |
| Extra details | Bluemels
alloy mudguards, Coloral silver anodised alloy bottle and cage |
 Seat cluster showing model name
on top of seatstay
|
 Fantastic 50-year old purple
finish with chrome Legere lugs
|
 Detail of down tube transfer,
rare to get original like this
|