The time has come, the Veteran said, To talk of many things Of thirty-four tooth sprockets And twenty-six rings
Of bicycles and bikers Of barns and bridleways Of backroads and of bridges We knew in yesterdays
Of handlebars once popular In shapes no longer seen: Binda and Capo Berta, Ventoux and Azureen
Of curly stays by Hetchins And curly forks by Bates Of chromed and convoluted lugs And sleek bilaminates
Of Taylor's touring tandems And higgins racing trikes Of sidecars and Rann trailers On vintage family bikes
Of youthful window-gazing At rows of gorgeous frames a pageant of chrome and colour Crafted by household names
Of frames by Russ and Rotrax Claud Butler and Ellis Champion Frames brazed up with fancy lugs Or welded in bronze on jigs
Track-irons angled at seventy-five Road frames at seventy-two Road-path frames for double lives And short-base specials too
These are just a few verses of " The Vet's Song". This was pinned up on the worshop wall of our local cycle repairer who has sadly now closed. If anyone would like a copy all 44 verses please contact off list. Best wishes and be lucky. Michael Butler Huntingdon UK.