Evening all, I have previously mentioned how territorial British cycling clubs were in their allegiance to a particular local maker. Now I can't get my knickers or to be more precise as a cyclist to get my chamois in a twist over this North/South divide thing which is a bleeding futile exercise. Now to frames yes the North did build equally good stuff and if you are looking for something a little bit special and unusual from the early 80's take a look at the Bespoke Bicycle Companies frames. They built some smashing USWB frames. In particular a time trial frame with a curved seat tube and track ends and another modern better version of a Saxon with twin seat stays. These I beleive were built in a 17th century cellar in Settle North Yorkshire by a similarly aged gentleman. Why is there no mention of Bespoke on the CR site escapes me as they are really worthy of a mention. This ommision to my mind is something of a shambles. Time trialing in the South of England during the late 70's and early 80's was probably dominated by Northern English frame makers. All the cracks rode Aende (without the chainstay bridge) Dave Lloyds, Harry Hall, Malc Cowle, Frank Herety and Brian Rourkes. So come on Norris cobble something together on your frames for a very worthy mention on the CR site. Please don't go the way of Jack Jones, Stan Butcher, Clive Parker, Dusty Miller and Peter Cobb who only a very few of us now remember and the young uns say who the f--k was he? Forget this bleeding North-South thing we will all be speaking Russian soon in the South East of England if the voices on my high street are anything to go by.
Oil up! Frank Ellingford London UK