The recent discussion of a north/south divide in England has, in my opinion, a bit of a myth. It has turned rather into a Scottish/English divide, as the English see the Scots enjoy the benefits of their own parliament. However, this is not a political post, but one to show that Northern lightweight makers were busy in the 1920s. By the way, no-one in the north thinks of Derby, home of Mercian as a northern city, it is very much in the Midlands! The following is an extract from Bicycling News and Motor Review, July 15th 1925: "Manchester Rider's Success Mr J E Sibbit, the famous rider of the Manchester Wheelers Club, won the quarter-mile NCU Championship on a Stenton Glider racer. In the one mile NCU Championship, H Pryor, of the Manchester Wheelers, was third on a similar make of machine. There are several first class racing men in the Manchester Wheelers Club. It is somewhat curious to note the names of the machines ridden by winners and runners-up in these NCU Championships of today. We read of such machines as 'Stenton Glider', 'Meredith-Bastide', 'Petrel', 'Granby' and 'Curry'. It seems evident the big cycle makers of Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Nottingham, etc. do not cater for the racing cracks of the present day. Many years ago the racing men would not have fancied their chances unless they rode Humbers, Rudge, Swifts, Rovers, or similar." It appears, then, that top riders had seen the benefits of a small manufacturer, capable of making a bespoke frame, by 1925. Plus, the large manufacturers were catering for the large markets, that no longer included the relatively specialised racing machine. Any thoughts?
Nigel Land Barton-on Humber (sort of northish, but not quite) UK