Eclipse Owner's Club

[averagebiker]

I have an eclipse frame which has British eagle transfers on it for some reason?
I aim to build a tourer or retro gravel/hybrid bike out of it when I get a chance.
I should dig it out and put some pics here

 

[tractorboy]

Hello fellow Eclipse owners! (Well I hope there are still some here.)

I bought an Eclipse Routier in 1984 and I still have it, although it hasn’t seen much activity since I discovered the joy of indexed shifting in about 2011! I originally purchased it to replace my stolen pride and joy; an old Raleigh Scorpio that had been gradually upgraded until only the original brakes, stem and bars remained. Nice Claud Butler frame too. I was devastated to lose it. However, the insurance paid out the total cost of replacing all the bike parts and that got me a higher spec off the shelf bike, the Eclipse Routier in pale blue. I got the train/underground to Bike UK and then cycled back to Paddington to get the train home; what a ride that was, with frequent stops to check the A-Z .

The bike is still fairly original; no decals as they were nasty vinyl and started to peel. The wheels were prone to buckling so they were rebuilt by a gent who ran a bike shop in Twyford with double butted stainless steel spokes. Wish I could remember the name of the bike shop owner; he was well known for his frame building. I used the bike initially for commuting from Portslade to Sussex University in Falmer; it was great for keeping up with the rush hour traffic in Brighton, being 73 degree parallel so a nice compromise between a tourer and a racer.

I’ll see if I can dig out any photos and documentation; I think I have the original receipt and possibly a brochure.

Bob

 

[paulk1066]

I think the bike shop owner was Dave Russell.

 

[Frankenorange]

they were rebuilt by a gent who ran a bike shop in Twyford with double butted stainless steel spokes. Wish I could remember the name of the bike shop owner; he was well known for his frame building

I think the bike shop owner was Dave Russell.

The Twyfrod shop would have originally been Peter Hare's. Dave Russell, who had a shop in Slough, took Hare's over after closing his Slough shop and briefly trading from his home.
I think that must have happened in the early 90's (maybe mid) so it depends when you went there. I remember Hare being a tall, slim, chap with a pencil moustache who gave off a military vibe and he wore a white lab coat. Russell i remember as being the complete opposite. My time in those shops was mid to late 80's.

Both men were known for frames but Hare may have just put his name on frames and either way there were not very many. I remember him more for wheels and for being a real character. My dad and I got on with him very well, but others not so!!. I think PH passed away around 2009?
Russell built frames himself for 30 odd years and was well respected. There are 1000's out there that he built from scratch, or repaired and sprayed up and i think i remember him for time trial specials. He passed away a few years ago. Maybe 2022?

Peter Hare was a legend. He either liked you or he didn't and would refuse to serve some people. He was not afraid of kicking people out of his shop either. some club mates of mine witnessed him throw a guy out of his shop and chase him down the street and he threw a spanner at someone he had turfed out on another occassion.
If you passed whatever test it was then he was ace and very generous. I think he just did not like anyone who didn't respect him, talked bullsh!t and were not polite.
Dad had a freewheel fall apart, on a ride, just as he got to Twyford so pulled into Hare's shop. It was nearly closing time and Hare didn't have a freewheel for the hub, but he quickly built dad a wheel from a 2nd hand hub he had, dads rim and spokes. He only charged dad for the new cogs(i think it had to be a cassette) and a new chain.

 

[Jonny69]

^ Great bit of recollection! I love stories like these!