Picked this up via Freecycle last week - it's badged an 'Edwardes', a London cycle shop and I've no idea who actually built it.
Seems like a fairly basic club bike - nothing too fancy, but decent enough to last 40 years.
Lots of unbranded bits, cottered cranks, 26 1/4 wheels, Weinmann brakes and a Huret Svelto rear derailleur.
I don't think I'll ever know much about it for certain, but I'm very taken with it.
Spoiler Alert Warning - As this is (inadvertantly) a "Necro-Thread" from the year 2009
However, being a "Newb" here, I wanna state - That it's THIS thread that 'drew me to this forum' & caused me to join it (Gulp !)
My first bike was a gorgeous little Elswick Hopper - vary smartly appointed & with a stunning Metallic Turquoise/Candy Apple Red
That was around 1968(ish) - But by 1972, I'd grown SO tall, that I needed another brand new bike - Ideally a "26in Racer" (known then)
My 2nd bike therefore, bought "New" back in 1972, looked 100% identical to the bike above - Rich Woodham's bike (or so it seems)
Back in 1972, Metallic GOLD wouldn't have looked out of place, after-all, "It Wuz The 1970's, Maaaan" - (Cresta, Frothy Drinks, etc)
As a (tall, gangly) kid, I rather thought it looked quite 'restrained' - But then look a the appearance of artists on 'Top of the Pops' (then)
Edwards or Edwardes was the name, sticker, along the svelte & sleek looking top-crossbar.
It looked 'fast as a spaceship' compared to my li'l dinky "Elsewick Hopper" in it's 1960's "Batman" luminous (so it seemed) paintjob !
I loved that bike, with all of my heart - went everywhere on it, did everythingon it too (Ahem !)
1972 until 1979 it was in "mainstream" useage for - still used it from time to time during the very early 1980's
After that, I still kept it with me, (even tho' I wasn't using it), purely for "nostalgic reasons"
In 1988 , it got a rather sombre "revamp" - Sanded down the frame, primer, then "Matt Black" finish, but as smooth as silk
Even took it back to the shop it origiannly came from, in Chadwell Heath - Pask's - Top end of Chadwell Heath High St.
I mention this, because, just around the corner, in Crow Lane, Romford, was a famous bike/frame builder....
His name was VIC EDWARDS
Now this is where my six-decade-old memory kicks in (or tries to), BUT, just cannot remember which it was (Edwards/Edwardes)
Pask's (cycle/dealer shop), was either THE nearest shop to VIC EDWARDS workshop, or, at worst, a close 2nd - (Geographically)
I know when (in 1972, because I was with her), my Mother bought it, it was singlehandedly THE dearest bike in the shop !!!!
The cross-welding was SUPERB & everyone seemed to "rave" over it - Attempted theft was committed on it, twice.
I once confronted a 'Gang' of 8/9 youths, my age, singlehandedly - As the scumbags walked-off with My bike !!!!
Was queueing-up in a Newsagent at the time (back, facing window), but luckily, he warned me, as they were walking away.
Ran outside - confrontation ensued - I was in an Atomic rage - Went for the 'Hardest' looking one in the 'Gang'
Several 'punches in the face later' (them, not me) & still enraged, I picked-up my now rightfully retrieved Edwards/Edwardes racer
My elderly father has a field, many sheds are overgrown - My dear old 1972 bike languishes in amongst one of them.....**
** (All are 'down by the brook' & are heavily consumed in decades of Ivy & bracken !)
I know it had GOOD components for it's time & that I last rode it sometime in the 1990's
Am now comparing YOUR bike - (RichWoodham) - To this one I've seen, over on E-Bay UK - Current March 25th 2022
1st, Yours....
Then - Next - The 'Also Early 1970's Retro Bike' that bears far more than just a striking resemblance....
(it's on E-Bay, now, 26th March 2022 - opening starting bid at £125.00), seen below