British Steel

[sinnerman]

That Nigel Dean looks like its been in a timewarp..

Great thread. I hope to add my frame to the discussion when I get it refinished.

Interestingly, I think American brands of steel frames had an inherent rarity factor in the UK, coupled with clever marketing kudos (ie journalists) they commanded a higher price tag. No doubt UK builders ran with the geometry & sizing, but it was indutry standard accross all the Big brands mass-producing in Taiwan anyhow.

I can tell you that in my neck of the woods at the time, once your salsa and bonty stock was gone, customers had to join the que. And they did, they waited and waited, then the whole cycle started all over again.

When the first Rock lobsters were imported and before the deal with u.k based Merlin cycles, we were selling these frames before we got them, sold as it was similar to a bontrager in many ways, but less expensive.

I cant say i ever noticed a considerable difference in the retail price points between English and American Handbuilt frames, perhaps a marginal tarriff for the import cost, but they were or at least seemed more readily availiable to be fair.

 

[sinnerman]

Was this his ride between Salsa and Specialised then?

Salsa was Team MBUK, can't remember if it went MBUK/Hardisty's/Spec or if Hardisty's was first. On which topic, that Winter Hardisty's is ace

(I'd like to also register strong approval for wadsy's tool wardrobe )

Mike im crap with dates....., which did you say he rode for first, im confused on my timeline now... :?

I always thought whilst riding for the shop, him and plunkett, rode together the mbuk ride photo shoot happened and the following season, he got to spec a salsa with team mbuk, followed on by specialized, :? have i had it wrong all these years.

god you gotta love this site...

the suspense of all this is killing me

 

[sinnerman]

Was this his ride between Salsa and Specialised then?

Salsa was Team MBUK, can't remember if it went MBUK/Hardisty's/Spec or if Hardisty's was first

MBUK/Salsa, then Hardisty, then specialized....

Ok now you have editied your thoughts on it too, im really confused.

 

[benbonty]

Was this his ride between Salsa and Specialised then?

Salsa was Team MBUK, can't remember if it went MBUK/Hardisty's/Spec or if Hardisty's was first

MBUK/Salsa, then Hardisty, then specialized....

Ok now you have editied your thoughts on it too, im really confused.

I was convinced the hardisty was first, but the jmc site says different.

 

[wadsy]

(I'd like to also register strong approval for wadsy's tool wardrobe )

 

[sinnerman]

Was this his ride between Salsa and Specialised then?

Salsa was Team MBUK, can't remember if it went MBUK/Hardisty's/Spec or if Hardisty's was first

MBUK/Salsa, then Hardisty, then specialized....

Ok now you have editied your thoughts on it too, im really confused.

I was convinced the hardisty was first, but the jmc site says different.

Well then thats good enough for me, i would love to know the real story behind that then..? if there is one of course.

MBUK our national mountain bike mag race team, then a smaller shop race team, then specialized.

i wonder if it was budget related, it sounds interesting, i would love to know more.

 

[benbonty]

This will help:

http://www.jasonmcroy.com/jmc/the-jmc-story

I'm told that he couldn't get a decent deal in 1993 after the MBUK team disbanded, and picked up a bike and bits deal from Hardisty Cycles, a GT RTS for the season. When he secured the big Specialized pro deal in 94 he insisted in having the Hardisty cycles logo on his specialized team kit to say thank you to all the help that Margaret Hardisty had given him in his time of need. What a f***ing legend. I have a signed poster he did for me, it says 'stay fast mate, Jason Mcroy' it's one of my most prized possessions.

 

[sinnerman]

This will help:

http://www.jasonmcroy.com/jmc/the-jmc-story

I'm told that he couldn't get a decent deal in 1993 after the MBUK team disbanded, and picked up a bike and bits deal from Hardisty Cycles, a GT RTS for the season. When he secured the big Specialized pro deal in 94 he insisted in having the Hardisty cycles logo on his specialized team kit to say thank you to all the help that Margaret Hardisty had given him in his time of need. What a f***ing legend. I have a signed poster he did for me, it says 'stay fast mate, Jason Mcroy' it's one of my most prized possessions.

Thank you for that info ben, top man.

And that last part warmed me, and is all clearly the stuff of legends

Im feeling very Proud to be British right now.

gotta post this pick again, "be upstanding for Jason McRoy, and Mrs Hardisty"

Rule Britannia.

 

[Rod_Saetan]

UK projects.

 

[MRGRUMPY]

Not quite the same but I have just got a Curtis Frreride frame,which is going back to them to have v-brake mounts added and to get a matching T45 rigid fork made for it.
Cant beat a steel hardtail.