Old Ned
Old School Grand Master
A friend has just acquired these 2 frames from another friend in Edinburgh who has been sorting out the estate of a local collector of bikes, motor bikes and cars. He had asked on a newsletter if anyone had heard of Greaves and I was able to answer that I had, mainly through remembering some time triallists named Greaves (father, 2 brothers?) in the late '70's who rode (at that time) for Whitby Whs/Blenkeys. They were frequent riders on the 'Boro' Yorkshire courses and one of my memories is seeing their bikes and thinking that they looked very nice. Ultrashort wheelbase, steep angles, tight clearances etc. On looking back through my collection of assorted result sheets from the era I found them listed riding for Whitby Whs and also, earlier in the decade, for Scarborough Paragon. Another friend who is a long term member of SP remembers them. These 2 frames with the split seat tubes etc. are very nicely built with lugless fillet brazing and according to the new owner, the wheelbase is approx. 34.5". The design of the rear facing rear dropouts is one I'm not familiar with (although rear facing dropouts was common in TT frames of the day, mine included) and the extended seat tube is starting to look like an early lo-pro. The tops of the 'twin tubes' have an engraved 'Rod Greaves' showing that there must have been several RG frames made to justify the cost of having these made (?). The head badge shows 'Blenkeys Cycles' as the home of the brand - but is this where they were built?
Apart from my limited knowledge above I can't find much else so I'm asking if anyone here can shed some light. Did Rod Greaves actually build them himself or were they (like the Steve Elsworth Delta Sportiv on another thread) built by someone else? How long were they in production? To me, these appear to be mid/late 80's going by the frames fittings but (as usual)I could be wrong. I have to say I'm rather intrigued by them and look forward in the hope that more information is forthcoming.
Apart from my limited knowledge above I can't find much else so I'm asking if anyone here can shed some light. Did Rod Greaves actually build them himself or were they (like the Steve Elsworth Delta Sportiv on another thread) built by someone else? How long were they in production? To me, these appear to be mid/late 80's going by the frames fittings but (as usual)I could be wrong. I have to say I'm rather intrigued by them and look forward in the hope that more information is forthcoming.
. After my time which was mid 70's to very early 80's. I'd go for mid 80's before lo pros and funny bikes 
