The decline of European manufacturing and the rise of the BSO

[player]

I’d have been almost happy with a Mustang but I got a Marauder, though I’d argue even with their BMX bottom bracket they still weren’t quite a BSO. It had canti brakes and SIS shifters and everything actually worked well on it. They lasted a very long time as well.

I’d argue those bikes that looked like an MTB but were fitted with very flexible caliper brakes are the earliest BSOs. After that it was Universals, Apollos and the stuff you’d get in the Freemans catalogue.

I never got past page 127 where the ladies underwear started.........

 

[bikeworkshop]

I never got past page 127 where the ladies underwear started.........

Looks like the Freeman's Catalogue was another victim of the Internet

 

[Woz]

Argos .... anyone?

Why don't we have all these most relevant pages in the archive here?

 

[bikeworkshop]

Dunno about your Argos catalogue @Woz...
Mines just got nice reynolds frames in.