The old FW Evans mountain bike reveals itself...

[funkster]

You may have seen this up for sale over the past week or so. I collected her yesterday, and I must say she has a certain charm. A perfect pub bike, in my opinion...

Here's a pic from before the strip-down:

One thing that I have been particularly pleased with so far, has been the original decals which have cleaned up really well... They seem to tell a story from another age...

I was surprised to see a Saracen Cycles sticker on the down tube, I guess Evans used Saracen to build the frames for them.
Does this mean she qualifies for the Early Saracen Lover's Thread!?

Looking forward to getting this one out on the towpaths soon...

 

[Radar]

My old Eldridge Grade (1991) had a lovely old Harry Hall sticker on it(I bought it from them), quite similar to the Evans one you have posted.

 

[andyz]

So it was you who outbid me then!

Nice bike, well done etc..

Can we see some pics of the Saracen sticker?

Cheers,
Andrew

 

[funkster]

So it was you who outbid me then!

Nice bike, well done etc..

Can we see some pics of the Saracen sticker?

Cheers,
Andrew

Sorry mate - I'll let you know if I get bored of it!

Here is the Saracen sticker:

 

[funkster]

And a quick pic once I put her all back together again.

Any saddle suggestions? I never find brooks saddles very comfy for some reason - and the flyte is reserved for another bike, plus it's a bit too modern for this retro-rider

I have kept the mudguards on for now, but thinking of removing them and fitting some fat franks or the like to give a balloon ride home!

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Lovely. Too interesting fora a pub bike, and probably rarer than a lot of the retro stuff that moistens a lot of gussets round here

 

[andyz]

Lovely. Too interesting fora a pub bike, and probably rarer than a lot of the retro stuff that moistens a lot of gussets round here

Absolutely!

531 + Shimano M700 = Lovely bike, way too nice for a pub bike, find an old Kona for that!

Interestingly, everywhere you search for info on Saracen Cycles states that they started in 1987 - Why is this, when we have several examples on here which are much earlier?

 

[legrandefromage]

evans and saracen are one and the same.

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

Used to be. I think the rejeuvenated Saracen are now part of Madison, and Evans are still independent, sprucing their frames from the Far East.

 

[legrandefromage]

Used to be. I think the rejeuvenated Saracen are now part of Madison, and Evans are still independent, sprucing their frames from the Far East.

we're talking back when this bike was built, evans bought bluemels and out popped a mountainbike brand. Its well documented here, somewhere.