What can you tell me about Halfords bikes?

[vcballbat]

Thanks for the info takes me right back to 1978-9 lusting after a white top of the range Halfords Elan. It had Simplex gears, Weinnman 605 side pulls with QR, and skinny Weinnman concave rims shod with the new Michelin Elan 700c wire on's. I had a Dawes Chevron 5-speed racer with 26 inch wheels and would regularly make the detour into town on the way home from school just to see them skinny rims. Fat butt's and skinny wheels.. think that's the Elan on the album cover, can't find a picture but very similar to the International apart from the wheels, brakes and think the chain set was silver. Fortunately as a grotty teenager I was into Punk

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Thinking back the white bike was the Halfords International, those skinny tyres made such an impression on me I've got Elan on the brain

 

[4th in the devil]

I'm pretty sure when I was a kid in the 70's you could buy Halfords transfers/stickers to put on your bike. I can't really think why anyone would do that except I suppose if you had painted a bike it might look better than just leaving it with nothing? Just pointing out that the frames might have nothing to do with Halfords at all.

 

[bagpuss]

My Halford catalogue dates from 1958 so its a bit early.

 

[non-fixie]

I'm pretty sure when I was a kid in the 70's you could buy Halfords transfers/stickers to put on your bike. I can't really think why anyone would do that except I suppose if you had painted a bike it might look better than just leaving it with nothing? Just pointing out that the frames might have nothing to do with Halfords at all.

Thanks. Something to take into consideration. But this may have been more or less what the Dutch branch of Halfords was doing at the time: buying blank frames from whomever was willing to sell them at a fair price and put Halfords stickers on them.

The fact that neither of the above frames have a serial number certainly points in that direction.

 

[non-fixie]

My Halford catalogue dates from 1958 so its a bit early.

I've seen some of those old catalogues. Very cool! I've actually thought of "rebranding" the touring frame to "F.W. Rushbrooke" ...

 

[non-fixie]

Here's something to feast your eyes on. A friend on another forum posted pictures of this Halfords bike.

There is a story that Duell built some frames for Halfords' general management ...

 

[chickendrumsticks]

Here's something to feast your eyes on. A friend on another forum posted pictures of this Halfords bike.

There is a story that Duell built some frames for Halfords' general management ...

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That is a beaut.

 

[Woz]

.... blah blah.

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In all these years, I never ever ever thought I would see this again. Don't know to properly transmit any more information.

This was stuck on the wall in the changing room when I was buying and trying on my first pair of cycling shorts.

It didn't look local in Stoke-on-Trent from the tan lines amongst other things.

 

[non-fixie]

Last week I found a newspaper ad from 1977 for my Halfords Sport touring bike. Fl. 339 equals €420 or £360 in today's money, which made it a pretty good deal:



The bike I have has long ago been stripped of its parts for use in other projects, but the frame was still hanging in the rafters. It is my size and has ample clearance for tyres and mudguards, so I decided to rebuild it into a faux 'type fédéral', i.e. an affordable Pitard or Herse for the masses.

I may be getting a little carried away. From yesterday's shakedown ride:

 

[chickendrumsticks]

Last week I found a newspaper ad from 1977 for my Halfords Sport touring bike. Fl. 339 equals €420 or £360 in today's money, which made it a pretty good deal:

View attachment 855566

The bike I have has long ago been stripped of its parts for use in other projects, but the frame was still hanging in the rafters. It is my size and has ample clearance for tyres and mudguards, so I decided to rebuild it into a faux 'type fédéral', i.e. an affordable Pitard or Herse for the masses.

I may be getting a little carried away. From yesterday's shakedown ride:

View attachment 855569

Bottle cage and pump pegs. Those were the days.