vociferous
Dirt Disciple
Dave Davey by Bill Gray.
What's your Holy Grail among British frame builders?
- Thread starter otherself
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I have to say my home town builder, Mercians have always been my favourite.
From the age of eleven I had a hankering to own one . First one was purchased at 16 after many hours of holiday jobs . Frame only and assembled by myself. Sadly I sold it a few years later . Fast forward about 18 years another frame was sought and another build by me .
Two more followed .Both as frames, this time made to measure . Again built by me with my choice of components. These two have seen thousands of happy miles of touring in the UK and Europe .
A full chrome track frame stayed for a while ,which was pure bling . One very early frame set 444 was fully restored and assembled with period components.
Yes I have a soft spot for these frame .
Local craftsmanship at its finest in mho .
Been out for 5 hours today on one .Magic in a word .
From the age of eleven I had a hankering to own one . First one was purchased at 16 after many hours of holiday jobs . Frame only and assembled by myself. Sadly I sold it a few years later . Fast forward about 18 years another frame was sought and another build by me .
Two more followed .Both as frames, this time made to measure . Again built by me with my choice of components. These two have seen thousands of happy miles of touring in the UK and Europe .
A full chrome track frame stayed for a while ,which was pure bling . One very early frame set 444 was fully restored and assembled with period components.
Yes I have a soft spot for these frame .
Local craftsmanship at its finest in mho .
Been out for 5 hours today on one .Magic in a word .
Last edited:
Foreigner
Senior Retro Guru
Few have mentioned builders who's works are or were part of my stable - Hetchins, Dave Davey, Ron Cooper, Ephgrave, EF Russ, not to mention Carpenter, Maclean, Harry Quinn, Hobbs, Penine, Bates, Bertrand etc etc..heck I think I have or had just about every letter in the alphabet aside X and Z I think.
My view is that the Holy Grail is exactly that - something you are still wishing for, something that keeps you searching for in hope you'll find it one day. Hence you are lurking around forums such as this one, hoping to find it on here.
Anyone knows a builder whos name is X...... perhaps
My view is that the Holy Grail is exactly that - something you are still wishing for, something that keeps you searching for in hope you'll find it one day. Hence you are lurking around forums such as this one, hoping to find it on here.
Anyone knows a builder whos name is X...... perhaps
sawston_vulcan
Senior Retro Guru
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More than a hint of truth…my probably unobtainable Holy Grail frame is either a TI Raleigh Team colours …SBDU in 531SL or Holdswotth Pro SL in orange again in 531SL.Few have mentioned builders who's works are or were part of my stable - Hetchins, Dave Davey, Ron Cooper, Ephgrave, EF Russ, not to mention Carpenter, Maclean, Harry Quinn, Hobbs, Penine, Bates, Bertrand etc etc..heck I think I have or had just about every letter in the alphabet aside X and Z I think.
My view is that the Holy Grail is exactly that - something you are still wishing for, something that keeps you searching for in hope you'll find it one day. Hence you are lurking around forums such as this one, hoping to find it on here.
Anyone knows a builder whos name is X...... perhaps
Attempted Mustache
Retro Guru
There are a few builders I really admire, but in terms of grail-type rarity the one I’d really love to find would be a Thanet - with the weird bottom bracket and stays… preferably at the bottom of a pile of unloved bikes, ‘just take it away mate’ type price etc…
I was lucky to get one in 753 & a keeper for me as wanted one since I was young
Frankenorange
Orange 🍊 Fan
I want my old Ottadini back in my life but would settle for another. Interesting chap and build quality was superb on mine and a few other i looked at. Don't think he built that many.
I live in Putney and have done for over 30 years.
Unfortunately I didn't cycle for much of that time, but back in 1983 when I lived in Acton I bought a new Holdsworth Avanti (1982 model so 531) without knowing anything about 'real' bicyles. A 'friend' broke it 10 years laterand it was my last bike for many years.
Fast forward 40 years and I'm back into cycling and supporting my local builder - Holdsworth.
Unfortunately the Putney shop shut in 2013 https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk...cle-business-shop-closes-down-after-87-years/. A real shame as I was already retired and if I'd got back into cycling then I could have spent 5 years mooching around the Holdsworth shop and maybe buying something new.
So I've now got 2 decent Holdsworths and if you're in Richond Park on a Sunday afternoon I'm on the red 1961 Cyclone
But it does suggest I need another Holdsworth and I'm not sure what is better than a 1961 Cyclone, except a Whirlwind obviously but they're as common as rocking horse turds, or maybe a Cyclone de luxe.
ok, maybe not rocking horse turds.
End of last year two Whirlwinds turned up on Ebay, I bought the first as my offical state retirement present.
Turned out it was cromovelato magenta from 1953
Still working on it but looking pretty good
Just fitting a Cyclo Benelux Mark 8 Tourist I've resurected
I'll do a post when it's all working properly, but the full grisly details are here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1301557-1953-holdsworth-whirlwind.html
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