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Classic Lightweights UK
Devoted to classic UK and Italian Lightweights
 

Introduction

Nervex Professional lug
Through this site we would like to share our enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, classic lightweight bicycles, particularly those built in Britain and Italy.   Contributions from other lightweight enthusiasts are welcome including images and details of machines or components of particular interest. 

We are interested in collecting information on UK builders of classic frames, loosely defined as frames which could be built to a customer's individual specification.  If you are a Marque Enthusiast for a British classic bike builder and that marque is not yet included please let us have your contributions.

Please note that the webmaster is not able to give advice on restoring bikes, provide any form of valuation, or to identify 'finds'. If you are unable to find the information that you are looking for on the web site please try some of the other sites listed under Links.

Recent additions:


31 August Catalogues - a 1960 Gillott catalogue (Edwardes brothers) from Tom Plowman
25 August Classic Builders - continuing the tandem theme, Building classic tandems by Peter Underwood
15 August Reminiscences - Geoff Waters: Tandem track racing in Durban
 8 August Classic Components - an addition to end of the page on Osgear
 4 August Classic Builders - George Staples adds an interesting rider to the Hobbs story
 3 August Readers' Bikes - 1968 Mercian Professional track machine owned by Martyn Parkes'
 2 August Readers' Bikes - John Crump's award winning 1950 Mercian Super Bi-laminated machine
30 July Catalogues - a 1966 Claud Butler catalogue sent in by David Shaw
29 July Restoration - a Conloy/Simplex hybrid gear modified by Robin Walker
28 July Readers' Bikes - Alexander Von Tutschek's 1949 Holdsworth La Quelda
Reminiscences - Geoff Waters on Viking Cycles Ltd - cycling in South Africa
27 July We are back from a cycling holiday in Bavaria and have several items to upload over the next few days, first under Components - Apex pumps and mudguards from Ted Hayward
 7July Classic Builders - A piece on  Brazing and welding frames by Norris Lockley
20 June Components - Nolicattaneo pedals, a brief introduction - now with extra information and images
Classic Builders - Details of the 1968 Olympus added to the JRJ/Bob Jackson page
17 June Catalogues - Clive Holmes-Dowkes has provided this 1960 Holdsworth catalogue
15 June Classic Components - we have upgraded the Badges collection as the numbers were creating a long upload time. They are now divided into four pages and have a section on down tube logos.
Catalogues - Pat Hanlon catalogue from 1967
 9 June Readers' Bikes - 1952 Geoff Clark from Derek Browne's collection of northern-built machines
 7 June Readers' Bikes - A pre-war Hayson c.1936 from Alexander von Tutschek
 3 June Reminiscences - Geoff Waters submits an important piece entitled Competitive Cycling in Apartheid's Shadow
30 May Reminiscences - From the States, John Crump on 'My years with the Midland Cycling & Athletics Club'
29 May Classic Builders - details added of a triplet built by Jack Taylor and found in Australia
25 May Readers' Bikes - A 1971 Alex Iles supplied new to the owner by Bill Hurlow
19 May Readers' Bikes - the webmaster's 1959 Hetchins Magnum Bonum
also additional material to the Alf Engers page concerning his 1978 record-breaking machines
17 May Classic Builders - Andrew Eatch has submitted valuable additional images and information on
 Walter Greaves
11 May Classic Builders - information on frame numbering added to the Fred Dean page
 9 May Readers' Bikes - Paul Kimberley's 1969 Ellis Briggs
 8 May Classic Builders - additional material and images to Jack Sibbit in Builders
 7 May Readers' Bikes - John Gray's 1953 Condor track machine plus additional  information and images on Don Louis Page
 6 May Components - Accessories for the racing man produced by Pennine Cycle Accessory Co.
 5 May Readers' Bikes - Peter Lowry's 1949 Hobbs Super Course
30 April Readers' Bikes - Bob Johnson's 1976 Pogliaghi
29 April Readers' Bikes - A fitting entry, a 1971 Bill Hurlow 'Italia'
26 April Components - Simplex Retrofriction levers by Peter Underwood (Now with additional text and image)
23 April Readers Bikes - Paul Page's 1956 Claud Butler Saxon twin tube
Readers Bikes - Bryan Clarke's 1947 Spécial C.N.C.
20 April Readers Bikes - Derek Athey's 1960 Ephgrave No. 1 Super
Readers' Bikes - David Rapley's 1954 Bianchi 'Tour de France'
15 April Readers' Bikes - Gary Higgitt's 1972 Colnago Super
Readers' Bikes - Bob Drake's 1961 Ephgrave No. 1 Super track
Classic Builders - A short piece on Don Louis with a request for more information
14 April Components - Nigel Scott has sent details of the Nylfor headset plus some snippets for Odds and Sods
12 April Classic Riders - a piece by Duncan Hammon on Graham Jones who started racing in the early 70's and went on to ride in five Tour de Fance races 
 8 April Components - a rare pair of Cinelli M71 pedals from Nigel Scott
 7 April After a short break for Easter we have some really interesting contributions to set the ball rolling:
Readers' Bikes - From Mario Romeo a rare 1938 Italian Romeo with good details of the Vittoria Margherita gear plus instructions for its use.
Readers' Bikes - From Neil Foddering a 1950's W P Newton with some interesting Simplex touring gears
Components - 'Badges' from Italy, Fabio Pancaldi has sent some of his collection of Italian badges
Classic Builders - Duncan Hamman has related his story of working at Jack Sibbit Cycles in the early post-war period
30 March Components - Simplex double chainrings by Nigel Scott
29 March Components - a piece on shoeplates by Peter Underwood, now with extra images from Derek Browne
28 March Components - Unica saddle by Nigel Scott
26 March Readers' Bikes - 1958 Pennine owned by Paul Gittins
23 March Readers' Bikes - Huw Melliar-Smith's 1951 Claud Butler Olympic Sprint
19 March Catalogues - additions to pages including Mercian c.1950's
14 March Components - Campagnolo bar-end levers are now listed in Components as well as Restoration following some additional information
12 March Components - details of the Hobbs of Barbican Lytaloy components added
Components - several more badges added to Badges
 8 March Catalogues - We have created a new section featuring good quality lightweight catalogues,  we will be adding others from time to time.
 6 March Classic Components - CLB/Alp brakes by Steve Griffith
 1 March Classic Riders - Alf Engers 'The King' by Peter Underwood
Classic Components - Super Champion Gears
27 February Classic Builders - Young's Cycles of Lewisham (featuring Grandini, Meridian and Metro) by Bryan Clarke
25 February Readers' Bikes - from Australia, Mario Romeo's 1967 Legnano Roma Olymiade
Reminiscences - Brian Ward on the Metro Cycle Racing Club Club in the 50's - more to follow soon
23 February Readers' Bikes - Joe Warburton's 1971 Woodrup
22 February Readers' Bikes - from Australia, David Rapley's 1933 Ganna (Cambio Vittoria)
19 February Two entries for H M Dickinson of Liverpool:
Classic Builders - H M Dickinson by Jim Leach
Readers Bikes - Jon Derricott's 1951 H M Dickinson
18 February Readers' Bikes - 1949 Hobbs Blue Riband Record owned by Riki Puttock
15 February Classic Builders - additional information and images on the Frank Lipscombe page from his daughter Pam.
11 February Classic Builders - Jim Ryan adds his story to the Dave Davey page
 7 February Readers' Bikes - an all original 1949 Hobbs Raceweight owned by Ed Wilding
 3 February Classic Builders - Percy Barnard and Son by Alan Barnard
30 January Readers' Bikes -Robin Walker's 1947 Dayton Classique ex-works team bike - now with additional images relating to 1947 Brighton to Glasgow Race
29 January Readers' Bikes - Gary Higgitt's 1956 Hetchins Magnum Bonum with unusual features and original invoice
19 January Readers' Bikes - Neil McCormick's 1948 Flying Gate
Components - some more head badges added
18 January Reminiscences - A fascinating piece on the lightweight scene in Durban, South Africa in the 1950's and 60's by Geoff Waters
14 January Classic Builders - Bill Gameson, the Birmingham builder
12 January Classic Builders - Querée Brothers by Laurie Weeks
10 January Reminiscences - Recollections of the Querée Brothers and assorted bikes from the Birmingham area by Laurie Weeks
 8 January Components - Rod front changers by Mark Stevens
 4 January Readers' Bikes - Another Bianchi Paris/Roubaix, this one owned by Gary Higgitt
 3 January
  2010
 Readers' Bikes - Jonathan Wright's early 50's Hilton Wrigley International built for his grandfather
26 December Components - 'Clangers' -rod front changers by Derek Browne
18 December Classic Builders - Duke's 20th Century Cycles by Christine Watts
16 December Classic Builders - A piece on Alan Shorter as a builder and a mentor, with amongst others Alf Engers, hopefully we will make three individual pages of this when more information is forthcoming on Alf and Shorter Rochford
15 December Readers' Bikes -  Duke's 20th Century Cycles owned by Bob Drake
Classic Builders - The Upton some new images added
11 December Readers' Bikes - a rare Jack Sibbit track bike owned by Gary Higgitt
 7 December Components - Simplex Demultiplicator added to Odds and Sods and Simplex vertical rear ends to Frame Building Components
 6 December Reminiscences - Evolution of Classic Lightweights Through the Years by Peter Underwood

Where it is indicated on the site that you can view larger versions of images click on the originals.  The larger images may be constrained by page dimensions but a further click will bring up the full size.

If you have any contribution - text or images - to make, please forward to Peter Underwood, email:-
peter.underwood(at)tesco.net.  

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