Kind words from Mr. Brian Baylis himself !!!!!!
( and a few extra exclamation marks , just to remember Richard Sachs by !!!!!! )
About Ron Cooper , who is now doing most - but not all - of the work on those lovely Bates frames ( thanks Martin Coopland ! ) :
The time was roughly , approximately , let's call it , 1978 , plus or minus .
I ordered a custom Ron Cooper frame-set . I could have started with a racing frame , and asked for modifications . But , I started with one of his touring frames , and asked for modifications . The resulting bicycle is a VERY light-weight , VERY versatile , VERY responsive machine !
Anyway , it is Ron Cooper touring frame-set # 169 .
At roughly the same time , I bought a new Ron Cooper frame-set which had been hanging on a dealer's wall for some few years . Maybe it was two years old . Maybe it was four years old .
It was a 25-inch frame-set . I'm almost certain it was 25-inch . It was too big for me anyway . I built it up and sold it . It was red , with no braze-ons . It was Ron Cooper racing frame # 505 ( if I recall correctly ) . Has anyone seen it lately ??????
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas U.S.A.
>
>
>
> Brian,
>
> There are a number of ways to determine approx. age of a frame. Does it
still have the original finish and decals intact? Various finishes and
graphics can help determine age.
>
> What type of lugs, dropouts, other fittings does it have? What tubing is
it made out of? Any small details that are unique. All if these things may
give as clue. We need to know more.
>
> I have a neat Ron Cooper from the early 70's. Tell me about yours and I'll
compare it to mine and others I've seen or owned. I had another one from
about this ame period also. I FOOLISHLY sold it. I LUCKILY found another
one. BOTH of them are fantastic bikes. I may gush more about them when I
hear about yours. I'll save it for now. It's late.
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
> You aren't going to believe what a SHUMCK I've been. Just wait.
>
> -- "b,plaugher" <b.plaugher@comcast.net> wrote:
> Apologies to all who wish only to debate fixed gear/wheel nomenclature,
> but I just now acquired a Ron Cooper bike, and wonder how one goes about
> figuring its date of birth.
> thanks,
> Brian Plaugher
> Guerneville