[CR]RE- Bates Bike of Melbourne Australia

(Example: Humor)

Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 09:40:40 +1100
To: "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
From: "Geoff Duke" <G.Duke@civag.unimelb.edu.au>
Subject: [CR]RE- Bates Bike of Melbourne Australia

David Benson is right in his description of Bates frames.I started racing in Melbourne in the late 70's and belonged to the Preston Cycling Club.Preston is a suburb just around the corner from the location of Norm Bates shop in Coburg.Australia did not have that many frames or bikes come in from overseas at that time so Norm built many bikes for both his own shop and other shops in Melbourne.They all had the same style of lettering regardless of whether it said BATES or something else.I had a very long track frame that was built by Norm and was quite old when I got it but was painted in burnt orange with purple pick-outs and white lining around the Nervex lugs.The lettering was in white and purple.Sadly Norm's shop was burgled on a number of occasions and the last time he was bashed and his shop trashed.He recovered but chose to retire.I have a set of 531 tubes and partially carved lugs that came from that shop and will build them up one day.Hope this is of interest, Geoff Duke in Autumn Melbourne Australia