Original Message: ----------------- From: Mick Butler pariscyclesuk@hotmail.com Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2004 16:49:57 +0000 To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: RE: [CR]In Praise of Pre-War American Cycles
"Marvelous posting by Art Smith. In answer to what were ordinary Brits riding prior to the Second World War. If it was new probably a Hercules the original "Fifty Bob Bicycle" £2.10.0. which was really cheap. "
And not just Brits, Mick.... the Hercules standard roadster and its cousins were the standard of the civilised world prior to the Second World War. Hercules was the no. 1 exporter of British cycles to the Empire and Dominions and simply dominated the huge West African market (Nigeria, Gold Coast and Sierra Leone). Of course Mick and all of you know that the first neon sign in Accra, Ghana, was a huge Hercules one over the main showroom there. And, of course, the now huge Chinese and Indian cycle industries are still dominated by copies of this machine. Very off topic for the CR List but without any question at all, the British rod brake 28" wheel roadster was and always will be the most popular and influential bicycle of all time.
"Leisure riding in the UK has always been predominate, much more than in Europe. You only have to look at the names of our cycling clubs Friendly, Social, Co-Operative etc. "
Mick, when I lived in East Devon, I must have been invited to join at least three thriving local cycle clubs in a week, just by super friendly chaps riding by. And no fancy carbonfibre nonsense in these parts... some of these oldtimers had some amazing classic lugged steel mounts. I doubt I could keep pace with them on those hills...
Peter Kohler Washington DC USA
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