Re: [CR]McLean/Silk Hope question

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

From: <OROBOYZ@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2005 09:25:27 EDT
Subject: Re: [CR]McLean/Silk Hope question
To: dvancleve@cox.net, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


In a message dated 8/28/2005 11:41:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, dvancleve@cox.net writes:

<< I find these bikes and the story that goes with them very appealing. I have seen 3 for sale in the time that I have been aware of them. How many of them exist? I ask because I am wondering if they are a bike where you should buy one if it is close to the right size since you probably won't find a closer fit. Opinions please :^)

Doug Van Cleve Chandler, AZ >>

So, the question is, how many bikes did McLean Fonvielle make over his 10 year bike making career? (He went away to the UK & Holdsworth at age 19 and passed away at age 29.)

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/USA/McLean/McLean_RIP.htm

Most of his frames were sold in the mid-Atlantic region. He sold direct of course plus a few shops were active representatives for his bikes. cycles de ORO sold 15-20 McLeans a year during the peak of the late 70s early 80s.

Cycle Imports in Cornish Maine were national agents/distributors for him, and a very active bike shop in Texas (Houston, I think?) generated quite a few orders for him...

I have kicked this around with others who knew McLean and familiar with his workshop. In the earlier years he made perhaps only 25-35 frames a year, then at full tilt (still only a one man shop) he produced max. 3 frames per week on average so say 150 frames per year. So the very loose estimate is that maybe 1000 - 1200 frames were produced in total. Of that number 300 -400 would have been "Silk Hopes" and the balance "McLeans".

He made about 20 tandems, one trike, one rail-cycle and the rest solo bikes...

Just as a reminder, I still have a small selection of the original decals, which are available for free to owners via legitimate "pro" paint shops.... No decals will be issued to home painters.

Finally, a very early Silk Hope frame & fork is currently on consignment & for sale at cycles de ORO, serial number 02055, size 54 cm road racing, repainted in the early 1980s its orig. dark burgundy metallic ("Firethorn" metallic, a Silk Hope favorite), $500.00 + shipping....Pics on request.

Dale Brown
Greensboro, NC USA