Evening all,
Sorry if some of you took that the wrong way (funny place America). It
was meant as a genuine observation of your bicycle passions and to me
vagaries in your ebay bidding patterns.
They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and one mans meat is
another mans poison etc. But why and this is my opinion do such mundane
items attract such high bidding? The gaudy Condor which was possibly
post Hurlow and definitely old hat and very unfashionable when it was
made. Nondescript British track frames fetching alarming prices when
rare 1930's Clauds fetch only £12.00?
For me a classic whether it be American, European or British (either
southern or northern hemisphere) is something that stood out from the
rest in the decade it was made.
Now this is why Grubb or Allin & Grubb, F.W. Evans, Granby and
H.Saunders shone out in the 20's. They were simply light years ahead of
their competitors. Similarly in the 1930's Clauds, Selbachs, Bates and
most definitely H.Rensch did the same. I could bore you more by
reciting
what I think were the best from the following decades.
A clasisic is something that has that little bit extra, rides
light-years ahead of
its competitors, innovative, quality of build and finish, ground
breaking and setting a new standard and fashion.
Now before the old northern bigots start moaning that I have only
mentioned southern hemisphere built frames this is because wherever you
hail from be it north or south of Great Britain your local club had a
particular allegiance to a builder. For example DeLaune Gillotts,
Italian Racing Club Paris, Bell Vue Russ, Clapham Clauds. This use to
apply to up north as well. Williamsons were particularly favoured by the
Liverpudlian clubs as an example. I suppose I'm just unlucky that my Mum
went into labour in London if it had happened in Manchester I could have
been riding a Stenton Glider.
Now if you are looking for a British classic from the 70's or 80's I
don't think you will go far wrong with a Harry Quinn, Tony Oliver, Colin
Every or George Longstaff none of which are southern made. Me if I were
an American I would go for home-grown first.
Finally most of my cycling was done and still is done to the northeast
of London in the counties of Herts, Beds, Huntingdonshire and East
Anglia. This area is strewn with dissused Second world War aerodromes,
either British or American and whenever I am cycling in these parts I
can't help but feel a debt of gratitude for all those airmen whether
British or American who gave their lives for my freedom. Most of these
brave men who were killed on active service were only nineteen. This
would have been a similar age to me when I was enjoying myself getting
p---ed up dancing to the Beatles with a nice looking sort in a mini
skirt, when many of you of a similar age to me were on active service in
Vietnam doing your duty. All of the crowd I knocked around with were
well aware of what was going on and is possibly why my generation lived
life to excess in the 60's.
If any of you are over here and want to do a weekend tour of the region
I mentioned I would be glad to accompany you. I would even lend you a
bike but it would have to be from the Southern Hemisphere!
>From one pro American who is still baffled and bemused by your bike tastes and buying habits!
Oil up! Frank Ellingford London UK