Subject: Re: Re: [CR]Small builders.
> Peter
>
> I really can't see the point in pretending that the Raleigh Lenton and its
> mass produced equivalents were bikes of choice in cycling clubs in the
> UK. The only club member that I recall on a Lenton was a 15 years old
> schoolboy, who replaced it with a Hobbs Blue Riband as soon as he had
> started work. The use of 531 main tubes is pretty irrelevant IMO.
> The Raleigh RRA was the only Raleigh with any credence as a lightweight
> from the Raleigh stable, and as you know was ridden by several top-flight
> riders.
> I think you are confusing mass produced 'sports bikes' fitted, as was the
> Lenton, with heavy components, with genuine individually built
> lightweights. These lightweights were far from being 'bespoke' in most
> cases. I remember several East London shops in the 50's with 20 to 30
> stock frames in shop livery hanging from the ceiling. These usually had
> standard square geometry and were bought by the local clubfolk. In spite
> of the names on them, they were often built by the same few builders. At
> one time in the late 50's a frame from Rory O'Brien, Whitakers,
> Robinsons, Kenistons and others all came from the same builder.
>
> I am not decrying mass-produced Raleighs, such as the Lenton or Super
> Lenton, but believe we should record what was actually going on in the
> 'lightweight cycle scene', to quote your phrase, in UK clubs at the time.
>
> Mike Waite
> Amersham Bucks UK
> mrwaite@btinternet.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "P.C. Kohler" <kohl57@starpower.net>
> To: <vergrandis@tesco.net>; <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 28, 2006 12:46 AM
> Subject: Re: Re: [CR]Small builders.