Dear Frank,
I've been a fan of Tony Oliver since reading his book, and I'm very pleased to hear that his bikes are actually so good.
A prominent UK cycling man, Hilary Stone of Cycling Plus, is on this list, and I asked him if Tony Oliver was still building. His response was that Tony has stopped and suggested it may be due to possible health effects of brazing fumes.
In his book, Tony speaks of building bikes that work for his terrain and the riding that his customers actually do, in a mountainous Welsh area. So Anglesey is almost certainly a correct piece of his history.
Being an engineer, I have been puzzling over the whys and wherefores of cycle design. Tony Oliver's book is the only one I've seen that answers my questions. It's very, very worthwhile. Keep watching for it. I've seen it on Ebay for about what I paid in a bookstore, perhaps $40 US. Ebay does not always track Amazon. Also, I think I found it as a remainder, so I would expect that Foyles or Blackburns in the UK could find it. Finally, watch the CR list. People offer significant books to other list members.
I'm also very happy to know that Longstaff's bikes are of similar and possibly greater stature.
Best of luck,
Ken Freeman
Ann Arbor, MI
> Dear Sirs,
\r?\n> I have only just joined the list and I would like the following advice and
\r?\n> information on Tony Oliver Cycles. Better still a 20.5" frame to replace my
\r?\n> stolen one.I purchased a Tony Oliver bike about 10 years ago from Brick Lane
\r?\n> Market and fell in love with it. It's the best bike I ever owned, unfortunately
\r?\n> it was recently stolen from outside Shoreditch Library.
\r?\n> I have tried searching on the web but all in vain, there is no reference to him
\r?\n> on the excellent Classic Rendezvous site.
\r?\n> The only knowledge that I have on this marvellous builder is that he is believed
\r?\n> to have first built in Bristol and then on Inys Mon (Anglesey). He was also in
\r?\n> the CTC and a member of the Clevedon & District Road Club. Are there any club
\r?\n> cyclists on the CR list from the Bristol or Bath area who might no him?
\r?\n> The only other information on him I have is a chance remark made by the late
\r?\n> George Longstaff when we were helping at a TA National event when George saw my
\r?\n> Oliver and said that is the only British builder I would use now apart form my
\r?\n> myself, praise indeed.
\r?\n> I was also told recently when touring on Inys Mon that Tony is now a
\r?\n> photographer and now lives in Scotland. Could he be the Isle of Coll
\r?\n> photographer on the web?
\r?\n> Finally I have searched Amazon for a secondhand copy of his book but it is way
\r?\n> out of my price range by coincidence there is one for sale on ebay at the moment
\r?\n> but this will probably go for huge money judging by the Amazon prices.
\r?\n> Please any information on Tony Oliver bikes. Please all replies about frame off
\r?\n> list but any info on builder will hopefully get posted on the list.
\r?\n> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/
\r?\n> STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1
\r?\n> Yours fraternally Frank
\r?\n>
\r?\n> Frank Cohen Hoxton UK