Did a troll of bookshops across London last Fall looking for the Tony Olive r book which years ago I'd read in Swiss Cottage library, but no luck. True that Foyles should be able to find it, but I couldn't find anyone at Foyles intersted in trying.
Anyone interesting in typing into an CR post some of what he says in the book about trail geometry for singles and tandems? I don't remember his points now, but it surprised me at the time and could be interesting see hi s take alongside VBQ's.
Mitch Harris Little Rock Canyon, Utah
On 4/2/06, freesound@comcast.net <freesound@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> 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 o
f
> 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
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: <vergrandis@tesco.net>
>
> > Dear Sirs,
> > I have only just joined the list and I would like the following advice
> and
> > information on Tony Oliver Cycles. Better still a 20.5" frame to replac
e
> my
> > stolen one.I purchased a Tony Oliver bike about 10 years ago from Brick
> Lane
> > Market and fell in love with it. It's the best bike I ever owned,
> unfortunately
> > it was recently stolen from outside Shoreditch Library.
> > I have tried searching on the web but all in vain, there is no referenc
e
> to him
> > on the excellent Classic Rendezvous site.
> > The only knowledge that I have on this marvellous builder is that he is
> believed
> > to have first built in Bristol and then on Inys Mon (Anglesey). He was
> also in
> > the CTC and a member of the Clevedon & District Road Club. Are there an
y
> club
> > cyclists on the CR list from the Bristol or Bath area who might no him?
> > The only other information on him I have is a chance remark made by the
> late
> > George Longstaff when we were helping at a TA National event when Georg
e
> saw my
> > Oliver and said that is the only British builder I would use now apart
> form my
> > myself, praise indeed.
> > I was also told recently when touring on Inys Mon that Tony is now a
> > photographer and now lives in Scotland. Could he be the Isle of Coll
> > photographer on the web?
> > Finally I have searched Amazon for a secondhand copy of his book but it
> is way
> > out of my price range by coincidence there is one for sale on ebay at
> the moment
> > but this will probably go for huge money judging by the Amazon prices.
> > Please any information on Tony Oliver bikes. Please all replies about
> frame off
> > list but any info on builder will hopefully get posted on the list.
> >
> http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/
> > STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1
> > Yours fraternally Frank
> >
> > Frank Cohen Hoxton UK