John Gill wrote:
As a new member I thought I should provide a little profile of my background and interests in cycling.
I grew up in Yorkshire a long long time ago and in the 1950s used to press my nose against the Whittaker & Maplebeck ( Pennine ) cycle shop window every Saturday morning wishing I could afford a new bike.My early cycling was around the Yorkshire Dales and at the age of 15 used to cycle from my home in Bradford to Baildon and then over the top to Ilkley and across to Otley for lunch.This was a ride of about 30 miles but parts of it were almost vertical ! At that time I rode a Dawes with 5-speed Benelux .In my late teens ,I joined the Shipley Road Club and then started riding in some of the local road races .Time trialling was never of much interest to me ( wrong shape and lack of concentration ).I acquired a Bates B.A.R. which I broke on the Girlington Kermesse some years later when I hit a pothole at some speed.I threw the frame away in a moment of stupidity and anger and remember how Johnny ( Maplebeck) gave me an 'earful for wasting such a super frame which he proceeded to explain could have easily been repaired.It took me a considerable time to save up enough money to buy a seconhand Merlin which I purchased from Ellis Briggs in Shipley.Inevitably, my first car ( Morgan three-wheeler ) came along followed quickly by the discovery of the opposite sex and cycling lost it's attraction.However ,I have never been without a bike and rode occaisionally just for fun.Marriage and children followed and this gave me the chance to return to the cycling fold .Attending the annual CTC York Rally rekindled my interest and I joined the Veteran Cycle Club. A chance purchase of a Carpenter frame led to an interest in the marque and Hilary stone persuaded me to take on the role of marqe enthusiast for this frame maker.I maintain a register and have copies of some of the catalogues covering their business during the period 1925 - 1970.If any membes of the register need help dating or providing other information on a Carpenter I can probably help.I would also be grateful for any memories of the marque that any member has which may help to build up a history of this frame maker.
I am currently completing a "potted history " of the marque for The V.C.C and Peter Browns Classic bike website which I hope will be of interest to those who remember Harry and Frank Carpenters products.A few years ago my knees finally succumbed to the stress of hauling my not insubstantial bulk about and prevented me from riding a bike (or walking very far) . Fortunately ,the damage was not permanent and they have now healed and I have been out for a few short rides of late and am looking frward to some dry weather so That I can get back on my bikes again.
John Gill
As much as would like to take the credit for the Classic Lightweights UK website (http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/index.html ), that must go to Peter Underwood and Patricia Killiard, who are building a very informative site with the help of people such as yourself John.
If you wish to rekindle your interest in Yorkshire bikes, and perhaps meet some familiar faces, you might like to get along to Shelf, near Halifax, on the 15th April, where the Byegone Bikes Yorkshire Club will be holding a display of bikes, mostly with a Yorkshire collection. There will be a collection of lightweight & historic racing bikes from the 1920's to current times. Including Des Robinsons 1949 Manx International winning bike, Ken Russells 1952 tour of Britain bike, Brian Haskells Viking track bike, Pete Brothertons pursuit bike, plus a period clothing display. I shall be taking along my Langsett Professional, Elswick Hopper Avenger Convincible, and if I get it built up in time, my Pennine Grand Prix. Welcome to the CR list.
Peter Brown, Lincolnshire, England.