The Speedwell frame used by Ocana is the original Mk l version. If you l ook c;osely at the seat stay eyes (second photo) you ewill see that they ar e fairly ugly domed affairs. The later Mkll version was more refined in gen eral...with the seat stay eyes being Replaced with long flat oval plates. I think that there was some variation in the fork crown too, but both models used round-to-round fork blades.
Ron Kitching did not have any part in the Speedwell company, but through hi s distribution company he marketed the frames in the UK. Ron liked to be fi rst in with all the latest innovations. Via his contact with Andre Bertin, Andre became the distributor for France.
I used to trade extensively with Ron and knew him well. He tried to tempt m e with the Speedwell frames in the late 70s and early 80s, but al;though they were beautifully minimalistic, with a 132 pounds sterling trade price tag they were far off the money for my customers. Of course the frames wer e sold in a choice of finishes ie polished titanium or white or Ferrari red enamel. The white frames with panels of sparkling titanium looked fantasti c.
They may have looked fantastic but they road badly. I lent one ( that had b een traded in to me) to a close friend , a 1st category roadman, until I had finished his new Columbus frame. Having attempted a couple of races on it he brought it back, stating that he preferred his heavier..and more rel iable training frame. When asked to sum up how the Speedwell rode he advise d....like a paper bag full of rubber bands!
However the Speedwells did find a use in the racing scene. At that time Kit ching supported a small Pro team, among whom there were several cyclo-cross riders. The Speedwells were also used as the second bike for use when they had to stop riding, shoulder the bikes and start running. In a race such as th e famous 38mile Three Peaks race ( takes place just up the road from my hom e town of Settle) during which the riders have to surmount three very large hills, there is often as much running as there is riding. The success o f team member Eric Stone in the 1977,78,79 and 82 editions was ascribed to his use of Speedwell frames. In 1980, he was defeated by a rider using a Be spoke 531!
The race's website gives the foloowing information - overall length 61kms/3 8m, road stretches 28kms, unsurfaced 33 kms, unrideable 6 kms. In the 2008 edition 421 riders finished the race, with legendary Manchester frame-build er Neil Orrell coming in at 417...in the over 70s category. Your own Keith Bontrager managed to finish in 264th position.
If there are any List members who fancy their chances for the 2009 editi on, my club, Settle World Wide Wheelers would be willing to help with hospi tiality, technical and race support etc.
http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk
Norris Lockley...Settle Uk ( where the last of the UK Speedwells were last sighted)