[CR] SPEEDWELL TITANIUM 1973

(Example: Events:Cirque du Cyclisme)

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:52:11 +0000
From: <cjrwhite@btinternet.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Subject: [CR] SPEEDWELL TITANIUM 1973


Thanks for welcoming me to your Classics group - i thought i'd add a link to my pictures of my renovated British 1973 SPEEDWELL TITANIUM bicycle, which i have been slowly putting back together over the last year. http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/blancgraffix/BikeProjects#5227037545929524882

I live in BIRMINGHAM, England, and ride with a local club called the BEACON Roads CC, and last year i inherited this bike from an 83 year old gentleman who's cycling days had come to an end. He was happy to pass it on to another cycling fan. This bike frame came out of waste-skip from the original factory in Tame Rd, Birmingham, and 'dan' had had it made up with Sakae Ringyo chainset as a single speed flip-flop hub with Normandy hub wheels and Dia compe brakes and levers.

I have now rebuilt it with all Campagnolo 1970s components, and i shall re-post some fresher pictures of it soon. Chassis number is 173003, so it was made in January 1973, and was the third one off the assembly line. My suspicions are that judging by the frame edges under the headset that it was a matt black painted version, but it has been since acid dipped to clean it off (not by me). Both this and polished ones were normally sold through Lamborghini car shops (although i'm still researching the whereabouts of these dealers in Birmingham). I redesigned the decals to commemorate Luis Ocana, the 1973 TdeF winner, who rode (allegedly) a Speedwell on the mountain stages of the Tour. They were made for me in Calfornia, and very authentic too.

There are various other links to Speedwell as you are aware, and the company is not to be confused with Speedwell Sports of Australia, or Speedwell Mini, who made souped up Mini cars. Sadly the factory in Tame Rd is no more, but i'll try and find some pics of it from the Bham archives. Tame Rd is in the shadows of Aston Villa Football club these days.More to follow. cheers charles white