[CR] Bespoke 1981: photos

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Chater-Lea)

Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2009 19:53:17 +0000
From: "Simon P-J" <simonpj@mac.com>
To: <norris.lockley@yahoo.com>, <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <477836.42911.qm@web44906.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Subject: [CR] Bespoke 1981: photos


Just posted to wooljersey.com, photos of the a Bespoke frame recently acquired via eBay (see Norris's message below):

http://www.wooljersey.com/gallery/simonpj/Bespoke+1981/

Built up with a mix of European components:

Drilled and slotted Zeus cranks Zeus pedals Hurret Jubilee rear mech Campag C-Record front mech Assos narrow aero rims on Mavic hubs CLB brakes and levers (extremely light and surprisingly effective) Gipiemme seatpost Unicanitor saddle Cinelli 1a stem and Ambrosio bars

I was surprised that it weighs just under 20 lbs. Rides wonderfully.

I'm just looking for a Jubillee front mech. and some nicer 1981-style bar tape to finish it off.

Wyndham Pulman-Jones Girton, Cambs., UK.

On 26/9/08 02:09, "Norris Lockley" <norris.lockley@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I'm grateful to Lynn Ashmore for bringing this Bespoke frame on UK Ebay t o
> my attention. Truth is these days, I have stopped scouring through the UK
   s
> ite as is was always too tempting and I was buying too much. Now I just t ry
> to be more selective on the French site...at times when I know I am about
> to cross over there for a few weeks.
>  
> There have been a few Bespoke frames on Ebay over the past couple of year s,
> none of which I have been able to acknowledge. However, this frame I know
> well, and it is as described by the seller, a very lovely frame.
>  
> It was custom-built for a friend of mine called Peter Gibbs, some time
> back in the early 80s - the frame No should be under the bracket.. Peter wa
> s/is a very stylish rider,,just poetry in motion..had/has the best anklin g
> action when he pedalled/pedals of anyone I have ever met...super smooth a nd
> powerful. His time trialling scene was longer distance events, with noth
> ing under 30 miles. Distance Record events for town-to-town rides were hi
> gh on his agenda.
>  
> This type of intended usage is reflected in the specification..ie nothing
   t
> oo short in the chainstays - hence the 41 ", not 39 or 38 or 37 or less.. .j
> ust short enough to confer rigidity without losing comfort on a biggish f ra
> me. At the time of building the frame, I built almost all my time-trial f
> rames  without lugs, ie bronze-welded, but Peter was determined to have
> a set of Nervex Pros..because he had always admired them, but had never b e
> en able to afford them before. He was disappointed that the fork crown wa s
> not a Nervex one, but I had convinced him that the Cinelli cast one was f ar
> stronger and more appropriate than a pressed Nervex. The original paint-j o
> b was a deep ultramarine metallic with white transfers and white lug-lini ng
> ..
> The decision to use Reynolds 531DB instead of a  slightly lighter tube se
> t such as  an Ishiwata or  a Columbus -I didn't like 531SL -  was the
> customer's as was the choice of the 5/8" seat-stays and the  long chamfe
> red top-eyes, and Campagnolo  Corsa semi-vertical drop-outs. The D/T bott
> le cage bosses, unusual on most of my TT frames, reflect the fact that th e
> frame was used for longer races, during which the rider needed to drink. Th
> e TA bosses themselves were very fashionable at the time, but in this ins ta
> nce, were chosen to compliment the Nervex lugs.
>  
>  
> All in all  a very functional -  in the sense of form follows functio
> n, understated and responsive frame, that I am happy to acknowledge as a
> genuine custom Bespoke.
>  
> I hope it goes to a caring and discerning owner because, and I am not goi ng
> to be modest here, it is a delightful frame, built to a very high standar d
> of craftsmanship.
>  
> Norris Lockley, Settle UK - the home town of Bespoke of Settle custom lig ht
> weights.