Those Really Neat English Bikes

D

Damaged Goods

Member
Location
Maryland
American bikes were sort of pedestrian and uncool, even the name brands like Roadmaster, Schwinn, and Shelby were no different from the no-names. At least that’s how I remember it.

In the mid-50’s, along came these cool English bikes with hand brakes, a generator that provided rear light as you pedaled, and best of all, a gear shift (although I kept mine in low at all times). Everybody had to have one and soon enough we all did.
 

Back in late 2017, I had a hip replacement. My surgeon told me to exercise my new hip joint, but avoid impact exercise like running and jogging. He recommended cycling and swimming. Before the current restrictions I would cycle to a rather good watering hole in the New Forest. The place is called Holmsley Tea Rooms and is the former Holmsley Station. It's a near perfect ride, I cycle along the trackbed of the former railway, the distance of nine miles gives my hip the exercise recommended and it's far enough not to worry whether my bladder will make it.

When I'm out and about I'm vintage all the way. You need to know that because on one occasion, a group of senior cyclists there were all gathered around my 1922 bicycle. They were all on modern bikes, dressed in lycra with hi-viz markings. My bicycle was something worth talking about.

Enjoying my coffee a couple of the lycra gang approached me, "that's got to be your bike," a lady said, adding "the one with the frame made for a lady." "Indeed it is," I replied, "a gents crossbar is too high a lift for my leg," i explained, "I've recently had a hip replacement."
"How did you know it was my bike?" I asked. The lady looked at me, looked again at the bike and said: "Seriously?" And we all laughed.
hats 012.JPG
 
horseless carriage said:
Back in late 2017, I had a hip replacement. My surgeon told me to exercise my new hip joint, but avoid impact exercise like running and jogging. He recommended cycling and swimming. Before the current restrictions I would cycle to a rather good watering hole in the New Forest. The place is called Holmsley Tea Rooms and is the former Holmsley Station. It's a near perfect ride, I cycle along the trackbed of the former railway, the distance of nine miles gives my hip the exercise recommended and it's far enough not to worry whether my bladder will make it.

When I'm out and about I'm vintage all the way. You need to know that because on one occasion, a group of senior cyclists there were all gathered around my 1922 bicycle. They were all on modern bikes, dressed in lycra with hi-viz markings. My bicycle was something worth talking about.

Enjoying my coffee a couple of the lycra gang approached me, "that's got to be your bike," a lady said, adding "the one with the frame made for a lady." "Indeed it is," I replied, "a gents crossbar is too high a lift for my leg," i explained, "I've recently had a hip replacement."
"How did you know it was my bike?" I asked. The lady looked at me, looked again at the bike and said: "Seriously?" And we all laughed.
View attachment 143855
Click to expand...
Looks like you might need some air in the back tire.
 

horseless carriage said:
Back in late 2017, I had a hip replacement. My surgeon told me to exercise my new hip joint, but avoid impact exercise like running and jogging. He recommended cycling and swimming. Before the current restrictions I would cycle to a rather good watering hole in the New Forest. The place is called Holmsley Tea Rooms and is the former Holmsley Station. It's a near perfect ride, I cycle along the trackbed of the former railway, the distance of nine miles gives my hip the exercise recommended and it's far enough not to worry whether my bladder will make it.

When I'm out and about I'm vintage all the way. You need to know that because on one occasion, a group of senior cyclists there were all gathered around my 1922 bicycle. They were all on modern bikes, dressed in lycra with hi-viz markings. My bicycle was something worth talking about.

Enjoying my coffee a couple of the lycra gang approached me, "that's got to be your bike," a lady said, adding "the one with the frame made for a lady." "Indeed it is," I replied, "a gents crossbar is too high a lift for my leg," i explained, "I've recently had a hip replacement."
"How did you know it was my bike?" I asked. The lady looked at me, looked again at the bike and said: "Seriously?" And we all laughed.
View attachment 143855
Click to expand...
You look like such a gentleman, Horseless. :love:

A real man, so classy.
 
Camper6 said:
All the newer bikes now don't have the bar up high so you have to throw your leg over.
Click to expand...
That's useful to know, thanks.
My push bike is much like the rest of my chattels, old car, finger dial phone, valve driven wireless, (radio) it was my grandparents wedding present, grandfather's police pocket watch, juke box and so much more.
 
Quite a few of the newer bikes sport step through frames, it's not necessarily considered a ladies bike. Some have batteries stored there for electric powered bikes to conquer those pesky hills.
 
Like every kid, in the late 50s, I had a "Columbia" American bike. It had those big round tires. Until Paul, a rich kid, got one of those "English" bikes with the skinny tires. YUCHHHHH!
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top