Author Topic: What was that???? (Read 4982 times)

essexian · « **on:** 04 May, 2017, 01:31:29 pm »

Was basically what I said on Sunday when a "young chap" overtook me* on a bike type I have never seen before. So, I was hoping someone could identify it for me.

I only caught a moments view so didn't see a makers name but did note that the frame looked like it was from the 1960/70's in that it was steel given the round tubes. It was also yellow (which I know doesn't help much). The most interesting thing was the frame shape. The bike was a road (or racing bike as we knew then back then), but did not have a full length seat tube: there was a very short seat tube which was attached to the top tube. So, unlike the normal two triangle shape of a bike frame, this had a rear triangle but a "V" shape front half.

I have seen similar cheap MTB's but they normally had a suspension unit providing support. There was nothing like this on this bike.

One final thing to note: the young chap was wearing tweed....... And no, I was not dreaming/had drunk too much the previous evening!

Any ideas?

*I was a couple of miles west of Eccleshall on the Staffs/Shropshire border.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 May, 2017, 01:38:10 pm »

TitanFlex perhaps?
http://www.titanflexbikes.com/index.php/bikes/transition

essexian · « **Reply #2 on:** 04 May, 2017, 01:42:03 pm »

Hi,

It was that shape but much older style looking with much thinner tubes.

Cheers

Ian

JohnL · « **Reply #3 on:** 04 May, 2017, 01:46:54 pm »

A flying gate?

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bikes/baines-neil-rb.html

John

Torslanda · « **Reply #4 on:** 04 May, 2017, 01:49:33 pm »

And there was me thinking you were quoting the mayor of . . .

Oh! Never mind.

red marley · « **Reply #5 on:** 04 May, 2017, 01:51:12 pm »

I was going to suggest a Flying Gate too (I have a gold one). TJ Cycles who make them are not too far away from Eccleshall.

essexian · « **Reply #6 on:** 04 May, 2017, 01:53:04 pm »

Thinking about it a bit more, how can it have a rear triangle without a seat tube? That makes no sense Ian!!!!

The Flying Gate looks interesting but I am still certain that there was nothing holding the top tube and seat post to the bottom bracket in the way a normal bike does.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #7 on:** 04 May, 2017, 02:00:43 pm »

Allsop Softride? A silly concept that sold well and was taken seriously for a few years.

tatanab · « **Reply #8 on:** 04 May, 2017, 02:03:29 pm »

^^^^ that's what I'd do for. Late 90s there were quite a lot where I lived in the USA.

essexian · « **Reply #9 on:** 04 May, 2017, 02:06:44 pm »

Quote from: rogerzilla on 04 May, 2017, 02:00:43 pm

Allsop Softride? A silly concept that sold well and was taken seriously for a few years.

Thanks, but that still looks a bit too modern to me.

I got the impression that the bloke knew he was wearing something of an age, given the fact he was wearing tweed.

Greenbank · « **Reply #10 on:** 04 May, 2017, 02:15:54 pm »

A picture ((hand-drawn or bodged in Paint) is worth a thousand words. I don't have a clear picture from your description...

Si S · « **Reply #11 on:** 04 May, 2017, 02:30:09 pm »

An Elgin twin would fit with the tweed but doesn't really fit with the racer description

frankly frankie · « **Reply #12 on:** 04 May, 2017, 02:39:12 pm »

Pedersen?

(the tandem version is especially worrying)

essexian · « **Reply #13 on:** 04 May, 2017, 03:20:20 pm »

Found it!

In tonights Express and Star (page 24)

2017-05-04_03-19-03 by essexian, on Flickr

red marley · « **Reply #14 on:** 04 May, 2017, 03:27:40 pm »

Ah. Exactly as you described it!

Asterix, the former Gaul. · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 May, 2017, 04:22:32 pm »

Oh, one of those.

I knew it would be.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #16 on:** 05 May, 2017, 08:00:37 am »

That looks...noodly!

zigzag · « **Reply #17 on:** 05 May, 2017, 08:53:38 am »

it would function better if it was made of composite materials by someone with the right knowledge.

Pingu · « **Reply #18 on:** 05 May, 2017, 10:24:54 am »

Quote from: essexian on 04 May, 2017, 03:20:20 pm

Found it!

In tonights Express and Star (page 24)

2017-05-04_03-19-03 by essexian, on Flickr

So, what is it?

essexian · « **Reply #19 on:** 05 May, 2017, 11:35:31 am »

So, what is it?
[/quote]

Not got a clue. I was hoping someone could tell me.

Kim · « **Reply #20 on:** 05 May, 2017, 11:36:59 am »

Is there a clue on page 24 of the Express and Star?

The photo is too poor for the google hive mind to identify it as anything other than a bicycle wheel.

essexian · « **Reply #21 on:** 05 May, 2017, 11:59:36 am »

Nope. All it gives is the riders name which I won't publish here. The page concerns the Katherine House Hospice ride I did and has a number of photos of other riders and some copy about how many riders did the ride etc.

Anyway, many thanks for your suggestions. I'll just mark this one down as another one which got away.

Cheers all.

LittleWheelsandBig · « **Reply #22 on:** 05 May, 2017, 12:03:08 pm »

Somebody in the Veteran-Cycle club will know the answer, as always.

ijsbrand · « **Reply #23 on:** 05 May, 2017, 11:43:44 pm »

Could be a Van Hulsteijn. Handmade Dutch bike.

Brucey · « **Reply #24 on:** 06 May, 2017, 03:11:13 am »

Quote from: ijsbrand on 05 May, 2017, 11:43:44 pm

Could be a Van Hulsteijn. Handmade Dutch bike.

I agree, although the frames that are currently on their website have a less extreme cantilever section vs the yellow one. I did a bit of digging and I found this one from 2011

which although not identical (gears and brakes...), shares many of the features with the yellow mystery frame including

- seat binder detail
- more extreme cantilever design than current frames
- tube details just visible behind the rider's leg
- rear triangle layout, including distinctive dropped chainstays

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that this more extreme cantilever design was abandoned because it isn't 100% reliable.

cheers

Author Topic: What was that???? (Read 4982 times)

essexian

essexian

red marley

essexian

essexian

essexian

red marley

essexian

essexian