Sammyboy

I used to have an Ernie Clements, and due to my own foolishness, somebody else threw it into a skip, not realising it was mine. I've had my eyes open for one ever since, and what do you know yesterday, one came up on ebay, just like the one I had, and in my size:

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...MEDW%3AIT&rd=1

At the time it was on at just £10, with only a few hours to go. The trouble was, it was at the other end of the country, on local pickup only. I messaged the guy, suggesting I would mail him a bike box and all the lackaging, plus instructions, but got no reply. So, in the end, I was only prepared to bid up to about £30, because there was the potential that I'd have to drive a round trip of 500 miles to collect! The bike sold for £51. I would've paid twice that, if it had been nearby.....

Look at it - it's gorgeous. A new coat of paint and decals, a honey brooks, brooks bar tape and proper brake levers with hoods would have been in store.

vjp

Nice bike! I think that might be a Clements from a period after Ernie ran Falcon bikes. Here is a link to a mid 40's Ernie Clements that I got last summer from the son of the original owner. It is a "Clubman" bike and came with a fixed/free rear wheel but the owner had hot rodded it back in the day with a Simplex "Route Leger" derailleur and 4 speed block which I have removed.

https://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a43/vjp/

Sorry it got away

Cheers

vjp

Sammyboy

On the contrary, I think it was from WHEN he ran Falcon. Apparently they handbuilt models and put his name on them. I suspect it to be one of those. One day, another will appear......

vjp

Most of the Falcon models had "Designed by Ernie Clements" on the head badge and other decals on the top tube, seat tube or chainstays saying the same thing. Ernies brother was also involved in the bicycle business and it could be his. The parts list from the seller indicates this bike is from the later 70's, but of course it could have been changed out. Ernie Clements was still in the bike biz with a shop run by his son until he passed away this past year.

vjp

vjp

Sammyboy

In equipment terms, it looks very like the one I had, down the the nasty black plastic covered suicide levers, which I'd always believed (hoped) were fitted aftermarket. I suspect it's all original fitment. Maybe it's his. I've wanted to know more about my former one for a while.....

Interestingly mine, (and his, it appears) never said Ernie on them, just Clements.

redxj

The Falcon San Remo I have has Designed by Ernie on the head badge and the chainstay. Mine is I think 60's vintage.