gerald kay cycle
 

hi can anybody help me i have just bought a gerald kay bike does anybody have any info about this bike thanks steve

Gerald Kay is a BFer and has posted about purchasing his dad's (Johnny Kay) bikes. He never indicated that he himself built frames as well.

Follow http://www.bikeforums.net/search.php?searchid=8227956 for all posts by him.

thanks

have they got a resale value or a run of the mill bike thanks again steve

Steve, I have never seen one myself, but my impression is that they are nicely made and rare. They are not run of the mill.

If you're looking to sell it and it's in good condition, it should bring a decent price. If you give us some pictures we may be able to help you get in the right neighborhood as far as that is concerned. There will probably be members here who are interested.

Edit: Wait, Johnny or Gerald? Now I'm confused.

Contact Gerald. He seemed to want to purchase a bike or two made by his father. If nothing else, he can supply you with some information.

But, do, PLEASE, post a few photos of the bike you have here.

These are rare, and the very few that have surfaced appear to be very nice. Your photos will add to the tiny selection we've uncovered.

Thanks.

+100000 I think most all the folks here on the forums would love to see a Johnny Kay bicycle.

Hello.This may be late in the day but may interest someone. I no longer have aJohnny Kay bike but I did have one some years ago. It was custom built and Icollected it from JK's workshop in Rawtenstall in 1956. (Why I was given it at14yrs old is another story). It was a thing of beauty: White with dark green panels,531 throughout with gold-lined Nervex lugs and uniquely scalloped seatstays atthe seat lug. It had Simplex gears, Stronglight cranks (steel), Weinmann brakes, Airlight large flange hubs and rims and a Brooks B19 saddle(which I have never seen since). The head tube and seat tube had a coat-of armsand there were stickers to say that the frame weighed 6 3/4lbs and that it wassilver brazed and could withstand considerable stress. I rode this bike withthe CTC C section, then B section and later with the Lancashire RC. This was inthe days of Cliff (and Ethel) Baxter, Tom Bridge et al. who, looking back now,were truly giants. (TB had offered me a Frejus frame but it was just too big).It was also the time of Gerald Kay, JK's son, who was super fast and won manyLRC events and trophies. He was several years older than me and something of ahero. (Some frames had his name on them). He went into the RAF at this time. Cliff Baxter had a terrible caraccident but made an astonishing recovery and continued to beat long distancerecords. This was also the time of Ron Kitching and his wonderful catalogues.One rainy day I rode from near Bolton where I lived to see his shop in Harrogate.About eighty miles. When I got there the shop was closed for the day. Nothingfor it but to ride all the way back, much of it in the dark!
I remain enthusiastic andnow ride a vintage Colnago Master and a carbon Giant (off road). But I would love to see somepictures of a Johnny Kay or exchange info. And of course I would be very keen to buy one.
Thanks for reading.

Welcome. Nice first post, too.

Doesn't seem like any new JK bikes have emerged, but we continue to hope.

Nice stories. Stay around.

Cheers!

^ +1
sounds like more than a few stories abound.

Nice post and welcome Mikael. By reference to Kitching's Harrogate shop do you mean the MKM shop, which I believe was in Harrowgate through the 70s? I have an MKM Metcalfe and I recently posted a thread to see if anyone else on C&V has one - not much action so far.

Cheers.
Brad

Wow did OP ever drop the ball by not posting pictures. Sheesh.

Hello Brad
Thanks for your comments. The Ron Kitching shop I went to see was in the middle of Harrogate at first. This was in the late Fifties (!). He pioneered imported bike bits-particularly from France. He later had premises on the outskirts (Skipton Road?) when he needed more storage. Part of these same premises (Chapel Works?) were used, I think, by Mason and Metcalfe to build the first MKM frames at the start of the Seventies. Although they probably built frames for RK who was by then a big name I don't think they ever joined forces. M and M were active racing enthusiasts. RK was a brilliant buisnessman and I have a suspicion they had differences in working together. I dimly remember that Ellis Briggs not far away at Shipley were involved in the early days of MKM. Even less clearly I recall there was some connection with Hill Bros. This was a good time to be building frames but it didn't last long. The wonderful, artistic catalogues of RK changed too. (Long sigh!)