Ahem *British Isles* :D

I'm in South Wales.

Here in Swansea!:beer:

From Devon
 

Either riding around Torbay, Dartmoor or The South Hams.

Hello from another retired Brit.
 

Hello all, Robin Cornish here,
As a teenager in the 70's I joined the Wigmore Cycling Club, where a school mate already raced. Everyone else had hand built Youngs, Philbrook (PAG), Holdsworth etc. In Reynolds 531. A very few had Philbrook's, he was a member of our club and I knew him to chat with back then.
I had a Dawes Star Realmrider (still do have it) in gas pipe.
I regularly did club runs, and the Iwade 10 mile TT's. I enjoyed the participation, only ever got one win medal, a Harrietsham KCC 10 miler 1st on handicap.
Down to the fact I had just put on a set of 2nd hand sprints and tubs. And a Stronglight/TA Cotterless cranks and Campagnolo Nuovo Record rear mech. also 2nd hand.
It felt so much lighter and responsive, especially when it rained half way through and I could feel less rolling resistance - due to the fact that the tubs. were grass track pimple tread and not road race type!
I stopped participating to do other things, but continued to cycle around Bristol whilst at Uni. and then to and from work if nearby, or the station if commuting.
I had a little good luck on a charity pools and bought a "new old stock" 1982 Raleigh Record Ace (Worksop built) in 531c from a Chatham Raleigh shop. At last, my 1st Reynolds 531 bike!
I've done some miles on this one.
Including 3 London to Brighton, British Heart Foundation sponsored charity rides. Had a massive crash coming down into Brighton one year, ending up in A/E via the St John's Ambulance.
Good thing that I was a registered rider.
Had 13 stitches across my chin and 3 inside it.
Now I'm retired I'm gathering parts and tools to commence building bikes as a hobby to ride, including wheel building.
I haven't mentioned my time working as a schoolboy in Halfords, mostly in the bike section, progressing to buying a BSA Bantam, Tiger Cub then Tiger 90. Doing all the maintenance I could.
After marriage, we bought a 1969 Reliant Scimitar GT Coupe 3 litre.
Still do work on that.
I also "ran" my son for 12 years in MSA/RAC kart racing mostly TKM 100 junior with 1 year in MSA Super 1, then 115 cc senior.
I was the oily rag. The only servicing I couldn't do was the rebores and big end change as it needs careful balancing. They run regularly at 16500 RPM, so balance is fairly important!
That's me, folks.
I have recently bought a late Holdsworth (Marlboro era?) in 531 to revive, and a few others in 531, of course. More info on these to follow - later.
Bye for now.
Robin.

Here are the others:
I now have collected a Dave Yates 531st, Holdsworth Elan 84' 531 pretending to be a Professional (not with false labels, thank goodness) in beautiful metallic orange with blue panels colour scheme, and '86 Marlboro Triath Elan 531c, and a random Geoffrey Butler in Columbus Acciaio Speciale, whatever grade that is, a bit ugly in colours of brown/silver. All to be built up. Oh, and a Raleigh Lady Royale 531 for my lady, to replace her gas-pipe Silhouette (bicycle , that is).
Yes - I've just retired, and trying to regain my youth.
It is in the blood, as my father raced a Curly Hetchins that he picked up himself from the workshop. And no , he didn't leave it to me as it went to pay for a house move in '63.
I still live in Kent - Ashford now, and enjoy riding around the Wye area, more in better weather now to be honest.
Bye for now.
Robin.

Hello Robin!
Welcome.
Good stuff. Nothing wrong with Realmriders: ) Had at least one! Plus Galaxys, Discos, Kingpins, you name it, later.
I used to live literally over the road from the Dawes factory, behind the Speedwell Pub: )
I'm talking 1980ish here.

Reliant Scimitars were always beyond me pricewise, but I had several cool, cheaper, Maxis, + Landcrab 1800s, 3 litres even, later.
Rover 75 was my last & best though...
End of an era that one?

I still remember it in detail... but never thought to talk about it B4.

Hi Bicyclz, and thank you for the welcome.
Agreed, the Star Realmrider was nicely made and finished, but the lure of a Record Ace in 531c was too strong to resist.
Had an amusing incident in the Scimitar, with a 3 litre on the M20 back in '82/3.
We cruised past it just pootling along about 2,500 rpm, it unexpectedly chased and overtook us, we flicked out the o/d and pulled past again.
Rear view mirror saw the 3litre in a cloud of steam/oil vapour pulling over.
Must have over stretched something in the effort.
We had a time-booked appointment to get to, so weren't able to stop and help - especially on a motorway.
Now if it had been a bicycle event, I would have definitely have stopped!
Except when new from the factory, Scimitars have always been regrettably cheap as chips.
It was the old oil crisis that knocked their second-hand prices, and there they have stayed.
Regards,
Robin.

I know where you at: )
Nice to make a connection?
Be nice to check/talk later?.
You up for that?; ) I am.

Lichfield
 

Hi, I couldn't let this pass without contacting you.
In addition to bikes, my other passion is my Reliant Scimitar.
Our (Reliant Scimitar and Sabre Owners Club) annual national Social and Sporting event is a 4-dayer at Curborough Sprint track and campsite (think of a big grassy field with WW2 brick toilet block) between Fradley Junction and Lichfield.
Middle weekend every August going back for as long as anyone can remember.
One of the local cycle race clubs regularly use the track in the evenings when we are there, after our track cars have gone to bed.
We always have a great time in the vicinity and patronise the facilities in and around Lichfield a fair bit.
My group, up from Kent, have a tradition of spending the Friday in the Burton Bridge Brewery tap.
After that the Friday evening quiz back at the marquee always goes with a swing.
Regards and yours in cycling,
Robin.

I'd not seen one for ages, but saw a good one last week and was reminded it is a cool looking car.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c7e5c28a76.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b855e8634.jpg
Space in the back for a bike too.:)

Finally got out on my Nigel Dean Tourmaster today as work has stopped and the sun came out after a lot of rain recently.
Spot the bike in the bushes! Pretty flat around here but the ride back was uphill with a wind against me so get a good work out! :giver:

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...23ac327a64.jpg

This is not the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest but a good cousin of it! It is in Stapleford Woods, Lincs.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4f7f55b5bc.jpg
A pleasant ride out and 12 km which was a good start after not riding for some months. I saw one other cyclist going the other way with whom I exchanged a "good morning" in true British style!

Merry Christmas everyone! :lol:

usa

I’m a new member from U.K. I’m into vintage bikes and cars👍

I'm from Leicester, east Midlands

Live in Camberley.

In Chennai today though. Scorchio!

Hi, i am new to this forum and I am from Lincolnshire,UK. Anyone around here?

I am on the Lincs / Notts border (A17) :giver:

India
 

I am from India. we are providing professional training for IT courses, Classroom as well as online.

North Essex for me...the dodgy end

A really nice photo of the Nigel Dean & the most amazing tree!!
Just wondering if you see this Nigel Dean before?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2dcad60f64.jpg

Italian GF long gone; )

I have not seen this before - Mine is a Tourmaster - I removed the downtube shifters and have installed shifter brake levers which work rather well with the original rear changer (8 speed)

Doesn't matter if you didn't see, but one of the other UK based members has one then: )
Very well made frames & not seen often anywhere in my experience.
Good to see some on here!?

I got no probs 'upgrading', & brifters are the best for this type of machine IMO.
I've always been a Tourer rather than a Roadie: )

I'm from the UK, just outside of Shrewsbury.

Almost a few people!

I've just joined the group, based in Lancashire.