1934 F W Evans project finished

The Evans is finally back together. A couple of small parts held up the project but are now sourced and I'm pleased with the finished result. I didn't want to do anything to it cosmetically as the patina is so fine, just assemble it from the box of bits it was and make sure everything works. As the frame is too small for me and it's going to be a display piece for the time being I decided to leave the Parker White Knight tyres on there even if they are not rideable. There didn't seem a lot of point in replacing the tyres and it can be done any time in the future should I or the next keeper change minds.

The Evans came to me with mudguard brackets, the only trace of the original guards was around the rivets on the brackets. The guards had been white so I sourced a period pair of Bluemels Populars to fit. Unfortunately the Bluemels blades couldn't be matched to the Evans brackets so they have gone on the shelf and the complete Bluemels are fitted. The other missing part was the Lucas mileometer which sits on the fork bottom. The bracket was there so I found a replacement head only and fitted it.

The build quality on the Evans is very high and it's a lovely original cycle with a number of unusual features. The only deviation I have made from how it was last used is in omitting the Midlands rear carrier which just looked clumsy and out of place fitted.

1935 Evans near-side view.

1935 Evans off-side view.

Lucas Mileometer with unusual fork bottom mounting clip.

Very grand Lucas headlight, part of a dynamo set.

The small oiler clip is a lovely detail on the headset.

Sturmey rear hub brake.

Sturmey handlebar mounted changer. Note also the very long
headlight bracket with supporting clip to stop flex.

Bicycle wall mount idea

I saw a photo of a cafe with a cycle hanging from the wall by a pair of handlebars, the details weren't clear but it looked good. I had a pair of unloved bars hanging around, a wall that needed a bicycle and the urge to make something so this is what I came up with. It was a fairly easy job: just measure up the distance you want the cycle to hang from the wall (doesn't have to be too accurate as it's adjustable anyway by the angle of the bars), find a scrap piece of heavy guage plate and a tube with the correct internal diameter for the stem.

I cut the plate in to a shield shape as it kind of suits the house, picked a good looking angle for the tube and welded it on. Four screw holes (countersunk) to hold the bracket to the wall seemed like an appropriate amount. Some white bar tape and a couple of Brooks end plugs that were kicking around finish it all off.

Overall I'm very pleased with the result. It's probably not anything like an original idea but I hadn't seen a bike hung like this before. The bonus is that it is really easy to lift the cycle on and off.

1920s mystery girder frame bicycle - Royal Enfield or Robin Hood?

This machine has just come my way. I had been looking for a Royal Enfield Girder or Duplex frame for a while and then this appeared at the right price. Only thing is I really don't know what it is. To all intents and purposes it looks like a Royal Enfield but has no head badge and never has had. 

I've done some investigations and it seems that Robin Hood also offered a girder frame model, possibly actually built by Royal Enfield so this seems most likely what it is. The handlebars may just have been replaced some time in the bike's life and the Sturmey three speed dates from mid thirties but I would guess that the rest of the cycle is early twenties.

Some folks would restore it in this condition but I plan to oily rag and service. It's pretty much rideable as is, but lacks pedals. 

If anyone out there can recognise the manufacturer please do let me know.

Mid twenties girder frame cycle. 28 inch wheels.

Offside view.

The mudguards are very distinctive and may
give a clue for identification?

I like rust and this is a good coating of it. No structural
damage at all just a good patina.

Here's that all important girder. The chainwheel seems to be
generic and doesn't give any clues as to marque.

I'll even leave the period bodges in place if they work!

Perhaps the lamp bracket holds the key to identity?

French club rider 1908

Evocative photograph of a French uniformed club rider from 1908.

Bicycling Bee Gee and Lulu

Maurice Gibb from the Bee Gees and Lulu on a tandem in 1969.

Back when I worked at jack Hearne's cycle shop I remember him saying that one of the Gibb brothers took up cycling in the seventies as a diversion from the excesses of the pop industry. I cannot remember which of the brothers it was now and I've searched in vain for a picture of a Bee Gee on a Hearne cycle. Can anyone out there help?

Bee Gee Maurice Gibb and Lulu on a tandem.

Coupled cycles

This picture is cribbed from 'The Devil on Wheels', a 1946 biography of the father of all bicycles Kirkpatrick Macmillan by Gordon Irving. I've never encountered anything like this before, looks like a kit to tether two regular standard bicycles together. I suspect a horror to ride!

1934 FW Evans cycle

This is the current project. A 1934 FW Evans. The cycle came to me in pieces from the grandson of the original owner. I actually bought it for the parts but when I got it home I realised that it was way too nice to split and should be kept as is. It would be a shame to swap out the original parts but some are rather delicate (saddle and handlebar grips) plus it even has pre-war sports tyres. I've decided that the best plan of action will be to source suitable riding parts and keep the originals on the shelf, that way it can be enjoyed and ridden.

It seems like this Evans was used as a general all round clubmans machine for touring and club rides. The three speed hub and hub brake is likely a later addition. I have a Midland pannier rack with it which is rather heavy duty and much as I want to keep it all original it does look awful so this will probably remain off the bike. The mudguards and rack are quick release

F W Evans links:

Bike Brothers FW Evans Resource page
Classic Lightweights FW Evans page
Veteran Cycle Club New England post war Evans Tourer
About Evans Cycles by Evans themselves

1934 FW Evans.

Sturmey handlebar mounted three speed lever and celuloid
covered bars.

I'm not sure if the original owner painted the accessories to
match the frame or if that was done for him by Evans.

'Ten Spot' cantilever brakes. Very simple and
effective. I had never heard of these brakes
before let alone seen a set.

Swan neck stem, possibly a BSA one and BSA headset.

Rather heavy but high quality Lucas dynamo
and rear light.

The original customer must have specified every braze-on
available in the build. There are even three clips for the rear
brake cable along the top tube.

Constrictor handlebar grips and stylish flat moustache
style handlebars.

The bracket for the (missing and to be sourced)
Lucas milometer is mounted on the fork drop-out.

Attention to detail is superb, even the pump pegs are elegant.

Parker White Knight tyres and correct metal woods valve caps.