Sundayjumper
Specialized Fan
I normally hang out in the mountain bike section of the forum, that was more my era ! But this has come into my collection now and I felt it needed a post. Cyril Wren ran a small shop in Kingston upon Thames from the thirties (originally called Clubman Cycles) until the late sixties when fashion, the economy, and cars suddenly being affordable to the masses conspired to put cycling into a massive decline and the shop was forced to close.
This wasn't one of the semi-mass-produced Holdsworths etc. of the time though, this was a special order for Cyril himself, built by Wally Green as a kind of "last hurrah" before the shop closed down.
David Vines owns another "Cyril" and has written an article HERE.
But how do I know all this, why do I care and how did I come by the bike ? Cyril was my grandfather. John, interviewed for the article above, is my Dad. This bike is my own very, very personal connection to the cycling world of the past and has (obviously) gone right to the top of my list of "bikes I will never part with" ! It's in really good condition for its age and doesn't need any restoration aside from a good clean and some new tyres before I can take it for a spin. Thankfully I've inherited his tall genes and it's just my size
If anyone reading this here, or passing by in Google, has another Cyril, or anything at all relating to the bikes or the shop then please get in touch ! Cyril passed away about 20 years ago and detailed records of the business were lost long before so anything at all would be very gratefully received.
Steve.
This wasn't one of the semi-mass-produced Holdsworths etc. of the time though, this was a special order for Cyril himself, built by Wally Green as a kind of "last hurrah" before the shop closed down.
David Vines owns another "Cyril" and has written an article HERE.
But how do I know all this, why do I care and how did I come by the bike ? Cyril was my grandfather. John, interviewed for the article above, is my Dad. This bike is my own very, very personal connection to the cycling world of the past and has (obviously) gone right to the top of my list of "bikes I will never part with" ! It's in really good condition for its age and doesn't need any restoration aside from a good clean and some new tyres before I can take it for a spin. Thankfully I've inherited his tall genes and it's just my size
If anyone reading this here, or passing by in Google, has another Cyril, or anything at all relating to the bikes or the shop then please get in touch ! Cyril passed away about 20 years ago and detailed records of the business were lost long before so anything at all would be very gratefully received.
Steve.
