Wocce Racer
Active Member
- Location
- In a house
Emperor Sport Cycles
- Thread starter redraleigh
- Start date
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Paul_Smith SRCC
www.plsmith.co.uk
- Location
- Surrey UK
Well I never realised that it as actually in Manor Lane, must have been very close, although thinking about it it was everrrrrr so slightly further around into what is more of a bend than a corner in the little parade.Wocce Racer said:
Another piece of Mick Trivia, before he retired he rode the coast of Britain (Pete Taylor at GB Cycles ran the shop for him), taking his camper van and dog, so in effect he rode it twice, as he he had to turn back each day to collect both. I never forget him popping in to see us at Pearsons (where I worked for 15 years), he looked so fit after losing a lot of weight, he called in often as we helped one another out with bits and bobs, plus his friend and fellow frame builder (Cliff Shrubb) was the mechanic so often the visit was just for a cuppa.
Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
Wocce Racer
Active Member
- Location
- In a house
redraleigh
New Member
- Location
- Somerset
I've had a look over the frame and the only number visible is the one on the bottom of the BB shell which is 29254. I hope that helps with identification.
I love the memories of the shop - places like that just don't exist anymore. (do they?)
I love the memories of the shop - places like that just don't exist anymore. (do they?)
Wocce Racer
Active Member
- Location
- In a house
Try Robinson's (if it is still open). Turn right out of Bermondsey tube station and it is a few doors down. Real spit and sawdust!
Emperor, the old Geoffrey Butler's, Allin's, Reeds are now all gone. It is mostly (but not always) sell sell sell these days.
Emperor, the old Geoffrey Butler's, Allin's, Reeds are now all gone. It is mostly (but not always) sell sell sell these days.
redraleigh
New Member
- Location
- Somerset
Latest Pics
Am loving this bike, and have been accumulating quite a few miles on it now that the winter is a distant memory.
Am loving this bike, and have been accumulating quite a few miles on it now that the winter is a distant memory.
Emperors was a lovely shop ( named after Rik " the Emperor " Van Looy, Tony Mill's fave rider )........ although not the one on Lind Road. Before that Millsy was down near Priory Rd in North Cheam........ many a saturday was spent drinking tea and getting sage advice. Or listening to Nigel Carpenters obsession with Italian bikes......... Yates was often in there too & i think Tony may have helped him get his place at pro Peugot feeder team Paris ACBB (?)......... My first proper racing bike was built by them & although it was beautiful and quick my legs could never get it past 2nd cat status............
Paul_Smith SRCC
www.plsmith.co.uk
- Location
- Surrey UK
When Tony wnt onto to form Dauphine Sport at one time or another most of the his sons were involved, Little Tony was not there much but Tim and Nick were, now I don't have a recent picture of Nick, but we have a cousin here; talk about 'mini me'; I keep calling him Nick 
!
Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
!Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
Last edited by a moderator:
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
When Tony wnt onto to form Dauphine Sport at one time or another most of the his sons were involved, Little Tony was not there much but Tim and Nick were, now I don't have a recent picture of Nick, but we have a cousin here; talk about 'mini me'; I keep calling him Nick
Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
ayceejay
Guru
- Location
- Rural Quebec
I just found this site and this thread after googling "Tony Mills Bikes". I never knew the Emperor Sports crew although I did meet go to the shop once. I was a frequent visitor to Dauphin Sports though and remember when they put up half a frame to make it look like it was coming through the wall, all a bit too modern for Tony but the boys thought it was "radical' or whatever the buzz word was (maybe it was "outrageous".) I spent a small fortune in that shop and received a free lesson in the correct way to wear a hat from Nigel as a reward. (just kidding). It was Tony that introduced me to "The Comic" as he called Cycling although I never got round to wrapping one around a tub under the saddle Tim and Nigel would never talk to me again!
Hi, I'm a new member just joined today. I used to very nearly live in the two Emperor Sport shops on saturdays and had several frames built by Mick Coward. Tony Mills and Mick Coward were just so friendly and great friends to so many, particularly members of the Redmon C.C. like myself.
Many of those who used to be regulars at these two shops may also remember Tommy Fenwick (better known as Tommy Dog). Tommy was particularly good at saying things which would be considered in this day and age as exceedingly politically incorrect to use the modern term.
Every Boxing Day, Tony and his wife Barbara (Babs) held a party for many friends and customers. I have wonderful memories of these parties. Tony invited lots of male cyclists and Babs (who worked at a local hospital) invited nurses from the hospital.
Somewhere, if I can find them, I may still have some photos of both Tony, Mick and maybe the shop premises too! I now live in Devon and only cycle a little these days, due to a heart condition and the hilly terrain.
When I was much younger and used to race, I was at various times a member of the following clubs: The Clarence Wheelers, (Anyone rember Alf Whiteway?), The Feltham Road Club and the Redmon C.C.
I also remember visiting and buying equipment from the following shops: Emperor Sport, Geoffrey Bultler, Ken Ryall, Mal Ress, George W. Stratton Cycles, Roberts and Condor Cycles (does anyone remember Monty Young?).
Anyone remember these names?
Many of those who used to be regulars at these two shops may also remember Tommy Fenwick (better known as Tommy Dog). Tommy was particularly good at saying things which would be considered in this day and age as exceedingly politically incorrect to use the modern term.
Every Boxing Day, Tony and his wife Barbara (Babs) held a party for many friends and customers. I have wonderful memories of these parties. Tony invited lots of male cyclists and Babs (who worked at a local hospital) invited nurses from the hospital.
Somewhere, if I can find them, I may still have some photos of both Tony, Mick and maybe the shop premises too! I now live in Devon and only cycle a little these days, due to a heart condition and the hilly terrain.
When I was much younger and used to race, I was at various times a member of the following clubs: The Clarence Wheelers, (Anyone rember Alf Whiteway?), The Feltham Road Club and the Redmon C.C.
I also remember visiting and buying equipment from the following shops: Emperor Sport, Geoffrey Bultler, Ken Ryall, Mal Ress, George W. Stratton Cycles, Roberts and Condor Cycles (does anyone remember Monty Young?).
Anyone remember these names?
I have a bike I am trying to identify, it's been refurbished by Argos at some point and no-one seems to have any clues as to what it is. The steerer tube is marked 531 butted and it is a very well made frame, the whole bike weighs in at 9.12kg or 20lb and 1oz, not too shabby for what I assume to be a 70's bike. No distinguishing marks aside from the BB being stamped EMP 78.171 or EMP 7B.171, the forks look very similar to those in the Sean Yates picture and the EMP prefix makes me think it could be an Emperor or Emperor sport.
Have taken a few pictures of lugs and forks etc in the hope that this may indeed be an Emperor
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
Have taken a few pictures of lugs and forks etc in the hope that this may indeed be an Emperor
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
By morpheus13 at 2012-08-13
Rob88
Retired, demented
- Location
- Owl-on-Sea
Your photo interested me - it looks like it has a steep head tube and minimal fork rake. What is the exact wheelbase dimension may I ask?
Mick Coward built a road frame for me circa 1982 and my instruction to him was to build me a 22" track frame with standard road ends with the shortest possible top tube and the shortest possible wheelbase.
My rationale was the fact that I wasn't a sprinter and not a pure climber but was always in at the shout on an uphill finish. The local specialist hill climb champion where I grew up (Max Pendleton - Luton Whs) invariably rode a track bike for the Nationals.
Mick was a bit worried about how it would handle and didn't make the front end as tight as I wanted. Nevertheless I ended up with a 38" (965mm) wheelbase chimera which I was/am pretty happy with. Looking at the geometry of modern frames it still compares pretty well.
He branded it T.J.Quick for reasons I have long forgotten.
Mick Coward built a road frame for me circa 1982 and my instruction to him was to build me a 22" track frame with standard road ends with the shortest possible top tube and the shortest possible wheelbase.
My rationale was the fact that I wasn't a sprinter and not a pure climber but was always in at the shout on an uphill finish. The local specialist hill climb champion where I grew up (Max Pendleton - Luton Whs) invariably rode a track bike for the Nationals.
Mick was a bit worried about how it would handle and didn't make the front end as tight as I wanted. Nevertheless I ended up with a 38" (965mm) wheelbase chimera which I was/am pretty happy with. Looking at the geometry of modern frames it still compares pretty well.
He branded it T.J.Quick for reasons I have long forgotten.
Close as I can measure with length of string and ruler the WB is pretty much bang on 39", the geometry seems much tighter than my old handbuilt Raleigh Competition and seems to accelerate much easier. Only downside is- I have big feet and am very close to clipping the front wheel with my toeclips, am not sure if this is going to be better or worse when I make the switch to strapless.
Rob88
Retired, demented
- Location
- Owl-on-Sea
Your response made me smile, perhaps with due prompting a kindly relative will give you a tape measure for Christmas. Second, if your feet ever touch the front wheel when you are cornering, or your pedal clips the ground - you aren't going fast enough - or you would have stopped pedalling anyway...........
Back in the days of "springy" steel frames, the only way to make them responsive was to ride the smallest frame you could get away with, with the steepest angles and tightest wheelbase. Builders sometimes got the front end wrong and occasionally you would see someone at 50mph on a descent with a "speed wobble" with their whole bike vibrating uncontrollably as the rider hit the brakes - eyes popping out!
Back in the days of "springy" steel frames, the only way to make them responsive was to ride the smallest frame you could get away with, with the steepest angles and tightest wheelbase. Builders sometimes got the front end wrong and occasionally you would see someone at 50mph on a descent with a "speed wobble" with their whole bike vibrating uncontrollably as the rider hit the brakes - eyes popping out!
