Rory O'Brien bike

[Smokin Joe]

The demise of the local dealer with his own brand frames is a bit of a shame really, the variety of colour schemes and styles on display wherever cyclists gathered was always worth a look. Now any event seems to be flooded with Treks and Giants and their like, all looking the same.

I noticed last time I was up in London ('03) EG Bates in Plaistow was closing due to retirement. I did not have time to pop in and see Alan Bates to wish him well, but I had been a customer there since I was about 14 and it was a great shop and very helpful. I even had one of their frames for a while. Looking on streetview the shop now sells white goods

 

[pubrunner]

I expect admin had their reasons but it's difficult to see what harm another sub-section would've done. There's alot of snobism and elitism around bikes. Personally I'm interested in any bikes, from old co-op delivery bikes right up to the latest full carbon technology, but maybe I'm just weird.

What forum do you use for older bikes then? I wouldn't mind having a look.

I was told that there wasn't enough interest - 'too specialised'. How can it be too specialised ? Surely, there must be many of us still owning old steel-framed bikes ?

Actually, I can afford only steel-framed bikes. I've four (FW Evans, Ellis Briggs, Harrods Special & Major Nichols) - bought for a grand total of about £400 ! That's affordable cycling for you !

I start up a thread on a rather obscure bike (Rory O'Brien) and there have been nearly 100 responses - yes, that would be not enough interest !

For older bikes, I go to Retro Bike, CTC and Bike Radar.

 

[raindog]

For older bikes, I go to Retro Bike, CTC and Bike Radar.

cheers - I'll check them out.

 

[normgow]

The demise of the local dealer with his own brand frames is a bit of a shame really, the variety of colour schemes and styles on display wherever cyclists gathered was always worth a look. Now any event seems to be flooded with Treks and Giants and their like, all looking the same.

This makes me think of what the railways in Britain prior to the 1923 Grouping must have looked like, with each company having its own livery and style of locomotives, coaches and buildings. Sometimes on station buildings you can still find a few traces of those long lost days; on the Essex end of the London Central Line for example, where the line runs above ground the GER for Great Eastern Railway can be seen entwined in the wrought iron work on the stancions supporting the platform canopies.
I'm sure that railway enthusiasts up and down the country know of lots more similar examples.

 

[normgow]

Sorry about the picture, I seem to have screwed up again. Will try to post it later.

I hope it works this time.

 

[john5339]

I have a Rory O Brien bike - Columbus slx frame and campag chorus 8 speed group. I had Rory's shop in North Street build it in 1996. Back then I chose to support "local" bike shops rather than on-line retailers, but I must admit that the frame was not particularly well prepared. Price was also top-end. I found the guys in the shop generally not very helpful and stopped going in shortly after I got the bike. Not surprised when I heard they had shut up shop. Still got the bike today, and does well as my winter ride.

 

[stevienix]

hi just a quickie about Dave Bedwell
yes he did build wheels but this was just a hobby for him
yes he was sponsored by rory
my wife did have his bike built by rory but unfortunately her ex-husband threw it away !! we were both quiet anoyed as you can imagine
my self i never had the got to meet Dave but sounds like an amazing guy !!!
sadly missed by my wife as she is his daughter .....

 

[The Bear]

Sorry I haven't posted for a while. Bullet style posting today.

Dave Bedwell is still a figure of legend in some circles.

I had an email message on here from a relative of Vic Gibbons about his legendary old bike "Led Zeppelin".

What's happened to the pictures folks?

 

[raindog]

my wife did have his bike built by rory but unfortunately her ex-husband threw it away !!

That's really sad.
I often wonder how many interesting bikes get trashed because people simply don't understand what they are.

 

[The Bear]

Some nice vintage pics here of Essex riders, including Vic Gibbons.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/gallery5.html

 

[NORTHERN CHIEF]

What a fantastic thread. A pal sent me the link so I joined the forum just to post here.

I've been trying to get information on Rory O'Brien frames for a couple of years now. I inherited my dad's fixed wheel machine when he died and I've since restored it. Would love to have some transfers for it - any ideas anyone? - I remember when the bike was new, it was black with a gold 'signature' type script on the downtube. As far as I remember, the frame must've been built in '62 or '63. It was built to my dad's own spec, including angles and the split seat tube - a feature he'd allways wanted on a bike since he saw a similiar frame when he was track racing in his youth. It's got a really nice Stronglight headset with a 'toothed' adjusting system. Anyroad, here's a picture of the frame. (if I can manage it, that is)
Now I've joined, I may as well make the effort to join in on the rest of the forum, but it'll take a while for me to explore it.

Hi, I joined this discussion a while back and since then have not added any input.
I now have a few photos you might find of interest, they show the head transfer just after I had removed the top layer of paint. This shows a great piece of Rory history. I say this because I hav`nt seen another.
Also the upright from the saddle had this very faded motive, unsure what was on it.
The only other transfer was a long signiture in red on the downtube, but not readable on the black rusty frame.
I have since aquired a set of decals from lloyds in Wales, as well as a set of block capitals (RORY OBRIEN).
Anyone seen any of these transfers?

 

[pubrunner]

I have since aquired a set of decals from lloyds in Wales, as well as a set of block capitals (RORY OBRIEN).
Anyone seen any of these transfers?

My Rory O'Brien had the block capital decals, but I've never seen the other type with the signature.

That is a very rare bike that you have !

 

[Decani]

I just want to add my little bit for what it's worth. My uncle's name was John Adlington and he bought Rory O'Briens' business in North Street, Romford in the 1980s. John was a really keen cyclist and he was proud to own the business, but unfortunately he died of cancer and the business closed. I am just wondering if anyone knew John?

 

[raindog]

Hi, I joined this discussion a while back and since then have not added any input.
I now have a few photos you might find of interest, they show the head transfer just after I had removed the top layer of paint. This shows a great piece of Rory history. I say this because I hav`nt seen another.
Also the upright from the saddle had this very faded motive, unsure what was on it.
The only other transfer was a long signiture in red on the downtube, but not readable on the black rusty frame.
I have since aquired a set of decals from lloyds in Wales, as well as a set of block capitals (RORY OBRIEN).
Anyone seen any of these transfers?

The downtube name in script sounds like the one that was on my dad's frame except it was in gold. You can still get Rory transfers but only the block capitals one, and I don't think it would look right on the frame I've got. I'll probably end up just putting two of the small ones on the seat tube and the head tube. I expect my frame had the same transfers as in your pics, but I believe the only ones available now are like this.

 

[pubrunner]

For anyone looking for a Rory O'Brien frame, there is one listed here - only £40 ono.

It looks (to my eyes) like a fifties or sixties frame - it might be good tubing - difficult to tell from the pic.

Oh yes, it has Rory O'Brien decals that I've not seen before - perhaps the same as Raindog has shown in the above posting.

(It is towards the bottom of the page, so you'll have to scroll down).

My link