...sometimes you find an image of the skill of frame building that makes you stop what you were doing...

[Ian H]

I'm more than happy with Richard Hallett's work (apologies for it not being terribly clean).

 

[Dunbar]

Ah but did he number his frames, this 653 beauty has no numbers anywhere on it, it may have had decals once but nothing was on it when I bought it. It has some other lovely touches like an internal tube to route the brake inner through the toptube with recessed access holes that reduce from the outer cable size and a BB shell with 3 drain slots machined at an angle and brazed on cable guides. It is also so short that the back wheel won't come out with the tyre inflated and don't mention toe overlap yet despite this the handling is very stable, quick yes but not 'twitchy' at all.

Try looking inside the head tube, The number might be on the forks stem. Daft place to put it, but some builders did that; Major Nicholls for one at times.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/majornichols.html

John

 

[raleighnut]

Try looking inside the head tube, The number might be on the forks stem. Daft place to put it, but some builders did that; Major Nicholls for one at times.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/majornichols.html

John

I'll try that, it's about time I fettled the headset although TBH it feels fine but the lower race may need greasing.

 

[avecReynolds531]

I love the details and the paint here:
View: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bishopbikes/6810014510/in/photostream/

 

[carpenter]

^^^ there are some beautiful details on that frame - I want one😊

 

[rogerzilla]

The bell and hammered mudguards are a bit hipsterish for me. The rear light braze-on is neat although I bet a Chinese rear light won't last as long as the frame - and it looks like a pretty niche attachment.

 

[avecReynolds531]

^^^ there are some beautiful details on that frame - I want one😊

Me too, if the lottery win ever lands at the door...

 

[Ian H]

It's just a little too clever for its own good. I wonder how well the seatpost clamps and, if it clamps okay, how do you get it out?

 

[And]

Me too, if the lottery win ever lands at the door...

Me too - utterly fabulous

 

[avecReynolds531]

The bell and hammered mudguards are a bit hipsterish for me. The rear light braze-on is neat although I bet a Chinese rear light won't last as long as the frame - and it looks like a pretty niche attachment.

I understand it's not everyone's idea of a beautiful bicycle. Having spent a lot of time in France when I was a tot, classic hammered mudguards and balloon 650b tyres were everywhere - and I found that look, and those bikes magical.
In the last 10 years or so, the interest in French randonneur design seems to have taken off again, particularly in the US. This Bishop frame looks to be in that tradition.

A similar rear light fixing had been done by Rene Herse in the past: http://www.reneherse.com/images/PICT0007.JPG
Jan Heine sells a nice (made in USA) aluminium rear light with B & M internals, including standlight: https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/components/lights/rh-taillight/

It's just a little too clever for its own good. I wonder how well the seatpost clamps and, if it clamps okay, how do you get it out?

That's an excellent point. At the Flickr site it says 'the post will be slotted with about 1 cm of adjustment in either direction (up or down); the whole set up is bit of a commitment; it was commonly used by Rene Herse and the customer requested the internal routing'

 

[Bonefish Blues]

I understand it's not everyone's idea of a beautiful bicycle. Having spent a lot of time in France when I was a tot, classic hammered mudguards and balloon 650b tyres were everywhere - and I found that look, and those bikes magical.
In the last 10 years or so, the interest in French randonneur design seems to have taken off again, particularly in the US. This Bishop frame looks to be in that tradition.

A similar rear light fixing had been done by Rene Herse in the past: http://www.reneherse.com/images/PICT0007.JPG
Jan Heine sells a nice (made in USA) aluminium rear light with B & M internals, including standlight: https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/components/lights/rh-taillight/



That's an excellent point. At the Flickr site it says 'the post will be slotted with about 1 cm of adjustment in either direction (up or down); the whole set up is bit of a commitment; it was commonly used by Rene Herse and the customer requested the internal routing'

Agreed - it's a bit w*nky in parts, but whoever built it can build absolutely beautifully

And I love the colour