Fete Surprise
 
Whilst enjoying the sunshine, ice cream and classic cars at Croydon Village Fete (Herts not Surrey), I stumbled across this diverse collection of British bikes and frames. The owner assures me he has ridden each one at some stage in his life (apart from the red ladies Claud Butler) but is attracted to the unusual frame designs of each. Most striking is the Baines International TT or ‘Flying Gate’ (above) with it’s short chain-stays, dummy seat-tube and extra seat stays. Also of interest was the Granby (below) with it’s tapered tubes, Brooks B17 Sprinter, wooden sprint rims and loooooong stem.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
This Hetchins is immediately recognisable with its curly stays and fancy lugwork (below)...
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
...though my favourite was this R O Harrison ‘Shortwin’ frame with it’s twin D-shaped down-tubes and seat-tube ahead of the bottom bracket.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fete Surprise
Monday, 5 July 2010