Just spent the evening getting the AM7 ready to travel to Bradford on Avon for the weekend. It's 25 years old this year.
All set for BoA 2009
Author: admin
Korean Saddle And Bag Maker Aiming For Brooks And Carradice | BikeRadar
British saddle maker Brooks has owned the leather saddle category for decades, and now a Korean company called Zimbale is branching out into the lucrative US market via Hyde Park Cyclesports in Boise, Idaho.
"My own interest in Zimbale came about partly out of frustration with the unpredictable availability of similar products from existing suppliers and manufacturers," Hyde Park Cyclesports owner Jim Powers told BikeRadar. "I received an email from Zimbale and asked for some samples. I was impressed enough with the samples to begin a conversation about becoming the US distributor.
"We were able to come to an agreement, and now I'm working towards meeting their projections for sales in this country. Interbike is the first step."
According to Powers, the Zimbale brand was created by a small group of individuals with backgrounds in textiles, manufacturing and cycling who also saw the need for a more reliable source of fine leather saddles and leather and textile saddlebags. The group is in Korea, and the bags are made in Korea.
Korean Saddle And Bag Maker Aiming For Brooks And Carradice - BikeRadar.
Colin Martin’s Green Bicycle Site
The website of Colin Martin, the legendary Moultoneer, who cycled from England to Australia in 1970, is back online at http://www.moultonbicycle.com.
Colin left England in 1970 on a custom built Moulton Marathon, with the intention of cycling round the world. While in Australia, his bike was stolen and he abandoned the trip and settled there.
In 2002, he continued the trip on a green Moulton New Series, travelling across North America, and visiting England and Japan.
Finally, in 2008, Colin travelled across Australia from the point where his Moulton Marathon had been stolen, to his home in Queensland, thus completing the round the world trip.
Colin's website, greenbicycle.com, which previously documented the 1970 and 2002 rides, was taken offline in 2009, to facilitate construction of a new site. However, Colin has made the original material available again at the new domain moultonbicycle.com. Read about the 1970 trip from England to Australia and the 2002 Trip Across America.
I look forward to reading about the 2008 ride in due course!
4-Speed Moulton TSR Prototype
A prototype 4-speed TSR was shown at Bradford on Avon on saturday, as part of the annual Moulton Bicycle Club event.
The gearing combines a Schlumpf Speed Drive and Fichtel & Sachs Duomatic. This means that gear-shifting and rear braking is done without cables, allowing the bike to be separated, without the need for cable splitters.
Gear changes for both Speed-drive and Duomatic are activated by the feet. Gear change in the Duomatic is effected by pedalling backwards about 1/4 turn. Changing gears on the speed-drive is done by tapping a button on the pedal crank with the heel.
The Fichtel & Sachs Duomatic contains a coaster brake, activated by back-pedalling.
The 4-speed TSR was visually stunning. The bright white paintjob contrasted beautifully with the new Moulton Bicycle Company headbadge, and a Union Jack on the seat tube. It was very similar to Team GB's Olympic colours.
The new headbadge, which will adorn all Moultons in future, depicts a cyclist on a Moulton (probably a TSR) infront of The Hall. Colours are traditional AM Red, with the new blue, on a shiny silver background. A Union Jack silhouette appears underneath, along with the words "Made in England".
The prototype also sported Moustache-style handlebars, and a reverse-action brake lever to operate the front brake.
The Sachs Duomatic has been out of production for many years, but a large number of "New Old Stock" seems to be available from various sources.
In gear for a new challenge
In gear for a new challenge - Coventry Telegraph
ONE of the UK's oldest bicycle manufacturers has started a new venture which could boost an iconic bike brand.
Stratford-based Pashley Cycles has joined forces with Alex Moulton Bicycles to create The Moulton Bicycle Company.
It will manufacture, market and distribute the Moulton and Pashley TSR ranges of bikes.
Pashley Cycles and Alex Moulton Bicycles have collaborated for the past 12 years, with Pashley manufacturing the Pashley-Moulton TSR range.
Together, the two companies employ more than 50 people.
Pashley Cycles, set up in 1926, is England's longest-established cycle manufacturer, producing more than 150 models of handmade specialist bikes.
Moulton Bicycles, based in Bradford-upon-Avon, was set up by Dr Alex Moulton in 1958, leading the world in design and manufacture of full suspension small-wheeled, high-performance bikes.
More than half of the company's output is exported, with the brand particularly sought after in Japan and the Far East.
Adrian Williams, managing director of Pashley Cycles, said: "The Moulton Bicycle Company has a substantial order book and a waiting list of some 15 months for particular models.
"So, the task will be to increase production output and at the same time open up new markets which should not be difficult as these superbly engineered cycles are much admired worldwide."
Dr Moulton, who becomes president of the new company, said: "This new initiative will allow us to increase our market penetration and reduce our supply times.
"This will enable us to develop new marketing programmes, strengthen the enviable reputation of the Moulton brand and ensure our bicycles remain at the forefront of the small wheel bicycle revolution."
Paul Bennett, corporate partner at Black Country law firm George Green, who advised on the new venture, said: "Pashley and Moulton are two legendary brands in UK manufacturing.
"What is more, they are two of the very few remaining true bicycle manufacturers left in the country, as they genuinely hand-make the cycles here, rather than just being an assembly or import-distribution-only operation.
"Their focus on quality, design and engineering shows that, done properly, there is still a worldwide market for British hand-made goods."