biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
- Location
- Northamptonshire
Ever since I started Cycling again a few years ago I have wanted a Coventry built bike as I am a Coventry kid , my first attempt at getting one turned up about 4" too small, so ever since then have been on the look out for one that fits me .
The second one I managed to find turned up as an L A Cycles frameset, the @colly of this parish now owns and rides, at the time of me selling it to him I was unaware of the true connection between L A Cycles and Coventry frame maker Lee Cooper. After the deal was done I learned of the connection .
So, ever since then, the search intensified and about 18 months ago I uncovered a Pollard Specialite complete bike and almost ever since then this has been my main commuting and leisure bike .
Earlier this week I arranged to go and meet Lee Cooper who is a Coventry frame builder and has been since 1984 , I was left opened mouth from the moment I entered his premises to the moment I left . I stood and watched as he finished soldering the main triangle to a few frames he was making for a customer , the man was surrounded by a small production run of 5 other main triangles whilst on a bench there were a bunch of fork crowns and steerer tubes awaiting their blades to to be inserted and soldered .
Around the man stood the tools of his trade, a frame jig imported from the states , various bits of welding equipment , vices , small sanding machines and loads of tubes awaiting construction .
He showed me some frames he was making for some big names in British Cycling which amazed me as I always believed these people made their own frames , but at least they out source from a true British frame builder. He also showed me some older frames that were made for a n other British company till they outsourced their supply to the far east . He also showed a rather nice Blue frameset with trackends that bore the name of an ex Coventry frame builder , whilst he was talking me around this frame he explained his frame numbering technique , ie 040614 and lc which means 04 th bike in 6 month of year 2014 and Lee Cooper .
Lee rounded up my visit by showing me a rather lovely complete bike that he made for the Bespoke show a couple of years ago , normal reaction was for me to lift the bike up and was totally gobsmacked just how light it was for a steel machine .
All in all it was a great meeting and I had some a very interesting time with Lee, I went in with so many questions and came home with even more, his knowledge was and is amazing , I am now focused on trying to source one of his bikes ... so the search continues
The second one I managed to find turned up as an L A Cycles frameset, the @colly of this parish now owns and rides, at the time of me selling it to him I was unaware of the true connection between L A Cycles and Coventry frame maker Lee Cooper. After the deal was done I learned of the connection .
So, ever since then, the search intensified and about 18 months ago I uncovered a Pollard Specialite complete bike and almost ever since then this has been my main commuting and leisure bike .
Earlier this week I arranged to go and meet Lee Cooper who is a Coventry frame builder and has been since 1984 , I was left opened mouth from the moment I entered his premises to the moment I left . I stood and watched as he finished soldering the main triangle to a few frames he was making for a customer , the man was surrounded by a small production run of 5 other main triangles whilst on a bench there were a bunch of fork crowns and steerer tubes awaiting their blades to to be inserted and soldered .
Around the man stood the tools of his trade, a frame jig imported from the states , various bits of welding equipment , vices , small sanding machines and loads of tubes awaiting construction .
He showed me some frames he was making for some big names in British Cycling which amazed me as I always believed these people made their own frames , but at least they out source from a true British frame builder. He also showed me some older frames that were made for a n other British company till they outsourced their supply to the far east . He also showed a rather nice Blue frameset with trackends that bore the name of an ex Coventry frame builder , whilst he was talking me around this frame he explained his frame numbering technique , ie 040614 and lc which means 04 th bike in 6 month of year 2014 and Lee Cooper .
Lee rounded up my visit by showing me a rather lovely complete bike that he made for the Bespoke show a couple of years ago , normal reaction was for me to lift the bike up and was totally gobsmacked just how light it was for a steel machine .
All in all it was a great meeting and I had some a very interesting time with Lee, I went in with so many questions and came home with even more, his knowledge was and is amazing , I am now focused on trying to source one of his bikes ... so the search continues