The Rory O'Brien thread: thoroughly recommended reading

[yello]

I've just spent some time reading this thread...

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=3345

...and it's been a real delight. A hidden gem in the pile of p usual daily chunterings of CC.

There are some contributors there that will never appear elsewhere, or again, on this forum I suspect. People who somehow stumbled across the thread, registered, posted and disappeared off again. It's nostalgia, a tiny bit of British cycling history. It's part of what makes life wonderful; people chance together in an particular time and place, share experiences, times change and they move on.... and it's there, documented in part on our very own forum.

Anyone got Stephen Poliakoff's email address?

 

[limey]

Thank you for these comments. I actually stumbled upon CC purely by chance, looking for something completely different on the www, and then to find others who were around at the same time more than 40 years ago in the same part of England is astounding. The odds against that happening are so remote.

And then to find one of the contributors now lives in France, like myself, and is only 25Kms or so away!

Certainly one of the positive reasons for the internet.

 

[pubrunner]

I've just spent some time reading this thread...

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=3345

...and it's been a real delight. A hidden gem in the pile of p usual daily chunterings of CC.

There are some contributors there that will never appear elsewhere, or again, on this forum I suspect. People who somehow stumbled across the thread, registered, posted and disappeared off again. It's nostalgia, a tiny bit of British cycling history. It's part of what makes life wonderful; people chance together in an particular time and place, share experiences, times change and they move on.... and it's there, documented in part on our very own forum.

+1

Great post Yello.

It was very interesting to see just how many contributed to the Rory O'Brien thread.

It has occurred to me; perhaps a new small section on this forum could be created which is devoted to those with an interest in older bikes. I've not been able to find a UK forum which provides this sort of facility.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk is an interesting website, but doesn't have a forum.

After all, there used to be dozens of small bike/frame manufacturers dotted about the country; seems a shame that some of this history isn't recorded somewhere.

A friend of mine has a bike (1960s) allegedly made by Tommy Soens; can anyone tell me anything about him ? I'm interested, cos I might be buying the bike from him.

 

[Dayvo]

Indeed: a post from the past.

I haven't (as yet) read all the Rory O'Brien thread, but there was no piss-taling, abuse, patronising (all of which I have been guilty of myself here ) and it made a very enjoyable read.

In a similar vein, Roger St Pierre writes in the same nostalgic manner in his coloumn in Cycling Plus.

And Tim Hilton captures the mood and feeling of the 50s and 60s in his marvellous One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers .

http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-More-Kilometre-Were-Showers/dp/0006532284

More nostalgia, please.

And I think pubrunner's idea about a section devoted to old bikes/the older eras would be a good idea!

Maybe Roger Hilldodger could share some of his gems, subject to copyright, with us.

 

[pubrunner]

Indeed: a post from the past.

I haven't (as yet) read all the Rory O'Brien thread, but there was no piss-taling, abuse, patronising (all of which I have been guilty of myself here ) and it made a very enjoyable read.

In a similar vein, Roger St Pierre writes in the same nostalgic manner in his coloumn in Cycling Plus.

And Tim Hilton captures the mood and feeling of the 50s and 60s in his marvellous One More Kilometre and We're in the Showers .

http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-More-Kilometre-Were-Showers/dp/0006532284

More nostalgia, please.

And I think pubrunner's idea about a section devoted to old bikes/the older eras would be a good idea!

Maybe Roger Hilldodger could share some of his gems, subject to copyright, with us.

Yes, it was an entertaining and interesting read; I felt that I'd actually learned something.

Any other takers for a section devoted to old bikes/the older eras ?

 

[limey]

older eras and experiences yes? older bikes I think is already well covered.

Dayvo has introduced another name from the past that I had completely forgotten, Roger St Pierre, same mid 60s, same area of Essex, and probably some interesting infos. Where is Roger today?

 

[Twenty Inch]

Wonderful thread, I am reading it gradually.

Roger still writes for Cycling Plus, limey.

 

[limey]

Sorry didn't know about "cycling plus" until you mentioned it. Have now been to their site and updated myself. Living in France we don't get to see UK magazines!

 

[Flying_Monkey]

What's even more ironic about that thread - and it is a wonderful read - is that it is in 'Beginners' when the contributors are very much the opposite! And yes, perhaps there should be a section called something like 'Do you remember...?' (for cycling memories only of course...)

 

[Keith Oates]

I've just seen these threads and have spent the last half an hour or so reading the very interesting history. There is so much to learn and enjoy about cycling in the UK during that era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pubrunner]

What's even more ironic about that thread - and it is a wonderful read - is that it is in 'Beginners' when the contributors are very much the opposite! And yes, perhaps there should be a section called something like 'Do you remember...?' (for cycling memories only of course...)

+1

Great idea - imo !!!

And a great title !!!

 

[limey]

O.K. then try looking at the "who remebers Don Louis of Herne Hill" thread.

 

[peanut]

Y

Any other takers for a section devoted to old bikes/the older eras ?

yes what an excellent idea.

some serious chat about serious bikes would be a very welcome change from CC (chitty chat)

 

[pubrunner]

yes what an excellent idea.

some serious chat about serious bikes would be a very welcome change from CC (chitty chat)

Yep, it would make a change from some of the usual attempts at points-scoring. As Dayvo mentioned 'no piss-taking, abuse, patronising' etc - he could also have mentioned the partisan behaviour to show political allegiances.

It think that FM's proposed title 'Do you remember' is particularly apt.

I'm not sure though, that the will exists for it to be anything more than a pipedream. It is quite possible that only a few of us are interested in finding out more about our steel-framed relics and reminiscing about the 'good old days' - whenever they were.

 

[peanut]

theres only one way to find out.

watch this space.