Trade Bike

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Spike on a bike

Über Member
Was just sitting here daydreaming when I suddenly remembered the times I used to deliver groceries for my Dads shop on his old trade bike , single speed with those solid bar brakes thingies which were just on non existent with a tiny wheel at the front.

There was by Norfolk standards a particularly good hill to go down in the village where we lived which was great fun and scary at the same time.

Think it died after jumping off a kerb and the front wheel collapsing sending delivery boy and groceries flying in all directions.

And of course summers were always long n hot back then
 

Dave7

Legendary Member
Location
Cheshire
Myself & my older Bro were talking about similar bikes last week. In the 50s he used to deliver milk with big crates front and rear..........24 bottles each plus others slotted 'upside down' in between.
And as you say...........summers WERE always long and hot.
 

EltonFrog

Legendary Member
I used to ride one delivering meat for FJ Morris the Butcher, in Craven Terrace, Paddington around 1969 -1971. Bloody heavy bike, and sometimes a local hotel, like The Royal Lancaster would phone up as they had ran out of meat and order a side of beef, which I couldn't lift, Morris would put it in the front basket, I'd cycle round to the hotel and a chef, or a kitchen porter would have to come and lift it out when I got there. I was 12/13 at the time.
 

raleighnut

Legendary Member
My first job at 12 was as a Co-op delivery boy on one of those, had to pack it up at 14 as I then had to go to school in Lutterworth (from Enderby) and that involved a 45 minute coach journey by the time it had stopped here, there and everywhere so didn't get back til quarter to five (too late to start deliveries)
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
We seem to be on the last of the Royal Mail and fishermen's trade bikes around King's Lynn. They were fairly common in the town centre and advertised in second-hand sales until a few years ago, but now town/city bikes seem to be replacing them. No bike lasts forever and it's remarkable the trade bikes lasted as long as they did.
 
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Spike on a bike

Spike on a bike

Über Member
Yeah our trade bikes well out lasted the old van he had , my last deliveries were in early 1982 then a supermarket opened up in wymondham and I left school.

Can't believe I used to haul that old thing round hardingham and kimberley fully loaded with tin stuffs and the occasional dozen eggs
 
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