Tickets for Eroica Britannia 2019 go on sale at 12 Noon on Wednesday 6th March.
The ‘500’ is a small, one-off event to celebrate and document the sixth year of Eroica Britannia hosted from the market town of Bakewell. 2019 is a ride only event on Sunday 18th August 2019.
It’d be great to gather as many Pikes together as possible.
Book your tickets here…
eroicabritannia.co.uk
A couple of weeks ago John Gannaway contacted me and said…
Hi, I have a Stan Pike – I am 5’6” and the frame size is 21.5”. It is a road frame with no mudguard eyes etc. It is equipped with campag group set. The frame number is SP 25360. I am the original owner, the frame was made in about 1981. It was hardly used as I finished cycling just before I received the frame.
I ordered and bought the 21.5” Stan Pike frame from CT Haines Cycles, Salisbury in 1980 or 1981. The frame was bought for time-trialling, but between ordering the frame and receiving it I had stopped racing and was spending any spare time windsurfing. Consequently the bike was built with the equipment detailed but it wasn’t used initially. The bike was used in the early 90’s when I did a couple of triathlons but I would guess that the bike has done no more than 500 miles, as can be seen from the tyres which are original and show no tread wear.
For most of the bikes life it has been stored in dry, well-aired lofts and consequently the frame and equipment are in good condition.
When the bike was stored the originally fitted Campag fluted seatpin and Concor saddle were removed for fear of the seatpin seizing in the frame, unfortunately these have been mislaid. The unbranded seatpin currently fitted is approximately 19 years old, the well worn Concor saddle is of a similar age to the frame. The bike originally had Campag record road pedals and toe clips but when used for triathlon it was fitted with the Look pedals. It was also in the early 90’s that the Avocet computer, which still works, was fitted.
Frame 21.5”
John, who is based in Lymington, wants the bike ‘to go to someone who will cherish it’. If you’re interested in purchasing this beauty, let me know. Bikes like this are as rare as hen’s teeth – I doubt we will ever come across one in such wonderful original condition again.
Offers over £600 please.
UPDATE: Sold in less than 12 hours of the bike going online – to Rob Froud for £700.
Back in 2015 I was contacted by Graham Brown…
The frame number that is stamped under the crank is SP 22252 PW – I assume the PW is for Pete Wells. It also has PETE WELLS stamped there along with ISHIWATA ALPHA. I don’t know where or when my Dad bought it, but it would most likely have been in the last 20 years or so. He did ride it and race it, I would like to find out more myself. It would be nice for it to go to someone who would appreciate it. Oh, and there are a spare pair of wheels with it. By the way my dad’s name was James Brown and he last rode with Fife Road Club.
I contacted Stan’s son, Steve, but in 2015 he unfortunately he couldn’t find any record of the frame. I did however share details of the frame with another Pike enthusiast (thanks Chris!) who provided Graham with quite a lot of information about the build, components etc.
Everything went quiet and then a week or so ago Graham got in touch again asking me about selling it. He also said…
Last night I put it on the facebook site to see what interest came on it and low and behold a guy called Peter Clarke got in touch saying it was one of his bikes from the past. Peter Clarke (formerly Pete Wells) confirmed that it was a frame he had made for himself in 1979, but it was gold then and most of the cycle parts have been changed from when he raced it.
I contacted Stan’s son again (forgetting that I’d already inquired in 2015!), and this time we were lucky. He found records of four bikes built for Pete Wells…
So this is the 1979 Ishiwata 015 (a) Alpha frame.
Judy Windwood contacted me and said…
My daughter has a Stan Pike. Well, more interestingly, it was Don Farrell’s Stan Pike. Bought from Don prior to his death. She has decided, with much reluctance, that she will sell it.
I asked Judy for more details…
My dad was a keen cyclist after the war and belonged, with some of his family, to Wellington Wheelers, Somerset. My parents knew Graham Tomlinson and when he said that he and Terry Manuel were holding a meeting in around 1980 to reform the club, they were there. My husband and I also cycled and consequently brought our children up to ride as well. (See PJ 25353). The children acquired a number of bikes, as they grew, through members of the Wheelers, including a Graham Tomlinson and a Mercian.
In about 1996, Terry Manuel told my parents that Don Farrell, then living at Porlock, was selling his bike. We were looking for a bike for our daughter and arranged to visit Don the next time we were in Somerset. The bike was a dark turquoise; it had been well used and needed some attention. Don told us that Stan had built it for him. The frame is stamped – DON FARRELL and DF142277.
Our daughter was 13 at the time and decided she wanted a purple bike. And accessories. She rode it a lot till she went to university and didn’t want to take the bike with her. Over the last seventeen years it’s not been used much. She didn’t really grow into it and struggles to reach the brakes, hence the more recent alterations.
The frame was resprayed by Argos and components replaced. See spec below. We couldn’t get any Stan Pike decals so just had his name made. When we bought it, Don’s name was on the bike, not Stan’s, but Don included more decals of his name in the sale.
Becky has now decided reluctantly to sell her pride and joy. As it’s too big for her, she thinks it will be better to have a bike which she will use and which fits.
I asked Stan’s son, Steve, if he had any details about the bike. He replied…
Unfortunately I can’t find a record of it, but I do recall it being made for Don and remember my father talking about it.
If you’re interested in purchasing the bike, please contact me. The family are looking for £450. Don’t delay, pick up a piece of cycling history before it’s snapped up!
UPDATE 6 NOV 2018: As expected, lots of interest and sold very quickly.
Frame
Reynolds 531 frame and forks. Framed stamped – DON FARRELL and DF142277
22” centre bottom bracket to centre top seat tube
40” wheelbase – centre to centre of dropouts
Chrome forks and rear triangle.
Rear dropouts with adjusters possibly Shimano.
Wheels
36 spoke, 2 cross plain gauge to front and rear on Campagnolo QR hubs and Wolber Model 58 Super Champion rims. Rims have DF (Don Farrell) transfers
Gearing
Campagnolo 170mm Mirage cranks, but pedals and toe clips are not necessarily original.
Campagnolo front and rear mechanisms. ExaDriveSystem Front rings 52, 42, 32 and rear 7 speed block 14-32, not sure of manufacturer but original to the bike.
Campagnolo headset.
Campagnolo GS side pull brakes and levers.
Bike altered to concealed cables, but hoods original. Also secondary brake levers added to front of handlebars.
Cellini handlebars on un-named stem.
Original High Zurs mudguards.
Bottle cages, cable casings and saddle not original.
Spare sets of Don Farrell frame transfers come with the bike.
Michael Rowlands contacted me and said…
I am helping a charity sell a Stan Pike bike and wondered if you could help me with some information? The code on the frame is SP19656. Any information would be great, when it was made, what parts is was built up with, etc, etc. I dont know any other information other than it was donated to the charity in Guildford
I contacted Stan’s son Steve who said…
Regret I don’t have a record of this one, but can verify from the photos that it’s an early Stan Pike, possibly 1975 to 1977, I would say going by the lugs. There were very few made with these.
One thing that is puzzling us is that the PIKE on the seat tube is from the Pike of Crewkerne transfers, as is the head tube badge on the back of the seat tube. The others are the usual Stan Pike transfers.
The frame number would suggest that it was made for someone with a birthday of 19th June 1956, so that would tie in with the date – a present for someones 21st birthday perhaps.
If anyone has any idea of the bike’s history, or where it has been for the last 40 years, we’d love to know.
A couple of days ago I received an email from Paul Burrows…
I have Stan Pike frame that I bought for my 15th or 16th Birthday, which I think would be about 1982 or 83. It is white and has been on the road in a couple of guises since then. Last major overhaul was about 10 years back when it got a new Tiagra 9 speed groupset, but still running the original centre pull brakes as I couldn’t source new brakes with a big enough drop. Following some cable fails it is actually currently set up with a single speed conversion kit just to see if if that’s a thing I like. I am looking at getting it restored but wondered if you had any recommended restorers and if there is a source of replacement decals? Have some photos if you are interested ina dding it to the gallery, but it has seen better days and could really do with some tlc. Frame No is PJ 181067 which from memory was a custome request as that’s my birthday. Great site by the way.
I asked Paul for photos and any other information about the frame. He replied…
I bought it with savings and some money I got for my birthday in the early 80s, maybe 82/83. Ordered after seeing an add in a weekly cycling mag (don’t recall the title). It was the plain 531 as I couldn’t stretch the the double butted. One of my school friends also bought one around the same time. My brain is telling me that it was a double order but that might be wrong. His was red.
Measure up/sizing was done by my dad – he was a keen cyclist doing track racing out of Paddington Rec in his youth and later rode for the army team during his national service. TBH I think it was optimistically sized for me to grow into. I think it’s a 23” inch frame and as you can probably tell from the saddle position it is really still too big for me, but I am kind of used to it now.
Malcolm Howell sent me photos of the bicycle that was made fork him by Stan in 1981. It was originally fitted with drops, but it currently has straight bars. The colour is original and the frame size is 24 1/2″. He still has the build sheet.
Malcolm says the bottom bracket was reamed out and a steel sleeve fitted, and re-threaded by Argos of Bristol in 2004.
Malcolm has stopped riding and is looking to sell the bike. He’s looking for around £600. Stan’s frames are becoming increasingly difficult to get hold of, so grab one while you can. If you’re interested, or would like more information, please contact me.
John Miller contacted me and said…
I attach four photos from 1958, when I was 17 years old and riding for the Edgware RC. The bike I am riding is a Wally Green that I bought secondhand from Don Farrell for £25. I borrowed the money from my mum and paid it back weekly! The frame number was P1 and I was told (I’m pretty sure I was told by Harold Peters, whom we knew as Pete, who was Wally’s frame builder in the late fifties and ran the shop in Hendon Central) that it was Stan’s first frame for Wally.
The equipment was:
I was West London Junior Champion in 1959 and went on to ride as an Independent (Semi- Pro) for Wally Green/ Cafe den Engel Gent, in the early sixties. Proud to have ridden a small part of cycling history.
Unfortunately, I gave the frame away and it is now lost.
Does anyone know the whereabouts of John’s frame? It’d be great to track it down and add it to the website.
I was contacted at the end of June, by John Chitty. He said…
I have a Stan Pike frame K77069R, sold to me by John Woodburn, a dear friend of mine, who stayed with me before and after his End to End ride. He told me that he had won the BBAR on it. I am interested to know it’s posssible current value for insurance purposes.
I replied…
Thanks for getting in touch regarding the frame. It’d be great to have some photos so we could pop the frame onto the website. Would you be interested in that? I can forward them to Stan’s son to see if he has any further information. I’m afraid that prices are still very low compared to how much people are willing to pay for a modern carbon frame. Regarding the value, it’s almost impossible to put a price on it. Recent ebay sales for Pikes have ranged from around £200 to £600. It really depends on who is looking to buy a bike at a particular time. Sorry, I realise that’s not very helpful.
John didn’t reply.
At the beginning of July I received an email from Stephen Norgate. He said…
I recently attended a cycle jumble at Ripley in Surrey. Two ladies and a gentleman were selling bike parts, photographs and medals from the late John Woodburn’s estate (long story). Turns out the parts were from one of JWs Stan Pike Machines (K77069R). Asking where the frame was, I was told “it was at home” and they had taken the parts off the day before as it was easier than bringing the whole bike. You can imagine how I felt. So next day saw me back in Surrey where I was able to buy the frame. To my relief there were still some components mounted on the frame – seat post, B/B, cranks, headset, bars and stem & brake levers – all Campagnolo Super Record.
From a very happy “Pike Owner”
I contacted Steve, Stan’s son, who said…
The frame carries the initials KR and so was built for Ken Ryall Cycles not directly for John Woodburn.
Although it is painted the same colour, this Ken Ryall frame was not the one used for the End-to-End. Please see the John Woodburn page for details (scroll to the bottom).
I contacted John Chitty again to ask for further information. John has replied…
I first met John Woodburn and his partner Anne, at the Charlotteville CC Easter 50 in 1980. (I was a member of the Charlotteville CC). A couple of months later he when he found himself “between properties” he asked if I had a spare room that he could stay in and indoor accommodation for his bikes. So he moved into my house in Chilworth, near Guildford, for around 2 1/2-3 years. John worked as a Post Office engineer based in Windsor, and he rode to and from work every day a round trip of approx 50 miles. He did this through the winter of 1980/81 plus weekend rides as part of his preparation for the End-to-End (not on a Stan Pike but a winter hack bike). The Stan Pike lived in my hallway when he was not using it for racing. Shortly after his successful End-to-End ride, he offered to sell the Stan Pike frame to me having had it resprayed by Stan in the meantime.
I duly bought it and it has been in various spare bedrooms ever since.
I had not intended to sell it but at a Cycle jumble in Ripley near Guildford, where I was helping with selling some of Johns”stuff”. I mentioned to Mr Norgate about the frame and its history, he said that he was a collector and was interested, and asked if he could come to my home the next day to see it, and duly bought it from me.
I am sending photos of a dedication by John from his book “50 Years at the Top” mentioning the Stan Pike. Also a postcard sent to me from John whilst he was riding the End-to-End route prior to the big event. I asked many times for him to write a provenance, he always said he would, but unfortunately, he never got around to it. I hope that this might be of use to you to confirm that the frame had indeed belonged to John.
So it looks likely that John got this frame from Ken Ryall (some sort of sponsorship?) and used it for racing. There are a few photos of John on a Ryall frame on the internet. He then had it resprayed by Stan, as a Stan Pike, and later sold it to John Chitty.
I was recently contacted by David Clark. He said…
I am the owner of a Stan Pike road bike – frame no. SA 17. I am in my 70s now and find that I am no longer comfortable using it on longer rides. For that reason I am looking to sell it to a discerning individual with an interest in classic road bikes. The bike does have sentimental value as my father was born and bred in Crewkerne. Although I have no personal knowledge of Stan Pike or his family, I suspect one or more of my uncles (now deceased) would have known him as a work colleague at Westlands. The bike is equipped with Reynolds 531 frame tubing and Zeus 2000 forks and is in roadworthy condition, with new marathon plus tyres. I can supply a photo and further details on request.
David sent me some photographs and said…
Perhaps I should say that I am not the original owner – I bought the bike about 16 years ago from a colleague. There is a logo on the bike which suggests that it may have been initially purchased from CT Haines & Son, Stonehenge Cycle Works, 8-10 Water Lane, Salisbury. I had certain components ‘upgraded’ in 2014 prior to a cycling trip to France (new quick release wheels, bar end shifters, caliper brakes). The bike has not been used much since then. Frame size is 21.5” (54 cm). Wheels are 700 cc. The chain set configuration is 48, 36.
I contacted Stan’s son Steve to see if he had any further information. He replied…
I would like to buy it.
I put Steve in touch with David and I believe a deal has been struck. More information to follow…
