All posts by James

READERS' PIKES

SP 181053

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I was contaced in December 2017 by Rob Lane who said…

I have a Stan Pike frame which was made for Roger Lush. The frame number is SP181053. I can send some pictures, but it doesn’t have the original paint work or decals. I bought it off a friend who used to live down that way. I think the original colour was a duck egg blue. I got it resprayed, but didn’t get hold of any decals. I’m thinking of restoring it and I do believe you have some decals for sale on the website. Unfortunately I damaged the seat tube trying to drill out a seatpost that was stuck in it but I’m going to have a word with a local frame builder and see if it can be fixed and what the cost would be.

I sent the photos to Stan’s son who replied…

I do remember this one with the drilled rear ends. I also remember Roger Lush. I don’t have any details on it though from what I can see so would suggest it’s probably pre 1979, but definitely one of ours.

I contacted Brian Lush, Roger’s brother, who was one of the first people to email me when I set up this website. Over the years he has been very helpful in providing photos and information. He said…

Here are some pics Roger gave me of his Stan Pike as he built it. I later bought it from him and had it for training on the road. I then sold both Stan Pikes I owned.

It was a more darker richer blue than duck egg with a white panel in the middle of the seat tube.

The handle bars and stem was Cinelli, wheels Campag large flange on Mavic rims, Regina 5 speed block 13-17, Campag chainset with 54 ring that had the chainring lower bar removed and drilled, Nuova Record rear changer and lever also drilled,  Campag pedals, Weinnman 500 brakes also drilled. We drilled every thing possible including the seat pillar that whistled when cycling fast, this proved a bad idea as when it was raining, the bottom bracket and seat tube filled with water. I still have two Campag seat pillars I drilled out! The drilling looked pretty, but gained little in making the bike lighter.

READERS' PIKES

PS 8201

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Ron Badley contacted me and said…

I am in Reno, Nevada, US. As an old time rider I lucked into this Pike of Crewmerne and was excited with the beautiful long point lugs and mix of Huret, TA, Mafac and Campagnolo build. The frame number looks to be PS 8201. Built of straight gauge 531. Painted soft pale yellow. In great no rust condition and my size of 56cm or so. Very pretty bike and I would love to know the build year.

I saw this Stan Pike hanging on the wall of a local bike shop about a year ago now. I asked about it and found it for sale. I took it home for the $300 U.S.  and then made a few changes. The Nitto stem and town bars were to ease the seating position for local runabout use. A better seat post and saddle, and a set of Conti 28mm Gatorskins. Changes to the freewheel were a six speed set and a new chain.  I’m really happy with the solid ride and handling. I believe it to be a straight gauge tube set. The component set is pretty sweet vintage Mafac, Huret, with TA crankset. The bike gets compliments wherever I take it.

I contacted Stan’s son, Steve, and he replied…

Yes, this is frame number PS 8201, there were five built in this number range during 1982, all were 531 plain gauge. This particular one is a 54cm when measured correctly with a 22 & 3/8” top tube. A nice example with clear benefit of a warm climate!

READERS' PIKES

PJ 16

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In 2015, Giles Butcher contacted me and said…

I have a Graham Tomlinson bike. Any idea how I can tell who made the frame? I found a number and some letters on the bottom bracket section. I had to scrape the paint to see it clearly it reads PJ 16. I am presuming this frame was built by Stan Pike’s son, Philip? Do you agree?

In the early 80’s Graham Tomlinson set up his own cycle shop (Graham Tomlinson Cycles)  in Wellington, Somerset. His first name branded frames were built by Stan and Phil Pike who taught Graham the art of frame building.

I forwarded the photos to Stan’s son, Steve and he replied…

Yes, it is one of ours. 22 & 1/2″ frame built from 531 tubing. Was trying to figure the age and not too sure, but at a guess I’d say circa 1979/80.

Giles was understandably very happy. He said…

Wow! Great news! Thanks for your support researching this. The bike frame is too small for me, which is a shame. I intend to sell it. I needed the wheels, which is why I bought it.

Giles sold the frame. The next owner then sold it on to Hilary Stone where it’s available to buy for a very reasonable £195 – see here for further details (scroll halfway down the page).

Graham Tomlinson’s wife has been in touch to say some decals for  Tomlinson frames are still available. Get in touch through the contact form and I can forward your details to Graham.

 

Thanks to Hilary Stone for allowing me to use the above photographs.

READERS' PIKES

SP 7927

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David Hebditch contacted me with two bikes he wanted to sell (SP 7927 and SP 5052290). Both were too big for him, so he was keen to pass them onto someone who could make good use of them. I put him in touch with James Soanes who has been looking for a large Pike for some time.

Here are details of SP 7927:

  • Stan Pike Time Trial
  • Ishiwata 017 frame; silver braised; 23.75″
  • 3T stem
  • Campagnolo Pista 177.5 chainset
  • Nuovo record derailleur
  • Rino seat post
  • Cinelli handlebars
  • Universal CX brakes
  • Royce wheels
  • owned by former Somerset TT champion Geoff Chiles

I contacted Stan’s son, Steve, and he replied…

7927 was built in mid 1979 for Geoff Chiles. Built from Ishiwata 017 tubing as stated and is silver brazed.
It’s a 23 & 3/4” frame with 22 & 1/2” top tube, 1 & 1/4” Fork rake and 13 & 3/4 wheel clearance.

I’ll  update the page as and when James sends me photos of the restoration.

READERS' PIKES

SP 5052290

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David Hebditch contacted me with two bikes he wanted to sell (SP 7927 and SP 5052290). Both were too big for him, so he was keen to pass them onto someone who could make good use of them. I put him in touch with James Soanes who has been looking for a large Pike for some time.

Here are details of SP 5052290:

  • Stan Pike Road
  • 531 frame; 24.5″
  • Omas headset; Campag fluted seat post
  • Paint job is rough, however marking indicate stan pike and has provenance of former owner who I brought it from (same as above)

I contacted Stan’s son, Steve, and he replied…

Regret no detail on that one, although I do have records with that same series of numbers, just not that particular one.

I’ll update this page as and when James sends photographs of the restoration.

READERS' PIKES

PJ 68

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John Pennington contacted me and said …

I’ve found and bought another Pike (at least I hope it a Pike!?).
An image is attached of the frame number and I’ll send more in separate emails due to size.  If it is genuine and you’d like to add it to your site feel free.  I’m going to get this one re-sprayed and built up again for my son.

Stan’s son sent me some information …

Yes, was built by Philip Pike in 1982 using Reynolds 531. It’s a 24” with 14 & 3/8” wheel clearance. Was originally being built for a Barry Loveridge but looks like it was a cancelled or non-collected order.

We have a limited amount of original Pike of Crewkerne decals available, for frames build by Stan’s son Philip, but John intends to respray and use  ‘Stan Pike’ decals he has purchased from eBay. Not strictly correct, and could cause confusion, but it’s great that John will be restoring the bike to its, incorrectly badged, former glory. 

READERS' PIKES

PJ 85462

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Jason Moss contacted me and said…

I have a Stan pike racing frame that I know nothing about. The frame has the name Michael Fuller stamped next to the frame number underneath the bottom bracket. Any information on this would be much appreciated as I am looking to sell it due to lack of space.

I contacted Stan’s son and he said…

Yes, I remember this one! You know how some things stick in your mind and you never forget? I used to ride with Mike Fuller, he lived in Cedar Grove in Yeovil. I remember this one because I was in the shop when he came to pick it up, just after my father had died.

So the frame was built in 1983, it’s a 22 & 3/4” frame with 22” top tube & 74 degree parallel (head and seat tube). 1 & 7/8” fork rake.

Jason is looking to sell the bike. If you’re interested, please contact me.

 

READERS' PIKES

SP 7557

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Sandra Maclean contacted me after buying this 20.25″ frame from Hilary Stone. It was sold as being built in 1975 and the bottom bracket is stramped with Richard Pike. I contacted Stan’s son, who unfortunately has no record of the frame build. He said…

We cannot verify the information provided other than to say it is a Stan Pike and a very nice example.

Update February 2018:
Sandra  sent me some updated photographs. She said…

Finally the bike SP 7557 is complete. Was going to go all Shimano 70’s Arabesque but reined myself in and went instead for a range of 70’s era components with the exception of the Shimano 600 AX handlebars which were a moment of 80’s weakness on eBay. I love it.

I asked Sandra why she bought a Pike and she replied…

Well, I’m just a sucker for those wrap round seat-stays. I really like the way they look. Big fan of Wally Green so I appreciated the connection to him. I was interested in the fact that this had been built for Stan’s son – or maybe not! I liked that little bit of heritage and history. [Although it can’t be verified, the frame was sold to Sandra as having being built for Stan’s son Richard.] Your website would be part of it too. The more you know about a framebuilder the more interesting they become. And also the fact that he was just such a class framebuilder

 
Manufacturer
Model
Bottom bracket
Tangeseiki
LN 3922
Chainset
Shimano
EX Arabesque first style165mm 39T
Freewheel
5sp 13/21 Regina Extra BX 85
Rear mech
Suntour
Cyclone
Chain
Sedis
Gear shifters
Suntour
Ratcheted
Headset
Tange
Levin CDS
Brake levers
Dia compe
Gran compe 160c
Brake calipers
Dia compe
Gran compe
Seatpost
Campagnolo
Record
Saddle
Iscaselle
Tornado
Handlebars
Shimano
600 AX 40cm 70s  
Quill stem
Cinelli
1A 1970s Milano 1970s logo
Hubs
Campy
Rear Record Nuovo. Front Tipo
Rims
Mavic
Red Label MA2
Tyres
Grand bois
Cerf 28mm

READERS' PIKES

SP 873245

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I was contacted by David Mansfield who had a Stan Pike for sale.  I put him in touch with James Soanes. A sale was agreed. James said…

Many thanks for that, super efficient as always, I took a punt on this machine, but looking at the photos I didn’t believe it to be as large as  David (brokering the sale) had measured and of course it isn’t, but it’s a lovely machine with a good history (having researched its original owner, Peter Boston).

Peter Boston was President of the Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers where he was a member for some 30+ years, he had kept the Stan Pike, from a stable of bikes he had owned, despite not being able to ride for the last few years due to his declining health.

David couldn’t figure out the meaning of the frame number until he was packing the machine up to send to me, as Peter’s DOB was 1927 so frame number didn’t tally, David then remembered it was, he thinks, Peter’s telephone number?

What’s intriguing about it is the Stan Pike isn’t a decal. It appears to be done from some kind of stencil and is sprayed/painted and it’s been done remarkably well.

I sent the photos to Stan’s son. He replied …

SP873245 was built in Oct 1980 for a Peter Boston. It’s built from Reynolds 531 SL tubing. It’s a 22 & 1/2″ frame with 22 & 9/16″ top tube. Hope that’s of interest.

 

 

READERS' PIKES

SP 7408

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Robert Wace contacted me and said…

I have spoken to the collector that I bought this from who is fairly certain that Stan Pike built this frame. Apparently he worked alongside Wally Green to build frames for Rory O’Brien for a period of time. Also, looking at the wrap around seat stays and the frame number it points towards this being one of his. I’d be interested to hear what Stan’s son’s thoughts are on this.

I sent the pictures to Stan’s son, who replied…

Yes this is one of ours. An early track frame built in 1974.

Robert was obviously very pleased. He said…

That’s great news, thank you for confirming this. I recently spoke to the guy I bought this from (2 years ago) and he is meeting up with the original owner’s son this week so I’m hoping that we may get some further information, but nothing more at this stage I’m afraid.

I’ll update the page if I receive any further information.