Re: 83 Andy Powell Early Overbury's MTB
The History Man":11ovaapd said:
Time for a thread title change!
AP8440
MB
A 1984 British made mountain bike in that condition is rare indeed. Even though Reynolds launched their ATB tube-sets in 1983 it would have taken a while for companies to source components and set up production and test prototypes etc. I would love to see the guidance to manufacturers that Reynolds sent out with the tube-sets. It probably included drawings showing the frame geometry of the original Ritchey bikes.
In recession torn 1984 I was keen to buy a British made mountain bike. However early in the year, apart from the Cleland Aventura non were available. So I toured around most of the bike shops in Greater London only finding far eastern made MTBs. A Dawes dealers gave me brochure that proclaimed that their Ranger was the first British made mountain bike though in reality it hadn't been lunched yet. Then F.W.Evans Waterloo shop told me that they would have the first other branch in Kingston would have the first of the new ATB models arriving the following Friday. So I went along and hired one for the weekend in order to test it out.
That was in July 1984. Other UK makers that produced their own mountain bikes in 1984 using the Reynolds ATB tube-sets include Saracen, Dawes, Eclipse, Overbury's, Condor, Elswick-Falcon, Roberts Cycles, Swallow and Bob Jackson.
I am not aware of any British mountain bikes being made using Reynolds ATB tubing in 1983, though Robert's were making mountain bike frames for US customers as early as 1981. The first complete British made US style mountain bike was probably made by amateur frame-builder Tony Oliver that same year. At that time they both would have had to use non ATB/MTB tubes, maybe Reynolds?