BOTM Aug2012- British Special- Vote now.
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The first time I had to make a choice between a British Cleland bicycle and the American designed mountain bikes was back in 1984. I chose American and bought a copy of a Tom Ritchey design, a British built F.W. Evans ATB.
I guess that the American designs looked more modern and sporty. And like Tom Ritchey, I started out as a road cyclist and knew little about off-road riding. I then took my new mountain bike along on the Geoff Apps led Wendover rides and it immediately became obvious that the Cleland design was more suited to English off-road riding in every regard. It was only on road in the dry that my mountain bike had a slight speed advantage. By then Ron Kitching had deliberately forced Cleland Cycles Ltd out of business but I was lucky enough to buy an old Cleland frame and build it up with Geoff's help.
I still ride both mountain bikes and Clelands. For me the Cleland is the serious off-road bike of choice whilst I prefer mountain bikes for rides were most of the riding is on-road or on smother trails and towpaths.
Thanks to Ron Kitching ans Co, Geoff Apps' Cleland became the off-road bicycle that mountain bikers never had the chance to try out for themselves. Even today, experienced riders pleasantly surprised with the experience of riding a Cleland. Bellow is the recent reaction of a RetroBike rider.
Even with the large number of mountain bike styles currently available you cannot buy anything that challenges what a mountain bike should be as much as the Cleland. The time when you can buy an off-road bike based on Cleland principles is long overdue.
Of all the bikes to chose from here I can promise that it is the handling of the Cleland and the Highpath that would most surprise you and challenge your preconceptions.
I guess that the American designs looked more modern and sporty. And like Tom Ritchey, I started out as a road cyclist and knew little about off-road riding. I then took my new mountain bike along on the Geoff Apps led Wendover rides and it immediately became obvious that the Cleland design was more suited to English off-road riding in every regard. It was only on road in the dry that my mountain bike had a slight speed advantage. By then Ron Kitching had deliberately forced Cleland Cycles Ltd out of business but I was lucky enough to buy an old Cleland frame and build it up with Geoff's help.
I still ride both mountain bikes and Clelands. For me the Cleland is the serious off-road bike of choice whilst I prefer mountain bikes for rides were most of the riding is on-road or on smother trails and towpaths.
Thanks to Ron Kitching ans Co, Geoff Apps' Cleland became the off-road bicycle that mountain bikers never had the chance to try out for themselves. Even today, experienced riders pleasantly surprised with the experience of riding a Cleland. Bellow is the recent reaction of a RetroBike rider.
http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... &start=105mikee":31riel0u said:
Even with the large number of mountain bike styles currently available you cannot buy anything that challenges what a mountain bike should be as much as the Cleland. The time when you can buy an off-road bike based on Cleland principles is long overdue.
Of all the bikes to chose from here I can promise that it is the handling of the Cleland and the Highpath that would most surprise you and challenge your preconceptions.
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GrahamJohnWallace":2055l865 said:
Ahem...
I'll mention the greeny we discussed as it may have a link to Cleland/ Highpath:
tvcreative
Devout Dirtbag
Please...you're kidding me with the Cleland Schmeland crapola
we are all dumber after reading that long winded, America vs England burst of air...
My bike floats in the bogs, and pedals by itself on Tralfamador and Remulak
we are all dumber after reading that long winded, America vs England burst of air...
My bike floats in the bogs, and pedals by itself on Tralfamador and Remulak
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tvcreative":1brs4i8r said:
Unfortunately you'll never understand how dumb that statement really is as Clelands are so spectacularly rare you'll be very lucky to ever see one, let alone ride one.
I have ridden one, and I can tell you that they are the proper "mountain bike", not just converted beach cruisers we've been riding all this time.
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tvcreative":1t7muv49 said:
I assure you that I am trying to kid no one.
But having made everyone dumber, I would love to hear a concise explanation as to why you believe my "crapola" is so misguided.
Have I misunderstood the laws of physics?
Or am I simply guilty of expressing something that challenges received wisdom?
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tvcreative":2uewd07x said:
You have to ride it to believe it.
Two blokes in their sheds develop a bicycle for their native country's riding conditions - one gets ignored and forever treated as a eccentric, the other as some sort of god despite both just designing for the same goal.
'Go figure'
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Since this is essentially a beauty contest we should also ask the entrants to give their thoughts on promoting world peace.
