I had been looking for one of these on and off for a while. Les Rigden was a cycle builder based in the North Laine, Brighton. When I was about 15 I went past his workshop and decided to stick my head through the door and see what it was all about.
'Workshop' was pretty much the perfect word for it - nice wooden benches and his own frame jigs and so on. Not sure if I caught him on a quiet day, but he was really friendly and showed me around the place, showed me the frames he had built and his back-catalog of bikes he had completed. He even gave me a few old copies of Cycling Weekly that he didn't want.
He also showed me a few bits of 'production line' bike he had sawn up to see how well the lugs were done - 1/4 inch gaps between the tubes no mitres - suspect everyone got to see this when they went for a bit fitting. Anyway all that was a few ahem years ago - Workshop is now some rather swish offices.
Saw this today, got it bought.. as I don't live too far away from the old workshop, like to think I brought it home Anyway, enuff on the sentimentality, it needs a little work but the specs as follows:
Frame: Les Rigden - Reynolds 653
Fork: Reynolds 653
Headset: Shimano 600
Stem: Cinelli 140mm
Handlebar: Cinelli
Bar Tape: TBC
Brake Levers/Brifters: Shimano 105
Brake Calipers: Shimano 105
Brake Pads: stock
Brake Cables: stock
Shifters: Dura-Ace 7400
Front Derailleur: Dura-Ace 7400
Rear Derailleur: Dura-Ace 7400
Cassette: 6 Speed Dura-Ace
Chain: TBC
Cranks: Dura-Ace 7400
Chainrings: 52/42
Bottom Bracket: Dura Ace?
Pedals: Time (TBC)
Rims: Mavic MA40
Hubs: Dura-Ace 6 speed
Saddle: Madison (I suspect this will change very shortly)
Seatpost: Mavic
Bottle Cage: 1
Weight: n/a
Things to do:
There are a few bits of paint that need seeing to, rust bubbles which I will try and get tidied without a whole re-spray, else I know I would change the colour - its a bit bright shall we say.
Stem too long, Seat needs replacing and also the tyres - whilst new, a bit to thick for that bike. Suspect the lettering on the down-tube has been re-done at some point as well.
As for Les - not sure if he is still about, but a big thanks, got one at last.
'Workshop' was pretty much the perfect word for it - nice wooden benches and his own frame jigs and so on. Not sure if I caught him on a quiet day, but he was really friendly and showed me around the place, showed me the frames he had built and his back-catalog of bikes he had completed. He even gave me a few old copies of Cycling Weekly that he didn't want.
He also showed me a few bits of 'production line' bike he had sawn up to see how well the lugs were done - 1/4 inch gaps between the tubes no mitres - suspect everyone got to see this when they went for a bit fitting. Anyway all that was a few ahem years ago - Workshop is now some rather swish offices.
Saw this today, got it bought.. as I don't live too far away from the old workshop, like to think I brought it home Anyway, enuff on the sentimentality, it needs a little work but the specs as follows:
Frame: Les Rigden - Reynolds 653
Fork: Reynolds 653
Headset: Shimano 600
Stem: Cinelli 140mm
Handlebar: Cinelli
Bar Tape: TBC
Brake Levers/Brifters: Shimano 105
Brake Calipers: Shimano 105
Brake Pads: stock
Brake Cables: stock
Shifters: Dura-Ace 7400
Front Derailleur: Dura-Ace 7400
Rear Derailleur: Dura-Ace 7400
Cassette: 6 Speed Dura-Ace
Chain: TBC
Cranks: Dura-Ace 7400
Chainrings: 52/42
Bottom Bracket: Dura Ace?
Pedals: Time (TBC)
Rims: Mavic MA40
Hubs: Dura-Ace 6 speed
Saddle: Madison (I suspect this will change very shortly)
Seatpost: Mavic
Bottle Cage: 1
Weight: n/a
Things to do:
There are a few bits of paint that need seeing to, rust bubbles which I will try and get tidied without a whole re-spray, else I know I would change the colour - its a bit bright shall we say.
Stem too long, Seat needs replacing and also the tyres - whilst new, a bit to thick for that bike. Suspect the lettering on the down-tube has been re-done at some point as well.
As for Les - not sure if he is still about, but a big thanks, got one at last.