The Complete Cyclist

[Old Ned]

When I was a lad (I was once, honest!) and bikes were all new to me I acquired a book called 'The Complete Cyclist'. Where from I can't remember but possibly my Mum found it at a jumble sale in the village. This became my bible and I digested every fact and absorbed every drawing (done by the auther in an almost Rebour style) even though - and even at that time (late 50's-ish) - a lot of it was out-of-date. I suppose I was a latent Retrobiker even then. It stood on the bookshelf at home for years but strangely disappeared when I left to go to college (as did my Dinkys etc!!) but I always fondly remembered it. I could still see all the wonderful line drawings in my mind's eye. I suppose I had given up hope of ever replacing it but at a cycling meeting earlier this year there was a small jumble including an assortment of books. Imagine my immense delight - deep joy even - when I saw a copy of the very book - and it even had a dust jacket which my original didn't. I paid a pittance for it and as I turned the pages, nostalgia swept over me in waves. It was just as I remembered. There were the drawings I had stored in my mind's eye which now had even more meaning due to my current RB'ing condition. I was in heaven - and I would like to share it with you.

Some of the drawings are quite educational such as cut-away sections of BB's, hubs, gears etc. and I attach a selection below. I will add more as I scan them but for now I hope you find them interesting - even useful - and will forgive an old man for sharing his nostalgic interlude with you

Note the Bayliss Wiley Unit Hub and the Bayliss Wiley Unit Botttom Bracket. Now, where did Shimano get their ideas from I wonder? :roll:

 

[Rich34]

What a lovely book Ned, and a nice story too. Look forward to some more pictures! What is the date of publication?

 

[Midlife]

Nice find...........takes me back to my Chater-Lea days

Shaun

 

[Old Ned]

Published 1952. Doesn't even mention Chater-Lea. Probably considered out of date by then

More piccies to come soon.

 

[pigman]

3 cones in the rear wheel is a damned good idea - stops those pesky axle breakages

 

[firedfromthecircus]

Some of the drawings are quite educational such as cut-away sections of BB's, hubs, gears etc. and I attach a selection below. I will add more as I scan them but for now I hope you find them interesting - even useful - and will forgive an old man for sharing his nostalgic interlude with you

Consider yourself forgiven.
Great old drawings. Looking forward to seeing some more.

 

[moffyr72]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_nos ... list&ajr=0

There's a handful of copies on Amazon at the moment

 

[Spokesmann]

I love those old illustrations. Can we see some more?

 

[duffer2]

I love those old illustrations. Can we see some more?

I'd love to see some more too (I trained as a technical illustrator...many years ago).

Am I correct in thinking he also wrote a book of cycle routes around England, or did I completely imagine this? I'm sure I saw something on telly ages ago with someone retracing his route on his old bike! :?

 

[Old Ned]

I love those old illustrations. Can we see some more?

I'd love to see some more too (I trained as a technical illustrator...many years ago).

Am I correct in thinking he also wrote a book of cycle routes around England, or did I completely imagine this? I'm sure I saw something on telly ages ago with someone retracing his route on his old bike! :?

No, someone completely different - if it was the Claire Balding series you are referring to. She was retracing Harold Briercliffe's tracks.

Here are some more illustrations that explain (!!) the workings of a hub gear such as Sturmey Archer. Despite reading it many times and poring over the drawings I'm still none the wiser! :?

I like his assertion that - 'once these facts are fully understood, the rest of the working is more or less simple'. Is that right! Not to me it ain't :roll: